Ocular AI raises US$2 million in pre-seed funding

Ocular AI, a San Francisco-based startup founded by Michael Moyo and Louis Murerwa, has secured US$2 million in pre-seed funding. The investment round was led by Drive Capital, with participation from Y Combinator, Alumni Ventures, 1745 Ventures, Orange Collective, MyAsia VC, and various angel investors.

Founded in 2024, Ocular AI operates within the artificial intelligence data supply chain. Rather than developing consumer-facing applications, the company creates high-quality datasets, benchmarks, and evaluation tools used to train and assess advanced AI models. The company focuses on improving how AI handles natural human conversation, specifically addressing challenges like accents, pauses, interruptions, and simultaneous speech.

The founders, who met while studying at Dartmouth College, have transitioned from roles at major tech firms like Microsoft and Google to launch this venture. Ocular AI reports having already reached seven-figure revenue by supplying data to leading AI research laboratories and Fortune 100 companies.