Case Study #10: The Rise of Digital Co-Workers: CREATUS.AI's Vision for the Future of Work

Marko Vidrih recognized AI technology's growing complexity and inaccessibility for businesses struggling to keep up. Determined to change this, he founded CREATUS.AI, a platform designed to make AI accessible and indispensable. Think of it as a digital assistant that sees, hears, types, clicks, and speaks—an AI-native workspace crafted to boost productivity for small businesses, remote workers, and content creators.

Key Highlights:

• AI workspace enhancing productivity for SMEs, remote workers, and creators.

• Functions as a digital assistant that sees, hears, types, clicks, and even speaks.

• Evolved from social media content creation to comprehensive AI solutions.

• Simplifies AI integration, making it accessible and user-friendly.

  Addresses complexity and accessibility barriers in business AI use.
  

Hello! Tell us who you are and what’s your backstory.

I'm Marko Vidrih, and my story is a mosaic of diverse experiences. Growing up, I was deeply fascinated by the potential of technology to reshape our world. I worked as a journalist, later becoming editor-in-chief for the largest media house in my country. My journey into entrepreneurship began with a keen interest in research, leading me to establish ElVivia, a research agency, in 2013. It was also the year I was drawn to blockchain technology and started exploring the then newly-launched project, Ethereum. Since then, I've been navigating the bear and bull cycles of cryptocurrency, gaining hands-on experience with smart contracts, DeFi, NFTs, and DAOs. I've collaborated with some of the leading companies in the space, co-founded a no-code NFT e-commerce platform builder, and even advised the European Commission and Central Bank on blockchain technology implementations. Besides, I’ve been passionate about AI and robotics since 2016. My fascination with AI led me to work as a QA engineer in this field, contributing significantly with several papers, including one on generative AI just before the launch of ChatGPT. The subsequent AI boom inspired me to educate audiences and assist businesses in integrating AI solutions, leading to the inception of CREATUS.AI.


Can you give us your elevator pitch?

For small-to-medium businesses, remote workers, and creators seeking to optimize resourcing costs and boost productivity, Creatus provides AI-native workspace with autonomous team members.

We have given AI the ability to see, hear, type, click, and speak. In other words, if you give it access to your company data, you essentially get your own private Google that can work autonomously.

What was the moment or situation that sparked the idea for your business?

The concept for Creatus arose from recognizing the need for efficient AI integration in business processes. The 'aha' moment came from the realization that businesses struggle to harness AI's potential due to complexity and accessibility barriers.


How did you test and refine your initial product idea, and were there any significant pivots or changes in direction based on initial feedback or market response?

We initially focused on content creation for social media but the platform evolved to specifically address SMEs' need for AI-native workspace solutions as we realized the immense potential of our AI models. Continuous market feedback has been crucial in refining our products to better suit the evolving needs of our audience.

What specific strategies or decisions significantly contributed to the growth and scaling of your business?

Strategic partnerships and leveraging my expertise in blockchain and AI were crucial in scaling our business. We focused on creating a robust offering that addressed specific market gaps.


Can you share some major challenges and how you tackled them?

Major challenges included navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape. We tackled these by staying agile, continuously learning, and adapting our strategies to align with market trends and technological advancements.

How did you really get to know your customers and market?

In-depth market research and direct engagement with our target audience helped us understand their needs. This insight was a critical part of shaping our products, ensuring they resonated well with our customers.

What's the story behind your brand and marketing approach?

Our brand is built on the pillars of innovation, quality, and user empowerment. We've employed a content-driven marketing strategy, showcasing our product's capabilities and how it solves real-world problems. 


How did you attract and secure your first customers? 

Leveraging my professional network and showcasing our AI solutions' efficacy in real-world scenarios were key to acquiring our first customers. We focused on demonstrating how Creatus.AI could resolve specific business challenges.

What's been your approach to product development? 

Our product development has been heavily customer-focused, integrating feedback to continuously improve and evolve our offerings to meet the market's needs.


How have you navigated the financial aspects of your business? 

We approached the financial aspects with a balance of cautious planning and bold investments in R&D. Funding was primarily bootstrapped, supplemented with strategic partnerships and reinvesting revenue for growth. We are currently in the fundraising process of our first funding round. 


What future do you envision for your company? 

The future of Creatus is envisioned as being at the forefront of digital co-workers. The journey so far has taught me the importance of adaptability, customer focus, and the power of leveraging emerging technologies.  


Is your team growing? Tell us about the roles you’re looking to fill. 

We're always on the lookout for talent, particularly individuals skilled in AI, machine learning, and business development, who share our vision of transforming workplaces with AI. Interested candidates can reach out via the contact form on our website https://creatus.ai/contact. 


Where can curious minds find more information about your business?

To learn more about Creatus and try some cool free AI tools, visit our website at https://creatus.ai/ and connect with us on social media for the latest updates.
Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-_PCtdW4Bs


Do you have any reflections or insights you’d like to share with our community?

My reflection is simple: Embrace the pace of technology, but never lose sight of the human element. AI is here to augment our capabilities, not replace the unique qualities we bring to the table.


Visual Storytelling

Interview with
Marko Vidrih
Co-Founder @ CREATUS.AI