Blok AI Simulates Real App Usage with AI Personas
▼ Summary
– AI-powered coding tools help developers write code faster, but testing app features still requires beta versions or simulation software.
– Blok, founded by Tom Charman and Olivia Higgs in 2024, uses AI to simulate user personas for testing app features before development.
– The startup has raised $7.5 million, with a $5M seed round led by MaC Venture Capital and participation from industry leaders.
– Blok’s platform analyzes event log data and Figma designs to simulate user behavior, providing insights and recommendations for feature improvements.
– Blok is initially targeting finance and healthcare sectors, operating on a SaaS model while managing compute costs and aiming for mid-single-digit million revenue.
Testing apps before launch just got smarter with AI-powered simulations that predict real user behavior. Developers no longer need to rely solely on beta releases or traditional testing methods to evaluate new features. Blok, a newly launched platform, uses artificial intelligence to create dynamic user personas that mimic how actual people might interact with an application.
Founded in 2024 by serial entrepreneurs Tom Charman and Olivia Higgs, Blok has secured $7.5 million in funding across two rounds. The seed round, led by MaC Venture Capital, included investments from executives at major tech firms like Discord, Google, and Meta. Early backers also included Protagonist, Rackhouse, and Weekend Fund.
Unlike traditional analytics tools such as Optimizly or Amplitude, which analyze past user behavior, Blok takes a predictive approach. Marlon Nichols of MaC Venture Capital explains, “Teams are shipping products faster than ever but still rely on guesswork. Blok shifts the paradigm by letting developers simulate user interactions before writing any code.”
The platform addresses a growing challenge in product development—rising interface complexity. Higgs notes, “With users engaging through chat, voice, and visual UI, testing must ensure seamless experiences.” Whether startups lacking test cohorts or large companies avoiding feature bloat, Blok aims to eliminate the need for lengthy experimental rollouts.
Here’s how it works: Companies upload event logs from tools like Amplitude or Mixpanel. Blok processes this data to generate AI personas representing diverse user behaviors. Teams then submit Figma designs and hypotheses, and the system runs simulations to predict engagement patterns. The results include detailed reports, improvement suggestions, and even a chatbot for deeper analysis.
Currently in a waitlist phase, Blok is focusing on finance and healthcare sectors, where precision is critical. The startup operates on a SaaS model while optimizing compute costs. With plans to expand its customer base, Blok aims to achieve millions in revenue this year, proving that AI-driven testing could soon become an industry standard.
Images provided by Blok showcase the platform’s interface and simulation capabilities.
(Source: TechCrunch)