Individuals unfamiliar with coding are now realizing they can create their own bespoke applications through vibe coding—innovative platforms like Lovable that transform everyday language into functional code.
Although these prompt-to-code solutions are valuable for developing prototypes, the transition to full-scale production can be challenging. This reporter discovered that integrating the application with external technology services—such as those that facilitate SMS communications, emails, and Stripe payment processing—requires additional know-how.
Ilan Zerbib, who previously served as Shopify’s director of engineering for payments for five years, is working on a solution that could alleviate these backend complexities for non-technical creators.
Last summer, Zerbib introduced Sapiom, a startup focused on developing the financial infrastructure necessary for AI agents to securely purchase software, APIs, data, and computing services—essentially establishing a payment framework that lets AI autonomously acquire the resources it needs.
Whenever an AI agent connects with an external service like Twilio for SMS functionalities, it necessitates authentication and a micro-payment. Sapiom aims to streamline this process, enabling AI agents to autonomously make purchasing decisions without requiring human involvement.
“In the future, applications will consume services that involve payments. Currently, there’s no straightforward way for agents to access these,” stated Amit Kumar, a partner at Accel.
Kumar has engaged with numerous startups in the AI payments sector, but he believes the emphasis on backend financial solutions for enterprises—as opposed to consumers—is essential for the functionality of AI agents. This perspective is why Accel is spearheading Sapiom’s $15 million seed funding round, with additional investment from Okta Ventures, Array Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Anthropic, and Coinbase Ventures.
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“Every API call effectively represents a payment. Sending a text message incurs a cost. The moment you initiate a server on AWS, it’s also a payment,” Kumar elaborated to TechCrunch.
While it’s still early for Sapiom, the company is hopeful that its infrastructural solution will gain traction among vibe-coding firms and others developing AI agents that will eventually be capable of handling a wide range of tasks independently.
For instance, anyone who has created a vibe-coded app with SMS functions will no longer need to manually register for Twilio, provide payment information, or input an API key into their code. Instead, Sapiom streamlines this process behind the scenes, charging the individual for Twilio’s services as a pass-through fee via platforms like Lovable, Bolt, or other vibe-coding systems.
Though Sapiom is primarily focused on B2B applications, its technology might eventually allow personal AI agents to manage consumer transactions. The vision is that individuals will one day trust their AI agents to make independent financial choices, like ordering an Uber or shopping on Amazon. While this future is indeed promising, Zerbib emphasizes that AI won’t inherently increase consumer spending, which is why he is prioritizing the development of financial layers for businesses.
