Startup Sapiom Aims to Simplify AI Agent Payments for Non-technical Creators

Sapiom, a San Francisco startup, is developing a financial layer that enables AI agents to securely purchase and access software, APIs, data, and compute. This solution aims to streamline the process of AI agents connecting to external tools and making payments for services such as text messaging via SMS and processing Stripe payments.

The company, led by Ilan Zerbib, a former director of engineering for payments at Shopify, has secured a $15 million seed round with participation from prominent firms including Accel, Okta Ventures, and Coinbase Ventures. Sapiom's platform is designed to simplify the integration of external tech services for vibe-coding companies and other businesses creating AI agents. The startup's focus on the financial layer for enterprises is seen as a crucial step in making AI agents more effective.

While currently targeted at B2B solutions, the technology has the potential to empower personal AI agents for consumer transactions in the future. Zerbib emphasizes the importance of creating financial layers for businesses, highlighting the role of AI in making independent financial decisions.