Phyzify, a new AI-powered prototyping lab, has emerged from stealth with entrepreneur and roboticist Alexander Reben at the helm. The company aims to bridge the gap between imagination and physical products using artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantum computing technologies.
The startup closed a pre-seed funding round led by Logan Kilpatrick, product lead for Google AI Studio at DeepMind. While the funding amount wasn't disclosed, Kilpatrick backed the venture citing his belief that 2026 will be "a huge year" for physical AI and generative media applications.
Phyzify enters a nascent but growing market for AI-powered product development tools. The platform promises to handle everything from initial concept generation to backend operations like patent filing and trademark registration. This positions it to compete with traditional prototyping services and emerging AI design tools as companies seek faster paths from idea to market.
The timing reflects broader industry momentum toward AI applications beyond text and images. With major tech companies investing heavily in robotics and physical AI systems, Phyzify's approach could signal a new category of tools that democratize product development for creators and entrepreneurs.
Reben brings unique credentials as OpenAI's first artist-in-residence and MIT Media Lab alumnus, where his social robotics work influenced Disney's Baymax character. Kilpatrick praised Reben's "unique ability to bring new ideas at the intersection of AI and Art to life," having worked with him previously at OpenAI.