Keywords AI

How Two Founders Grew An LLM Platform to $1.1M ARR

February 14th, 2025

Founded By

Andy Li

Monthly Revenue

$92K

Days To Build

Founders

Employees

4 (est.)

Profitable

Yes

Days To Build

Year Started

2022

Customer

B2B

Founded By
Andy Li: Monthly Revenue
$92K: Days To Build
16

Founders
2: Employees
4 (est.): Profitable
Yes

Days To Build
16: Year Started
2022: Customer
B2B

Who is Andy Li?

Keywords AI was founded by Andy Li and Raymond Huang, two mechanical engineering students from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Andy previously worked as a product design engineer at Apple but dropped out of college, while Raymond self-mastered software engineering and graduated with high honors.

Andy Li and Raymond Huang, KeywordsAI Cofounders

What problem does Keywords AI solve?

Keywords AI helps developers simplify and accelerate the process of deploying and managing AI applications, saving time and reducing complexity.

KeywordsAI Homepage

How did Andy come up with the idea for Keywords AI?

Andy Li and Raymond Huang began their journey by creating a resume keyword parsing tool, which inspired the name Keywords AI. In the process of developing a job search copilot, they applied to Y Combinator twice but faced rejection. Through discussions with over 500 developers, they discovered significant challenges in building and scaling Large Language Model (LLM) applications, such as infrastructure setup and model performance monitoring.

They realized that there was a need for a unified platform that could simplify these tasks for developers. The duo experimented with different ideas, eventually pivoting to create an LLM router that would streamline the process. They rapidly developed a minimum viable product to test their concept, incorporating feedback and securing initial customers which validated their idea.

The key lesson they learned was the power of iterative development and user feedback in refining their product. They were determined to build a solution that would relieve developers from the operational hassles, allowing them to focus on building innovative AI applications.

How did Andy Li build the initial version of Keywords AI?

Keywords AI was developed as a unified DevOps platform, streamlining the process of building, deploying, and scaling LLM applications for developers. The platform leverages a technology stack that includes Next.js and React on the front-end, with Django Rest Framework powering the back-end. GitHub is utilized for version control, and GitHub Actions serves as their CI/CD workflow. A key feature is the "dead simple" integration with AI models requiring just two lines of code, effectively supporting over 200 LLMs. The development of Keywords AI rapidly progressed with an MVP built in just one week, although this rapid pace presented challenges, particularly in ensuring infrastructure could handle diverse LLM integrations efficiently.

What was the growth strategy for Keywords AI and how did they scale?

Discord Community

Keywords AI has actively fostered a Discord community for AI builders. By maintaining an active presence on Discord, they have created a space where developers can share insights, ask questions, and collaborate. This not only helps in building a loyal community but also serves as a direct line of communication between the company and its users.

Why it worked: Discord communities allow for real-time interaction and foster a sense of belonging among users. By engaging in these communities, Keywords AI can gather valuable feedback, offer immediate support, and cultivate user retention. This community acts as a word-of-mouth engine that brings more developers into the fold.

Email Marketing

Keywords AI uses email marketing to keep their users informed about updates, new features, and helpful insights about LLM applications. They offer a free credit for first-time users, encouraging them to try their platform.

Why it worked: Email marketing is a direct channel to reach potential and existing customers. By providing valuable content and incentives like credits, they can effectively convert prospects into active users. Regular emails keep the brand top-of-mind, encouraging continued use of the platform.

Integration Simplicity

The platform offers an API integration that requires just two lines of code. This simplicity is a significant selling point for developers who seek efficiency and minimal friction when integrating new tools.

Why it worked: Simple, straightforward integrations lower the barrier to entry for new users. This ease of use is particularly appealing to developers who wish to quickly test and deploy within their workflows. By addressing the need for seamless integration, Keywords AI enhances user adoption and satisfaction.

Y Combinator and Networking

Being a part of Y Combinator provided Keywords AI with significant exposure and networking opportunities. This affiliation lends credibility to the brand and connects them with a wide network of industry professionals and potential clients.

Andy Li and Raymond Huang at YC

Why it worked: Y Combinator's network brings visibility and validation to a startup. The mentorship and resources offered through the program help in refining business strategies. Additionally, the network of fellow startups and investors provides opportunities for partnerships and collaborations, which are crucial for growth.

What's the pricing strategy for Keywords AI?

Keywords AI offers a Free plan with 10,000 monthly LLM logs and a Team plan for larger needs, while Enterprise plans provide unlimited access and enhanced support.

KeywordsAI.co pricing

What were the biggest lessons learned from building Keywords AI?

Embrace Change: Keywords AI's pivot from a resume tool to an LLM monitoring platform shows the importance of adaptability. Flexibility can open new paths to success.
Speed Matters: Rapidly developing an MVP in one week and landing their first customer in three weeks highlights the value of fast execution. Quick iterations allow you to capture opportunities.
Listen to Users: Engaging with over 500 developers helped Keywords AI identify key challenges and shape their product offerings. Understanding user needs is crucial to building valuable solutions.
Simplify Complexities: By offering a two-line code integration, Keywords AI made their solution developer-friendly, reducing friction for users and enhancing adoption.
Collaborative Innovation: Open team workspaces for prompt management encouraged collaboration, highlighting the power of shared ideas to enhance product quality.

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