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§ Private Profile · Oakland, CA, USA
Sway is a technology company.
Sway develops and scales home-compostable replacements for single-use plastics, leveraging seaweed as its foundational material. The company creates high-performance, seaweed-based flexible packaging, including polybags and retail bags, which integrate into traditional plastic manufacturing infrastructure. By utilizing the natural polymers found in seaweed, Sway offers a sustainable alternative designed to return safely to soil, avoiding microplastic creation and contributing to ocean ecosystem health.
The company was co-founded in January 2019 by Julia Marsh, Leland Maschmeyer, and Matt Mayes. Julia Marsh, serving as CEO, brought a background in packaging design and a deep-rooted appreciation for marine ecosystems from her formative years in Monterey. This expertise and personal connection to the ocean fueled the insight that seaweed could provide a regenerative and scalable solution to the pervasive challenge of plastic waste.
Sway's products cater to brands across various industries seeking environmentally responsible packaging solutions. The company's vision extends to reimagining the entire lifecycle of everyday materials through circular economy principles. Sway is committed to designing out waste, ensuring materials remain in use, and actively regenerating natural systems, ultimately striving to replenish ecological balance and mitigate the impact of plastic pollution.
Sway has raised $29.5M across 4 funding rounds.
Sway has raised $29.5M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Sway has raised $29.5M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $5.0M Seed in February 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2024 | $5M Seed | Third Nature Ventures | Alante Capital, BAM Ventures, Superorganism, The Helm | Announced |
| Jan 1, 2024 | $20M Series A | Jack Leeney | Jenny Fielding, Scott Hartley, Everywhere Ventures (The Fund), Pitbull Ventures, Y Combinator, YES VC, Blackhorn Ventures, Lightshed Ventures, Rise OF The Rest | Announced |
| Nov 4, 2021 | $2.5M Pre Seed | Jonathan K. Shulkin | Bryan Meehan, Alante Capital, BAM Ventures, C3 Capital, Centre Street Partners, Craig Dudenhoeffer | Announced |
| Jan 19, 2010 | $2M Series A | LEO Capital Holdings, Origin Ventures | — | Announced |
Sway AI is a software development company that provides a no-code platform for building, designing, and deploying custom AI applications, enabling business and technical experts without coding skills to automate processes, analyze data, and optimize workflows.[1] It targets organizations lacking dedicated development resources, democratizing AI adoption to accelerate digital transformation and improve efficiency without expanding IT teams.[1] Headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, with 11-50 employees, Sway AI serves a broad range of professionals from analysts to subject matter experts.[1]
Note: Multiple companies named "Sway" exist in tech, including a logistics firm (formerly Returnmates) for delivery/returns in Venice, CA (82 employees, founded 2020)[2] and a biomaterials startup using seaweed for compostable plastics packaging in California.[3] This overview focuses on Sway AI as the primary match for a general "technology company" query emphasizing AI innovation; others are distinct entities.
Sway AI was founded by a team of experienced entrepreneurs and AI leaders to address barriers in AI development for non-technical users.[1] Key founders include Hassan Ahmed, Ph.D. (Chairman, CEO, Co-Founder; serial entrepreneur, former CEO of Affirmed Networks), Amir Atai, Ph.D. (VP of BD and Solutions, Co-Founder; telecom and AI expert), and Jitender Arora (Chief Product Officer, Co-Founder; ex-Amazon Alexa AI/ML leader).[1] The idea emerged from their expertise in AI platforms and enterprise solutions, aiming to make advanced AI accessible via no-code tools; early focus centered on intuitive interfaces for custom app creation, gaining traction through agile team operations in Massachusetts.[1]
Sway AI rides the no-code/low-code wave in AI, aligning with the explosive growth of democratized tools amid AI democratization trends post-ChatGPT era.[1] Timing is ideal as enterprises face AI talent shortages and pressure for quick ROI on AI investments, with market forces like rising data volumes and automation demands favoring accessible platforms.[1] It influences the ecosystem by lowering entry barriers, enabling broader AI adoption in non-tech sectors, and promoting efficiency gains without heavy coding overhead—potentially accelerating industry-wide digital shifts.[1]
Sway AI is positioned for growth by capitalizing on no-code AI demand, with potential expansions into vertical-specific tools or integrations with major clouds.[1] Trends like multimodal AI and edge deployment will shape its path, enhancing platform capabilities for real-time apps.[1] Its influence may evolve from niche enabler to ecosystem staple, as more firms prioritize accessible AI—echoing its core mission to make AI available to all experts, not just coders.[1]
Sway has raised $29.5M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Sway's investors include Third Nature Ventures, Alante Capital, BAM Ventures, Superorganism, The Helm, Jack Leeney, Jenny Fielding, Scott Hartley, Everywhere Ventures (The Fund), Pitbull Ventures, Y Combinator, Yes VC.