Why we didn’t build a multi-model AI gateway first

We’re building an API product for developers, but we deliberately did not start with a “multi-model platform” or “AI gateway” story.

A lot of early AI builders, indie developers, and MVP teams are not asking for more provider complexity.

They’re asking for a much simpler outcome:

lower API cost
minimal migration
a familiar workflow
less code to change

If a team already uses the OpenAI API format, the biggest pain is often not “we need more providers.”

It’s:

inference cost
switching friction
integration overhead

So our v1 bet is narrower:

a lower-cost, OpenAI-compatible API layer designed for developers who want to keep a familiar integration pattern.

We’re intentionally not positioning it as:

a multi-model marketplace
an enterprise governance layer
a security/compliance platform
a routing/orchestration control plane

That may matter later. But it’s not the first problem we think is worth solving.

Curious how others here think about this:

If you’re building a small AI product, what matters more to you right now?

lower cost
more model/provider flexibility
reliability/trust
minimal migration effort