Runware has launched blazing-fast Stable Diffusion and FLUX-based image generation APIs
AI inference startup Runware has raised $3M in funding while launching the world's fastest media generation API, offering sub-second image generation through sustainable data centers powered by renewable energy at industry-leading low costs.
Runware, a startup specializing in providing generative AI-as-a-service, secured $3 million in a funding round announced earlier this week. The investment round saw participation from notable investors including A16Z's Speedrun, LakeStar's Halo II, and Lunar Ventures.
In parallel, Runware has launched what it refers to as the fastest and most affordable generative media API. With a single API call, customers can enjoy sub-second generations for FLUX and Stable Diffusion models, some of the leading image generation models currently on the market for any image generation workflow; text-to-image, image-to-image, background removal, inpainting, outpainting, and upscaling. Customers are not limited to these models, though: Runware claims it offers 202,762 different models, including LoRAs, ControlNet, and embeddings. The company also supports uploads of public and private models not available through the Artificial Intelligence Resource (AIR) naming system.
What sets Runware apart is its proprietary Sonic Inference Engine™. To deliver the world's fastest image generation API, Runware has built custom hardware and an orchestration layer specifically optimized for demanding AI workloads. The company affords to drive its costs down even further thanks to its data centers' efficient cooling systems and the fact that those data centers are powered by self-generated, off-grid solar energy, which is in turn backed by hydropower. This setup lets Runware generate thousands of high-quality images in milliseconds for less than $1, not only addressing performance and sustainability challenges in AI computing but enabling the company to establish itself as a tough competitor in the AI inference sector.
