• Pruna AI has secured $6.5 million from EQT Ventures to compress AI models.

• The startup's optimization tool aims to make AI models smaller, cheaper, and greener.

• BI got an exclusive look at the 12-slide pitch deck it used to secure the new funding.

Paris and Munich-based software startup Pruna AI has secured $6.5 million from EQT Ventures.

The startup has developed an optimization tool for compressing AI models so that they require less compute and energy.

"It's similar to a zip that compresses files, so they are cheaper, faster, and greener, and everyone can access and use those AI models," Bertrand Charpentier, president and chief scientist officer at Pruna AI, told Business Insider.

Users can run their model through Pruna's optimization engine, which the startup says renders the AI model smaller, cheaper, and greener on any hardware platform. It spans everything from natural language processing to images and audio systems.

The startup's customers are midsize to large companies with their own AI models that can rake in huge compute bills. Charpentier said that using Pruna's platform has been a win-win for both parties, as companies can significantly reduce the costs of running these AI models. Pruna charges its customers based on the usage of the compressed model, which is typically much cheaper to run than the non-compressed version.

Being based in both Paris and Munich is also a boon for the startup, said Carl Svantesson, partner at Swedish investment firm EQT Ventures, which led Pruna's funding round. "The combination of the two ecosystems, with Paris and Munich, enables the possibility of hiring the best talent and software," he said.

Access to compute and specialized chips, called GPUs, has been a long-standing issue in the AI ecosystem. As a result, Charpentier found that there was appetite from investors looking to make AI cheaper and more sustainable.

Additional funding came from Daphni, Motier, and Kima, as well as high-profile angel investors, including Roxanne Varza, Hervé Nivon, and Olivier Pomel.

With the fresh funding, Pruna plans to double down on growing its team.

Check out the 12-slide pitch deck used to secure the capital.