Algorithmia Inc., a Google LLC-backed startup that helps companies build and deploy artificial intelligence models, today launched a pay-as-you-go “Teams” edition of its platform to make it more accessible for machine learning developers.

The new low-cost edition could give the startup’s sales strategy a boost in a time when it faces fierce competition from other AI tooling providers. 

Algorithmia is just one of many venture-backed players offering software to ease machine learning projects. It’s notable for having received the first publicly announced investment made by Gradient Ventures, Google’s dedicated AI fund. Algorithmia is also backed by Norwest Partners, Madrona Venture Group and others that have provided it with nearly $40 million to date. 

The startup offers a cloud-based platform where AI teams can keep project assets such as algorithm source code. The offering also simplifies the logistics of turning a newly developed neural network into production-ready software that can be reliably deployed at scale to support applications. The Teams edition announced today is aimed at making Algorithmia’s platform more accessible through a pay-as-a-you-go pricing model.

The startup says companies are charged according to the processor capacity their engineers use as part of projects.  Algorithmia is also offering a more expensive flavor of the Teams edition, called Professional, that is likewise billed based on hardware usage but adds an extra $299 monthly fee in exchange for access to priority customer support.

The Teams edition could play an important role in the startup’s customer acquisition efforts going forward. AI initiatives often start small, even in the enterprise, and engineers have a limited budget to spend on development tools during a project’s initial phases.

That ultimately limits companies in what tools they consider. By offering a pay-as-you-go pricing model with no minimum purchase size, Algorithmia is making its platform a more viable option for companies in the early phases of their AI initiatives and thereby potentially broadening its addressable market. 

The Teams edition could also help Algorithmia win more business from fellow startups. A small initial deal with a high-growth company can potentially turn into a lucrative contract a few years down the road.  

Image: Algorithmia