Eugenia Kuyda, best known for creating Replika, the first major AI companion app, is back with a new venture called Wabi, a platform she calls “YouTube for apps.” Wabi lets anyone create and share mini apps instantly using simple text prompts, no coding required.
The startup launched in beta last month and has already sparked excitement across the tech world. Backed by $20 million in pre-seed funding, Wabi’s investors include prominent names like Naval Ravikant (AngelList), Garry Tan (Y Combinator), Justin Kan (Twitch), and Amjad Masad (Replit).
Kuyda said the goal is to make app creation accessible to everyone, even those with no tech background. “You just type something like ‘build me an AI therapy app,’ and Wabi handles everything — design, features, and backend setup,” she told TechCrunch at Disrupt 2025.
The platform’s social layer is a key differentiator. Users can like, comment, remix, and share apps, similar to social media content. This community-driven approach has gained traction on X, with developers and investors praising how quickly Wabi turns ideas into functioning tools.
Wabi’s Explore page highlights trending and new apps, and the company plans to introduce personalized onboarding that automatically creates starter apps for users.
While the concept resembles OpenAI’s GPT Store or Quora’s Poe, Wabi goes further by offering an all-in-one experience creation, hosting, and discovery in one place. Users can even choose which AI model (like ChatGPT or Gemini) powers their apps.
There are still early challenges. Some generated apps show bugs or outdated content, and users must maintain them to keep them relevant. Kuyda acknowledged these issues, noting that improving app reliability and user experience is a top priority.
A major portion of Wabi’s funding will go toward expanding the product team and subsidizing usage until a sustainable monetization model emerges. Kuyda ruled out ads, saying, “Ads ruin the user experience. I want to build something people genuinely enjoy using.”
Andreessen Horowitz partner Anish Acharya believes Wabi could redefine how people interact with software. He sees it as part of a movement toward “disposable software” small, fast apps anyone can make and share. “Video content loses value over time,” he said. “Software compounds in value.”
As Wabi grows, it could usher in a new era where app creation becomes as casual and social as posting a video — reviving the creativity and individuality of the early internet.
