Layup, a Y Combinator backed startup, is changing how users interact with software by offering a smart, AI-powered guidance tool that lives right inside the application. Launched on Dec. 5 and part of YC's winter 2023 cohort, Layup is "redefining user assistance with AI-driven in-product guidance."

At the heart of Layup is its "second cursor," an intuitive feature that provides real-time, personalized support to help users navigate tasks, discover features, and onboard smoothly -- without needing traditional, clunky help centers or rigid product tours.

Let's face it, even the best-designed apps can leave users scratching their heads. And outdated platforms like Pendo or WalkMe often require hours of setup and maintenance, only to become obsolete after a change in the user interface (UI). Layup solves this by using AI to adapt on the fly, so teams don't have to keep reworking guides or answering the same support questions.

"With just one line of code, Layup powers a seamless, adaptive assist -- right when and where users need it most. Think of it as the second cursor that actually gets things done for you," cofounder and CEO Nikhil Patel wrote in his LinkedIn post.

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Patel, along with cofounders Ryan Xue and Michael Lemm started Layup in 2022 to tackle "user adoption in a way that's effortless for teams and transformative for users," and workplace efficiency, integrating with over 170 apps to streamline workflows with simple prompts.

According to the company, getting started with the platform is ridiculously simple -- by inviting Layup as a user to your product and dropping in a single line of code, it learns the customers' workflows by tapping into existing documentation and knowledge base. From there, it's like having an in-app mentor for users, guiding them step-by-step through tasks or new features, no matter how the UI evolves.

For businesses, this means happier customers, fewer support tickets, and faster feature adoption. Whether it's for customer support, it eliminates the frustration of directing users to help centers or chatbots by instantly showing them exactly what to do within the application.

"We're getting inbounds from companies of all sizes and types -- from seed stage startups to F50 enterprises -- that want to deploy Layup today," Xue shared in a social media post, adding "Great design is the foundation. Layup is the multiplier that engages and empowers."

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When it comes to onboarding, Layup reduces the learning curve and accelerates the time it takes for new users to find value by visually guiding them step-by-step through the process. Additionally, for feature activation, it turns passive users into engaged participants by providing real-time, interactive guidance, ensuring they can confidently explore and utilize new tools or features.

Patel, an NYU graduate of computer science, was previously the Chief Technological Officer of Databass AI.

Lemm, a Harvard Law alum, previously worked at J.P. Morgan and Kirkland and Ellis and Xue, a Cornell alum, held various roles at Google, McKinsey & Company, and Origin before joining forces to start Layup.