Sonar, a Swiss provider of code quality and security solutions, has acquired AutoCodeRover, a Singapore-based autonomous AI agent platform for software development, for an undisclosed amount.

According to a press release, the acquisition aims to enhance developer productivity and improve software development processes using AI.

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AutoCodeRover, a spin-off from the National University of Singapore (NUS), uses large language models (LLMs) for coding and code maintenance. It has demonstrated results on the SWE bench, a benchmark for automatically evaluating systems’ ability to fix software issues. The platform infers developer intent from project artefacts to evolve software projects.

Key benefits:

AI-driven automation: AutoCodeRover automates key tasks in the software development life cycle (SDLC), such as debugging, issue remediation, and code refactoring.

Enhanced code quality: The integration of AutoCodeRover with SonarQube is expected to expedite code reviews and instantly remediate issues, ensuring the agile delivery of high-quality applications.

Reduced development costs: AutoCodeRover helps lower development costs by autonomously handling laborious coding tasks.

Focus on innovation: Developers can spend less time on fixing issues and more time on creating innovative business solutions.

Tariq Shaukat, CEO of Sonar, stated that AI agents provide developers with powerful new tools to build better and faster. He noted that developers spend significant time fixing bugs and addressing technical debt, which impacts productivity and happiness. Agentic AI can work alongside developers to free them up to focus on writing code, creating new products, and driving innovation.

AutoCodeRover’s LLM-agnostic design ensures compatibility with various language models, including those from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta. This allows users to select the best solution for their specific needs. Sonar plans to integrate AutoCodeRover with its SonarQube offerings later this year.

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Ridwan Shariffdeen, CEO and co-founder of AutoCodeRover, believes that combining their advanced agent technology with Sonar’s code quality and security solutions will have a greater impact on developers and organisations.

Sonar’s solutions support over 30 programming languages, frameworks, and infrastructure technologies and are used by over 7 million developers and 400,000 organisations worldwide. The acquisition of AutoCodeRover underscores Sonar’s commitment to investing in AI to help developers and organisations build high-quality, secure applications more effectively.

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In a recent episode of the Startup Project podcast, I spoke with David Blumberg, a seasoned investor with decades of experience funding early-stage tech companies. Blumberg, who began his investment journey in the 1990s and was an early investor in the Israeli ecosystem, shared his insights, successes, and lessons learned over the past three decades.

Blumberg’s path to venture capital was anything but typical. Initially drawn to government service, his experiences in Washington, D.C., coupled with the entrepreneurial spirit he discovered running a student business at Harvard, led him to the world of finance and technology.

Early investments and the rise of Israeli tech

Blumberg’s early investment experience at T. Rowe Price exposed him to the burgeoning tech scene. He recalls one of his first investments, Sitex, an Israeli company, at a time when Israel was still perceived as a socialist economy. Blumberg’s contrarian view that the perceived risks were already priced into the stocks led T. Rowe Price to begin investing in Israeli companies.

He also discusses his involvement in the Yozma program, a government initiative that incentivised venture capital investment in Israel. While acknowledging the program’s role in fostering collaboration between international and local investors, Blumberg emphasises that the key to Israel’s tech success was the government ultimately “getting out of the way” and allowing entrepreneurs to flourish.

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The importance of strong teams and repeat founders

Blumberg’s investment philosophy centres on the importance of strong teams, particularly at the pre-seed stage. He believes that a great team’s ability to adapt and pivot is crucial in the unpredictable world of startups. He cites examples of successful repeat founders like Oren Netzer (Double Verify, Data Heroes) and Dan Sanker (CaseStack, SupplyPike) whom he has backed multiple times, highlighting the value of long-term relationships and trust built through shared experiences.

Bloomberg Capital’s investment strategy: Data-intensive companies in leading democracies

Blumberg Capital focuses on pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds, typically investing US$1-5 million initially, reserving half for follow-on investments. They also manage a growth fund focused on late Series A and early Series B rounds, with investments ranging from US$5-15 million.

The firm’s current investment thesis centres on data-intensive companies leveraging AI and machine learning algorithms within specific vertical domains. Their portfolio includes companies like Vair-AI (AI for mining), Imogene (cancer detection), Joshua (insurance policy writing), and Telen (automated receipt inspection).

Blumberg’s personal investments and mentors

Beyond his work with Bloomberg Capital, Blumberg invests personally in diverse areas, including real estate and, unconventionally, oil and gas. He describes himself as an “energy humanitarian,” emphasising the need for reliable energy sources to address global energy poverty.

He acknowledges the influence of mentors like Fred Adler, Abby Joseph Cohen, Alan Patricoff, Charles Bronfman, and, notably, the entrepreneurs he’s worked with over the years.

Key takeaways for aspiring investors

Blumberg’s advice to young investors is simple yet crucial: “Get everything signed up front.”  Ensure clear contracts and agreements to avoid future disputes and protect your hard work.

The episode offers a wealth of insights from a seasoned investor, spanning his journey into venture capital, the evolution of the tech landscape, and the enduring principles of successful investing.

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