The open-source ecosystem contains an abundance of tools for building artificial intelligence software, but only a handful of companies can afford to hire the specialists with the necessary skills to put them to use.  A startup called DimensionalMechanics Inc. is launching out of stealth mode this morning with $4.7 million in funding to try and level the playing for the rest of the market.

The cash will be used to complete the development of its cloud-based artificial intelligence, which aims to provide pre-implemented neural networking functionality for organizations that can’t create their own. NeoPulse, as the service is called, takes after the human brain in many respects. It’s capable of understanding information in a variety of different of formats ranging from text to video, and has the ability to pick out the most interesting details so that the user won’t have to sift through all the data on their own. But that’s where the similarity ends.

NeoPulse packs predictive analytics functionality not unlike that offered by traditional business intelligence software that makes it possible to forecast what product an online shopper is most likely to buy next or see where a market trend is headed. The feature is complemented by a simulation engine that is able to replicate the physical properties of complex objects in a digital environment, a chore historically likewise performed using specialized applications. According to DimensionalMechanics, its artificial smarts can potentially enable the service to carry out such advanced tasks much faster than a human who is left to their own devices.

The startup will allow customers to plug NeoPulse into their software to make the functionality available for their end-users.  Although the system is only expected to hit the market in the fourth quarter, DimensionalMechanics claims to have already received interest from several prospective buyers. It’s currently negotiating with a group of media companies looking to build a content curation service, as well as a number of CAD providers interested in giving fashion designers the ability to simulate different fabrics and body types more accurately.

At least some of DimensionalMechanics’ success at capturing the attention of prospects can be credited to the impressive track record of its two co-founders. Rajeev Dutt, who serves as its chief executive, is a physicist turned serial entrepreneur, while engineering head Dave Heber is a Microsoft Corp. veteran with nearly three decades of industry experience. Both participated in the startup’s new $4.7 million round alongside several unnamed angel investors.

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