Prashant Jalan, former lead of applied AI at Google, has formally launched Guickly, an enterprise measurement company focused on artificial intelligence usage and spending. The San Jose-based startup has raised $4.2 million in seed funding led by Engineering Capital, with participation from Converge VC, Neon Fund, and angel investors. The company aims to help enterprises understand where AI is being used, what it costs, and whether that spending delivers real value.
Applied AI Roots at Google
Before founding Guickly, Jalan worked on practical AI systems at Google, including the speed-limit feature in Google Maps and a profiler designed to optimize TPU performance. The Indian-origin entrepreneur has spent much of his career solving applied technology challenges rather than pursuing theoretical research alone. At Guickly, he is turning that experience toward a growing operational problem inside modern enterprises.
An Independent Measurement Layer
Guickly positions its product as an independent measurement layer that sits across an organization's technology environment. The platform identifies AI tools and agents, including unauthorized or untracked shadow AI, and attributes spending at the employee or tool level. It also flags potential waste such as unused licenses and costly model selections while keeping prompts, source code and other sensitive material on-premises.
The Economics of Generative AI
Generative AI introduces variable costs that differ from traditional software, which is often sold through predictable per-user subscriptions. Usage can be measured in tokens, meaning heavier consumption directly increases bills across departments. Jalan summed up the company's philosophy by saying, "We believe time is sacred, and speed is respect," a view that shapes Guickly's emphasis on fast and clear visibility.
Seed Funding and Investor Support
The $4.2 million seed round was led by Engineering Capital, with Converge VC, Neon Fund and a group of angel investors also participating. The capital will support Guickly's work on measuring AI usage and spending while improving visibility across corporate systems. The funding is intended to help enterprises manage costs as AI adoption continues to increase.
A Timely Enterprise AI Focus
Investor interest in enterprise-focused AI remains strong, as demonstrated by recent funding activity in the sector. Bengaluru-based Ringg AI recently raised $10 million from Peak XV Partners and existing investors to expand its voice AI agents for businesses. Neysa, an AI acceleration cloud platform, raised $1.2 billion in February, including planned debt, to expand GPU infrastructure.
Beyond Another AI Assistant
Guickly is not competing to build another AI model or workplace assistant. Instead, the company focuses on the measurement and management layer surrounding enterprise AI, helping organizations understand the tools they already use. Its central question is not simply whether a company is using AI, but where it is being used, how much it costs and whether that spending delivers value.
Guickly enters the market at a moment when enterprises are moving AI from small experiments into core business workflows. The company's measurement-first approach addresses a different challenge from the many startups building new AI capabilities. With fresh seed funding and a founder shaped by applied AI at Google, Guickly is positioning itself to bring greater clarity to the expanding and increasingly costly footprint of enterprise artificial intelligence.