Henrik Werdelin has dedicated the past 15 years to helping entrepreneurs build iconic brands like Barkbox through his startup studio, Prehype. Now, with his latest venture, Audos, based in New York, he’s betting big on AI’s potential to transform startup creation. His goal? Scale from assisting tens of startups annually to empowering hundreds of thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect. With widespread layoffs prompting many workers to rethink their careers, and AI tools drastically lowering barriers to creating digital products and services, Werdelin’s new platform aims to democratize entrepreneurship. Audos promises to help “everyday entrepreneurs create million-dollar AI companies” without needing technical expertise.
Werdelin’s journey from Prehype to Audos mirrors the seismic shifts happening in the startup world today. While Prehype focused on traditional tech startups aiming for billion-dollar exits, Werdelin now emphasizes making the knowledge and methodologies behind such successes accessible to everyone. “We’re trying to take all that experience and democratize it,” he explains.
A core part of Audos’s mission is to empower ordinary entrepreneurs—those who may sense an opportunity but lack the technical skills or know-how to reach their target audience. Using advanced AI tools and social media algorithms, the platform helps users build sophisticated products and find their niche customers through natural language interactions.
“Platforms like Facebook have incredible algorithms that can pinpoint your ideal customer if you define your target group,” Werdelin says. Audos leverages these systems to quickly test whether a founder’s idea can sustain customer acquisition costs, streamlining the path from concept to customer.
Since its beta launch, Audos has helped launch “low hundreds” of businesses. The platform attracts entrepreneurs through Instagram ads asking, “Have you ever thought about starting something but don’t know where to go?” Its diverse founders include a car mechanic wanting to evaluate repair quotes, someone offering “after-death logistics” services, virtual golf coaches, and AI-powered nutritionists. Werdelin humorously calls these small teams “donkeycorns”—a nod to billion-dollar unicorns.
The process is straightforward: users click the ad, engage in an AI-driven conversation to identify their problem and target audience, and once validated, Audos helps connect them with potential customers rapidly. The platform’s approach is distinct from traditional accelerators or venture capital, as it doesn’t take equity. Instead, it takes a 15% revenue share from the businesses it helps launch, offering up to $25,000 in funding, AI-powered tools, and assistance with marketing primarily via paid social media.
“We’re not taking equity because we believe many of these businesses might never be sold,” Werdelin notes. “We’re inspired by mom-and-pop shops—the backbone of society.”
While this revenue-sharing model could mean entrepreneurs give up a significant portion of their earnings long-term, many might find the tradeoff worthwhile to access AI-driven startup support. However, skeptics might question whether this approach remains sustainable as AI tools become more accessible and competitors emerge.
Despite these questions, investors remain optimistic. True Ventures led an $11.5 million seed round, citing confidence in Werdelin and Thorne’s vision. Partner Tony Conrad compared Audos’s potential to Instagram’s billion-dollar exit with just 13 employees, suggesting AI could unlock even greater leverage. Werdelin’s ambition is clear: to enable millions of people to create businesses generating hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in revenue, transforming lives and broadening access to entrepreneurship.
“We’re focused on reaching millions of entrepreneurs who can build meaningful, life-changing businesses,” Werdelin states. “Our goal is a trillion-dollar global entrepreneurial economy.”
This vision aligns with the growing belief that entrepreneurship should be accessible to all, especially as traditional jobs become less stable. “There should be someone helping smaller entrepreneurs build something that isn’t necessarily venture-backable,” Werdelin adds. “The world is better with more entrepreneurship.”
Backed by notable investors including Offline Venture, Bungalow Capital, and high-profile angels like Niklas Zennstrom and Mario Schlosser, Audos is poised to redefine how aspiring entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses—powered by AI, driven by ambition.
