AI coding startup ByteAsk has raised $1 million in pre-seed funding from Y Combinator, Entrepreneur First and angel investors, because it appears to develop AI instruments for engineers working with C and C++.

The San Francisco-based startup plans to make use of the funding to develop its engineering and analysis groups, put money into GPU compute and coaching information, and develop its product and infrastructure.

It additionally plans to construct enterprise-grade safety, privateness and on-premises infrastructure for purchasers working in delicate industries.

Based in 2026 by IIT Delhi pc science graduates Anirudha Kulkarni and Pratyush Saini, ByteAsk is creating an AI coding agent designed particularly for C and C++ growth.

The startup is a part of Y Combinator’s Fall 2026 batch.

Specializing in C and C++

ByteAsk is focusing on engineers working with C and C++ in industries together with defence, aerospace, robotics, high-frequency buying and selling, automotive, embedded techniques and semiconductors.

Its founders argue that current AI coding brokers don’t carry out as successfully on troublesome C and C++ duties as they do on another programming languages.

The startup is specializing in debugging, efficiency and reminiscence optimisation, grounding and verification, somewhat than concentrating solely on producing code.

Kulkarni beforehand labored with low-latency C++ techniques at Optiver and Quantbox, whereas Saini labored on AI techniques at ThirdAI and later at AI safety startup Simbian.

Kulkarni stated his personal expertise working with low-latency software program highlighted the quantity of engineering time that may very well be spent figuring out issues and bettering efficiency.

“Normally 60 per cent of my time goes into debugging and efficiency optimization,” he stated.

ByteAsk stated its coding agent works with the instruments already utilized by C and C++ engineers. Its product can edit code and use compilers, debuggers, sanitizers and exams to test adjustments earlier than presenting them to a developer for assessment.

In accordance with the startup, it may be used by means of a terminal and is designed to work with current growth toolchains.

Testing AI-generated adjustments

A central a part of ByteAsk’s method is to make coding brokers confirm their work somewhat than relying solely on the output generated by an AI mannequin.

“C and C++ energy an enormous quantity of the world’s important infrastructure, however the beneficial properties we have seen from AI coding instruments haven’t translated equally effectively to those environments,” Saini stated. “We needed to work on an issue the place reliability, verification and context matter as a lot as era.”

ByteAsk stated engineers have been utilizing its product about six instances extra intensively every day than a comparable open-source coding agent, whereas weekly energetic customers have been doubling week on week. 

It plans to initially deal with giant corporations in high-frequency buying and selling, automotive and embedded techniques earlier than increasing into different markets.

From authorized AI to coding brokers

ByteAsk is the second startup based by Kulkarni and Saini.

The pair beforehand based LawSutra AI, a authorized AI startup that was acquired by on-line authorized analysis firm Manupatra.

Their work on LawSutra has influenced how they’re approaching the event of ByteAsk, notably round offering AI techniques with related context and mechanisms for checking their output.

Earlier than ByteAsk, Kulkarni labored at Quantbox and Optiver. ByteAsk’s official staff web page says he labored on C++ techniques and low-latency engineering.

Saini beforehand labored at ThirdAI, the place he labored on AI infrastructure, and at Simbian, the place he helped develop AI safety brokers.

Each founders studied pc science at IIT Delhi.

Growing a C++-focused mannequin

ByteAsk can also be creating a specialised post-training method for C++.

The startup plans to launch a language mannequin particularly post-trained for C++ inside the subsequent six to eight months as a part of its efforts to enhance AI efficiency on extra complicated duties involving the language.

Alongside its mannequin growth, ByteAsk is constructing infrastructure for enterprise deployments, together with on-premises use.

Y Combinator’s firm listing describes ByteAsk as an AI coding agent for C and C++ that builds, debugs and exams adjustments utilizing a developer’s toolchain. It additionally stated the product can run absolutely on-premises.

The newest funding will assist ByteAsk because it expands its engineering and analysis work and develops its coding agent for corporations utilizing C and C++ in performance-sensitive software program techniques.