A new mobile application is merging the addictive vertical feed of TikTok with the creative power of generative AI. Gizmo, a new app from New York-based startup Atma Sciences, offers a platform where users don’t just watch content—they play with it. The app presents a feed of “Gizmos,” which are interactive mini-apps, digital toys, and experiences created using text, photos, and sound.
The TikTok of Interactive Experiences
Unlike traditional short-form video apps where consumption is passive, Gizmo is built around interaction. Users scroll through a vertical feed, but each piece of content invites them to poke, swipe, draw, or drag to engage. These creations, or Gizmos, range from interactive puzzles and memes to digital art and animations.
This interactive format fosters a unique form of engagement. Users can like, comment on, and even remix existing Gizmos to build their own versions, creating a collaborative and playful ecosystem that feels like a blend of TikTok and an interactive design space.
Creation Powered by AI Prompts
The most disruptive feature of Gizmo is its accessibility. Creating an interactive experience requires no knowledge of coding. Instead, users simply type a natural language prompt describing their idea. The app’s underlying AI technology then generates the necessary code and renders the visual experience.
This prompt-based system democratizes app creation, transforming it from a technical skill into a purely creative endeavor. The platform also uses a combination of AI and human moderation to vet all creations, ensuring a safe user environment.
Impressive Early Traction and Funding
Atma Sciences, the startup behind Gizmo, was co-founded by Rudd Fawcett, Brandon Francis, Josh Siegel, and Daniel Amitay. The company secured a $5.49 million seed round led by First Round Capital to fuel its vision.
Despite a quiet launch less than six months ago, Gizmo has already achieved significant traction, amassing approximately 600,000 installs across iOS and Android. According to market intelligence firm Appfigures, the app saw its user base grow 312% between October and December, with nearly 40% of its total downloads occurring in December alone.
Relevance for the MENA Tech Scene
For the MENA region’s founders and investors, Gizmo represents a significant global trend at the intersection of AI, social media, and the creator economy. The region’s young, digitally-native population has consistently driven high engagement on platforms like TikTok, indicating a strong appetite for novel social and entertainment formats.
Gizmo’s no-code, AI-powered creation tool aligns perfectly with the growing demand for accessible digital tools that empower local creators. This model could inspire new platforms tailored to regional content and cultural nuances, offering a blueprint for engaging MENA’s next generation of digital consumers. Furthermore, it highlights a new frontier in consumer tech that regional VCs should be monitoring closely.
About Atma Sciences
Atma Sciences is a New York-based technology startup focused on combining powerful technology with simple, elegant foundations. Co-founded by Rudd Fawcett, Brandon Francis, CEO Josh Siegel, and CTO Daniel Amitay, the company’s first major product is Gizmo, a creativity app designed to make interactive media creation accessible to everyone through AI.
Source: TechCrunch
