Real-world tools for scrappy operators like us
I run a rug company. Not a SaaS startup. Not a VC-backed AI darling. A company that makes beautiful, easy-to-clean rugs for real people with real messes — peanut butter on a runner, juice spills at a birthday party, you name it.
But recently, I’ve been falling down the rabbit hole of AI-powered tools — not because I think they’re flashy, but because they’re finally getting useful. And nothing caught my eye more than the last couple of Y Combinator graduating classes.
A massive chunk of these startups are building AI tools. But here’s what gets me excited: many of them aren’t chasing the moon. They’re solving the real, unsexy, painful problems small businesses like mine deal with every day. Logistics. Invoicing. Bookkeeping. Government paperwork. Refund fraud.
This post isn’t meant to be a full YC recap. It’s just a short list of companies I think are worth watching — and why they matter to folks who are actually running businesses, not just building pitch decks.
Five Startups I’m Keeping an Eye On
1. Hazel
What they do: Hazel helps small businesses win government contracts by automating the messy paperwork and compliance steps. Think of it like an AI-powered RFP assistant.
Why it matters: Government work used to be a fortress unless you had connections, patience, and legal muscle. Hazel opens the door for small shops — contractors, designers, local manufacturers — to land serious clients like school districts and city agencies.
Try it or reach out: hazeltech.ai | august@hazeltech.ai | elton@hazeltech.ai
2. Oway
What they do: Oway turns unused truck space into cheaper freight shipping. They basically “rideshare” pallet shipping — you toss your freight into someone else’s half-full truck going the same way.
Why it matters: Freight is expensive. For physical product brands, it’s one of the top 3 cost drivers. This is a way to lower that cost without warehousing or bulk negotiating. I’d love something like this for our custom rugs.
Try it or reach out: shipoway.com
3. LedgerUp
What they do: LedgerUp is like an AI revenue assistant. It automates your invoicing, follows up on late payments, and even answers questions like “What did Acme Co. pay last month?” in Slack.
Why it matters: I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to chase a payment that slipped through the cracks. This tool isn’t flashy — it’s just practical. And when you’re running lean, cash flow is everything.
Try it or reach out: ledgerup.ai | founders@ledgerup.ai
4. Rebolt
What they do: Rebolt is building AI agents to replace back-of-house restaurant tasks. They dispute delivery app refunds, respond to customers, and even help hire and manage staff.
Why it matters: One of our friends runs a restaurant and loses thousands every month to fake refund claims. If Rebolt can claw that back, that’s a game-changer. And honestly, I think their model will spread beyond restaurants.
Try it or reach out: rebolt.ai | founders@rebolt.ai
5. Abundant
What they do: They provide on-demand human oversight for your AI agents. When the bot gets confused, a vetted human jumps in — and their work helps retrain your AI over time.
Why it matters: We all want to automate more. But when AI fails silently, it costs real money. This gives you reliability and a smarter system over time.
Try it or reach out: abundant.ai | founders@abundant.ai
What This All Adds Up To
A year ago, I thought AI was mostly for coders and researchers. Now, it’s clear: AI is becoming the new labor layer. Not the replacement for people — but the relief from all the stuff people hate doing anyway.
That’s what these companies have in common. They’re not building “chatbots” — they’re building quiet systems that plug into the broken workflows we’ve all tolerated for too long.
A Note to Founders
If you’re working on something like this, I’d love to hear about it. I’m just a guy who sells rugs, but I think there’s power in sharing real tools with other operators. These posts aren’t paid. They’re just my way of making sense of what’s happening.
And if you’re a small business owner like me — and you try one of these tools — let me know what you think. There’s something really special happening here, and I want to stay close to it.
Tweet me @ademogu or drop me a line at adem@wellwoven.com. I’ll be posting more of these soon.
Hey, I’ve Been Thinking… 
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