Unblocked Secures $20M to Revolutionize Codebase Understanding with AI for Developers
In today’s fast-paced tech environment, developers often find themselves grappling with understanding complex codebases. This challenge is addressed by Unblocked, an innovative AI-powered assistant designed to provide contextual answers about specific lines of code.
About Unblocked: Revolutionizing Code Understanding
Created by Dennis Pilarinos, a veteran in developer tools, Unblocked aims to simplify the process of seeking information from code. Pilarinos has a rich background, having previously held director positions at Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. He also founded Buddybuild, a continuous integration platform acquired by Apple in 2018, where he later contributed to the development of the Xcode Cloud platform.
The Need for AI in Development
According to Pilarinos, “Developers trying to get the information they want is quite painful and time-consuming.” He emphasizes the growing necessity for tools like Unblocked as AI continues to infiltrate developers’ workflows, which could exacerbate existing challenges.
Key Features of Unblocked
Unblocked seamlessly integrates with popular development environments and collaboration tools such as:
This tool not only provides answers to questions like “Where do we define user metrics in our system?” but also enables developers to quickly locate the person responsible for changes in a module, fostering efficient communication.
Admin Controls and Future Integrations
Unblocked offers easy-to-use admin controls for system administrators and is actively working on integrating with platforms like Cursor and Lovable to enhance code explainability.
Future Developments and Funding
Beyond answering questions, Unblocked is developing proactive tools to assist developers in various project scenarios. One such tool, Autonomous CI Triage, helps streamline code testing across different scenarios.
Unblocked has attracted a diverse clientele, including companies like Drata, AppDirect, Big Cartel, and TravelPerk. Notably, engineers at Drata reported saving one to two hours each week by utilizing Unblocked’s platform.
Investment and Market Potential
Recently, Unblocked announced a successful $20 million Series A funding round led by B Capital and Radical Ventures, bringing its total funding to $30 million from various investors, including Amplify Partners and First Round Capital.
Rob Toews from Radical Ventures believes that as AI-generated code becomes more prevalent, tools like Unblocked will be essential for developers. “There will be second- and third-order effects of that, creating new challenges,” he stated, highlighting the importance of understanding the rationale behind AI-generated code.
As companies continue to adopt AI technologies, solutions like Unblocked will play a crucial role in helping developers navigate increasingly complex codebases.
