They were grocery delivery rivals. Now they're teaming up to build an Nvidia-backed 'Cursor for math.'

In a surprising turn of events, two entrepreneurs who once vied for dominance in New York's grocery delivery scene are now collaborating to launch an innovative startup focused on mathematics. Oleg Shevlyagin and Anton Gladkoborodov, whose respective companies 1520 and Fridge No More faltered following unsuccessful acquisition attempts, have successfully secured $7.8 million in funding for their new venture, Corca. Based in New York, Corca is on a mission to revolutionize how individuals interact with mathematical concepts. The startup has garnered significant backing from prominent investors, including Nvidia's NVentures, NEA, Bloomberg Beta, and Daft Capital. Describing itself as a 'Cursor for math,' Corca offers a collaborative workspace where users can seamlessly write equations, execute calculations, receive AI assistance, and engage in real-time collaboration. Interestingly, although Shevlyagin and Gladkoborodov were competitors, they only became acquainted after their businesses ceased operations. Residing just blocks apart in Brooklyn, the two began meeting to delve into physics—a shared interest—and soon grew frustrated with the challenges of digitally sharing mathematical equations. Initially considering another grocery delivery service, they eventually pivoted their focus to math software, officially founding Corca in 2023. Shevlyagin points out the limitations of existing mathematical tools like MATLAB and LaTeX, which often require cumbersome formatting languages. This complexity necessitates frequent switching between different platforms or the use of handwritten notes. "It's like one of those stagnant categories where nothing has changed for over three decades," he remarked. Currently employing 12 staff members, Corca has attracted over 10,000 users and plans to utilize its seed funding for product development and team expansion. The core offering will remain free, while the company plans to introduce paid AI and computational features later this year. Targeting engineers, researchers, and technical professionals, particularly in AI and finance, Corca aims to establish itself as a foundational tool for mathematical work. Gladkoborodov noted that Nvidia's interest likely arises from the startup's emphasis on the mathematics that supports these sectors. "We envision ourselves as the backbone for mathematical endeavors across various applications, from AI research to finance and scientific computing," he stated.