US: Automated coding tools explode

In May, San Francisco-based Cursor made waves by raising $900 million, valuing it at $10 billion. Cursor’s investor list includes tech heavyweights like Thrive Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Accel, signaling strong belief in the space’s potential.

Illustration of inspired coding. Photo: Substack

Not to be outdone, Windsurf, the company behind the popular AI programming tool Codeium, is also attracting special attention from OpenAI, the company considered the “father” of ChatGPT. According to sources, OpenAI is in negotiations to acquire Windsurf for $3 billion.

While both companies declined to comment, the news reflects the fierce competition and huge potential of the code-gen market. Windsurf’s tool is particularly well-known for its ability to convert plain English statements into code, a concept sometimes referred to as “vibe coding.” This opens the door for even non-programmers to build software themselves, democratizing the development process.

However, a major challenge is that most of today’s code-gen tools are built on top of AI models from large companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, or DeepSeek. This has led to their cost per query also increasing. So far, no code-gen company has declared a profit. However, some “vibe-coding” platforms have reported significant annual revenues. Cursor, with just 60 employees, has grown rapidly from zero to $100 million in annual recurring revenue as of January 2025, less than two years after its launch. Windsurf, founded in 2021, also launched its automated coding tool in November 2024 and quickly brought in $50 million in annual revenue. Still, both young companies are operating with negative gross margins, indicating that operating costs are still exceeding revenue.

In addition to internal challenges, code-gen startups also face fierce competition from tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. The future of dozens of fledgling code-gen companies remains a big question mark. Can they retain customers and find a solid foothold when tech giants enter the market?

Scott Raney, Managing Director at Redpoint Ventures, made a profound observation: “In many cases, the issue is not who has the best technology, but who will use that technology best and who will be able to sell their products better than others.” This statement suggests an important direction for code-gen startups: to survive and develop, they need not only superior technology but also to understand user needs, build the best experience and have effective marketing and sales strategies. The code-gen war promises to have many more unexpected developments in the near future.

According to VIET LE/Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper

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