- Investments
- 23 October 2025
- 3 min read
- Words: Northzone
AI App-Building for Enterprise: Our investment in Riff
Software is being rewritten – the way it’s conceived, built, and used.
No-code tools have already presented a step change by empowering anyone, regardless of coding ability, to build. And now we’re witnessing a new shift: software can respond to intent, context, and creativity – not just commands.
What’s increasingly clear is that the next generation of software will be created directly by end users, building in natural language. Business leaders won’t need to spend money buying software or hiring developers; they’ll deploy agents that can create it on their behalf. Gone are the days of ‘one size fits none’ software: anyone can now build apps that are fully customized and tailored to the specific needs of their business or line of work.
We believe Riff could be the go-to AI app-building platform for enterprises, putting the power to create software in the hands of the “doers” in every business. What starts as a prompt – anything from “build a sales pipeline dashboard” to “create automated email sequencing for lead nurturing” – quickly turns into real-world value. We’re delighted to be leading their $16M Series A – here’s why we invested.
A new age in enterprise software creation
AI text-to-app builders, also known as “vibe coding” platforms, have rewritten the rules of development. What was once the domain of engineers can now be achieved in hours by anyone with a business need and a prompt. The result: anyone in a company can create applications and automations faster, cheaper, and more flexibly than ever before.
The first wave of tools on the market has seen enormous momentum. Still, their adoption has primarily been limited to designers and product managers looking to prototype and bring ideas to life. There is a huge opportunity to tailor this technology to “doers”, who are looking for real-world implementation.
Riff tackles this challenge in three key ways.
For one, they enable users to build on top of building blocks (such as API connections to data sources and applications), making it much easier to quickly implement real-world solutions without technical knowledge. In a few clicks, users can add connections to HubSpot, Google Drive, Mixpanel, Stripe, Notion, and dozens of other SaaS tools they may already use.
Secondly, Riff incorporates a collaborative, developer-like workflow, supporting the business user in the same way a lead developer would. Much of this work happens in the background, allowing you to work asynchronously and review larger changes once they are complete. Furthermore, users get access to pre-set starter apps, templates, and expert guidance from the Riff team once they’ve started building. They can also upload specs, briefs, and design inspirations to kickstart the creative process.
We’ve seen how this level of user support can prevent the frustration that comes with entirely unsupported usage, while also driving retention.
Targeting a large but underserved market
We’re thrilled to be backing a stellar team led by Trygve Karper (CEO), Martin Roed (CTO), and Viral Shah (CPO). The three co-founders met during their time at Cognite, one of Norway’s most successful startups of recent years, showcasing both the technical depth and operational experience to build a category leader.
What sets Riff apart in this booming category is its sharper, compelling focus: “doers” at all levels. By putting these tools in the hands of business leaders and operators, the platform replaces the need for external developers or agencies, accelerating the process from business need to implementation to results at a fraction of the cost.
What’s more, Riff’s current users are already creating complex, full-stack, revenue-generating applications on the platform. The results are potentially transformational: instead of renting ill-fitting tools, they’re creating bespoke solutions that instantly drive productivity and growth.
The next wave of enterprise innovation won’t come from code: it will come from Riff.