Artificial intelligence has shifted from being a futuristic promise to an everyday utility. Large companies like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI dominate headlines, but many of the most practical tools are being built by smaller startups.
These younger companies are targeting specific pain points, from hiring and bookkeeping to healthcare calls and debt collection. Below are some of the most interesting AI startups shaping 2025, what they’re building, how they’re helping, and why they’re not without criticism.
Domu: Automating Debt Collection
Domu, based in San Francisco, has built an AI system that acts as a virtual debt collector. It makes automated phone calls to customers with overdue payments, mostly for banks and insurance firms.
According to Domu, this approach increases recovery rates because the AI can handle more calls, more consistently, than human agents. Several Fortune 500 companies are already using the tool.
For financial firms, Domu reduces costs and boosts efficiency. For individuals, it removes awkward human-to-human collection calls, but not necessarily the stress of being in debt. Businesses value the scalability that Domu brings. AI doesn’t get tired, doesn’t need breaks, and can manage millions of calls at once.
Many argue that this approach to debt collection is almost dehumanizing. Does it cross a line when sensitive financial matters are handled by machines? Others worry it will worsen customer anxiety; talking to a persistent AI that doesn’t miss a beat could feel invasive. Ethical questions about fairness also remain: is an AI more likely to pressure vulnerable people into repayment than a human might?
Repaint: Websites Built by Chat
Repaint offers a web design tool powered by conversational AI. Instead of hiring a developer or learning to code, users describe what they want: layout, content, colors, and Repaint generates a functioning website.
The tool is targeted at startups, freelancers, and nonprofits that need professional websites quickly and cheaply.
This lowers the barrier to entry for anyone who needs a digital presence. Small businesses can launch faster without relying on expensive design agencies.
This positions it as a direct challenge to established website automation platforms such as WordPress, GoDaddy, and Wix. Unlike WordPress, which often requires plugins, templates, and some technical setup, this tool promises a faster, more streamlined build process with no technical skill or coding required.
However, while AI can create templates, can it truly understand branding, storytelling, or nuanced user experience? For now, most sites built with tools like Repaint still look somewhat generic and lack that authenticity that usually draws visitors in.
They often miss the authenticity and creative nuance that a designer or storyteller brings, leaving visitors with a functional site but not necessarily a memorable or engaging one.
Serra: Recruiting Without Recruiters
Serra focuses on hiring. Its AI scans platforms like LinkedIn, GitHub, and Crunchbase to identify promising job candidates, then automatically contacts them. Instead of recruiters spending hours sourcing talent, companies get pre-vetted candidates delivered straight to their inbox.
For businesses, it speeds up the hiring process. For job seekers, it may open opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise see.
Some worry Serra could encourage “spammy” outreach. If hundreds of companies are using the same AI to send out messages, will job seekers feel overwhelmed?
There are also questions about bias: if the AI pulls data mainly from LinkedIn or GitHub, does it prioritize more polished profiles from seasoned candidates? If this is the case, it means that the hiring company risks overlooking candidates who may not look as seasoned on paper but could still be a strong fit. This could create a system where only experienced professionals get opportunities, while promising but less established talent is left out.
Elicit: AI for Research
Elicit, built by nonprofit Ought, helps researchers and students summarize academic literature. You can enter a research question, and Elicit surfaces relevant studies, highlights findings, and even pulls key data. The startup has raised $9 million in seed funding and is already used by hundreds of thousands of people.
Elicit is making the literature review less painful. Students and academics can cut hours of manual reading and focus instead on analysis. It saves time, and for non-academics, it makes research-heavy work more approachable.
However, accuracy is a concern. Can AI really capture the nuance of a 40-page research paper in a few lines? There’s also the risk of over-reliance; if people stop reading full studies, subtle but important details could be missed. They could also get lazier with time.
Prosper: AI Agents for Healthcare Calls
Prosper’s AI handles administrative phone work for healthcare providers: scheduling, insurance checks, and reminders. Its virtual agents integrate with electronic health records and already handle thousands of calls daily across dozens of clinics.
For clinics, it cuts administrative costs by around 50%. For patients, it can mean faster scheduling and fewer errors.
Healthcare is sensitive, and many people dislike the idea of talking to an AI about personal matters. What happens when the AI misunderstands a request? Could errors lead to missed appointments or incorrect insurance checks?
Beyond inconvenience, these mistakes could delay treatment, affect patient trust, or even create financial and legal risks for providers. As AI takes on more administrative roles, the stakes of accuracy and empathy become much higher than in other industries.
NeoWorlder: Building AI People For Businesses
NeoWorlder is building a new kind of AI: digital beings that don’t just complete tasks, but learn, adapt, and evolve over time. Instead of relying on rigid systems or disconnected apps, NeoWorlder’s approach is centered on creating AI people who can think, remember, and adjust based on context. This makes interactions with businesses and technology feel less like filling out forms or following steps, and more like working with a partner who understands continuity and adapts as situations change.
At its core, NeoWorlder is about turning complexity into clarity. Business processes and customer journeys often break down when details are missed, steps stall, or systems don’t connect. NeoWorlder addresses this by designing flows that carry memory, adapt in real time, and apply reasoning to each stage. Instead of static dashboards or waiting for human follow-ups, these AI-driven flows notice what matters, respond immediately, and keep things moving.
The bigger vision is to blend human and artificial intelligence in a way that feels natural and supportive. NeoWorlder’s AI people are not just tools—they’re designed to evolve, improve with feedback, and build trust over time.
Final Thoughts
Artificial intelligence is no longer just about big tech companies. Smaller startups are proving that AI can reshape everyday tasks in practical ways. From debt collection and website building to hiring, healthcare, and customer journeys, these tools are already changing how businesses work and how people experience services.
Still, each approach raises important questions about fairness, accuracy, and the human touch. As 2025 unfolds, the challenge will be not just building powerful AI, but using it responsibly so that innovation improves lives without creating new problems
