This AI-powered startup studio plans to launch 100,000 companies a year — really

Henrik Werdelin, a seasoned entrepreneur with a track record of assisting brands like Barkbox through his startup studio Prehype, is embarking on an ambitious new journey. His latest venture, Audos, based in New York, aims to leverage artificial intelligence to revolutionize the startup ecosystem by transitioning from creating 'tens' of startups each year to 'hundreds of thousands'. The current economic climate, marked by mass layoffs across various sectors, has prompted many to rethink their career paths. Coupled with the emergence of AI tools that simplify the process of building digital products and services, Audos finds itself at a pivotal moment. Werdelin's vision is to empower everyday entrepreneurs to launch million-dollar AI-driven companies without needing any technical expertise. Audos represents a significant shift in Werdelin's approach to entrepreneurship. At Prehype, the focus was on collaborating with tech founders to construct traditional startups with aspirations for billion-dollar exits. Now, he aims to democratize entrepreneurship, sharing the knowledge and methodologies developed over years of building successful companies. He believes that many aspiring entrepreneurs recognize the shifting landscape but are hesitant to experiment with AI or unsure of how to identify and reach their customer base. To address these challenges, Audos provides aspiring founders with AI tools that facilitate the creation of sophisticated products using natural language and optimize their outreach via social media algorithms. Werdelin notes that platforms like Facebook excel at identifying customer segments if properly defined. Since its beta launch, Audos has successfully helped launch 'low hundreds' of businesses, attracting clients through compelling Instagram ads that ask, “Have you ever thought about starting something but don’t know where to go?” This diverse group includes a car mechanic offering repair quote evaluations, a provider of after-death logistics services, virtual golf swing coaches, and AI nutritionists. Werdelin affectionately refers to these small teams as 'donkeycorns', a playful nod to the term 'unicorns'. Each founder engages with Audos by clicking on an ad, initiating a dialogue through an AI agent that helps define their target audience and the challenges they wish to tackle. Once the AI is satisfied with the responses, it swiftly connects the founders with potential customers. Audos distinguishes itself from traditional accelerators and venture capital firms with its revenue-sharing model. Rather than taking equity, the company retains a 15% share of the revenue generated by the businesses it supports, providing up to $25,000 in funding and access to AI-driven business development tools, along with assistance in distribution through paid social media advertising. Werdelin emphasizes that this model is inspired by the small, independent businesses that form the backbone of society. However, this revenue-sharing arrangement raises questions about its long-term implications for founders, who may find that the ongoing cost could accumulate significantly. While some may view this trade-off as beneficial, others might hesitate to commit to such a model. As the entrepreneurial landscape evolves rapidly, Audos faces competition from numerous tools that continue to improve. Werdelin acknowledges that many entrepreneurs may soon access similar AI functionalities without incurring ongoing revenue costs. Despite these challenges, investors remain optimistic. True Ventures, which recently led an $11.5 million seed round for Audos, believes that Werdelin and his co-founder, Nicholas Thorne, will attract a substantial user base eager for their services. In the grand scheme, Werdelin envisions a future where millions can establish profitable businesses that contribute to a trillion-dollar economy. He argues that supporting smaller entrepreneurs—those whose ideas may not attract venture capital—is essential for fostering a more vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. With backing from notable investors like Niklas Zennstrom and Mario Schlosser, Audos is poised to make a significant impact on how entrepreneurship is approached in the age of AI.