Ex-Snap AI Lead Launches eSelf: Next-Gen Video Chatbot Platform
The Future of Conversational AI: Faster, More Human-Like Interactions
Dr. Alan Bekker, the deep learning scientist behind Snap’s My AI chatbot, has secured $4.5 million in seed funding for his new venture, eSelf. The startup emerges from stealth with ambitious plans to revolutionize real-time, video-based conversational AI agents across key industries including education, sales, financial services, real estate, and health and wellness.
What Sets eSelf Apart?
- Blazing-fast response times: Under 1.7 seconds per interaction
- No-code creation studio: Enables businesses to build custom AI agents
- Seamless app integration: Works with tools like Calendly and Salesforce
- Proven track record: Already powered millions of conversations in stealth mode
Current clients include Christie’s Real Estate and Brazilian bank AGI, demonstrating early enterprise adoption.
Backed by Industry Leaders
The funding round was led by Portugal’s Explorer Investments, with participation from:
- Ridge Ventures
- M-Fund
- Strategic angels including Eyal Manor (former YouTube VP of Engineering)
The Visionary Behind the Technology
From Rabbinical Studies to AI Pioneer
Dr. Bekker’s journey is anything but conventional:
- Originally pursued rabbinical studies before turning to computer science
- Discovered machine learning “by accident” during university
- Earned PhD specializing in voice recognition and neural networks
Previous Success: The $100M Snap Acquisition
Bekker’s first startup, Voca, developed AI voice assistants for call centers before being acquired by Snap in 2020 for $100 million. At Snap, he led the Conversational AI team that ultimately created My AI, though he departed before its launch.
The Competitive Landscape
eSelf enters a crowded field of “agentic” AI solutions, competing with:
- Tech giants (Amazon, OpenAI, Anthropic)
- Specialized startups (H, ElevenLabs, /dev/agents)
- Industry-specific solutions (LinkedIn’s recruiting agent)
Technical Approach
Rather than building foundational LLMs, eSelf has:
- Fine-tuned Meta’s Llama models
- Optimized for speed and video integration
- Created architecture allowing customers to switch between different AI backends
The Road Ahead
As the AI agent market heats up, key questions remain:
- Which use cases will gain most traction?
- How will companies manage computational costs?
- What ethical considerations will emerge with increasingly human-like AI?
eSelf’s early success suggests video-based agents may represent the next evolution in conversational AI, but the race is just beginning.
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