Modal

Modal is a serverless compute platform designed for AI, data, and machine learning teams. It simplifies the process of running compute-intensive workloads such as GPU inference, distributed training, and batch processing. Founded in January 2021 in New York City by Erik Bernhardsson and Akshat Bubna, Modal aims to eliminate DevOps complexity, allowing users to focus on application development.

The platform features a Python-first approach that abstracts containers and GPUs into simple decorators and function calls. Key offerings include Modal Inference for deploying generative AI models, Modal Training for distributed model fine-tuning, and Modal Batch for scalable job processing. Modal serves AI-native startups and established platforms, providing efficient computing resources for software developers and data engineers. With a valuation of $1.1 billion and a team of around 100 employees, Modal is positioned to support businesses in AI-driven industries.