In the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, a new startup is tackling one of the thorniest challenges: how to monetize AI agents effectively. Paid, founded by Manny Medina, the entrepreneur behind the successful sales tech company Outreach, has secured a substantial $21 million in seed funding to pioneer a “results-based” billing platform for AI agents. This model shifts away from traditional subscription fees, charging instead based on tangible outcomes like completed tasks, potentially unlocking new economic models for AI developers.

The round, announced recently, was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from Fuse and other investors, bringing Paid’s total funding to $33.3 million when including an earlier pre-seed infusion. Medina, who stepped down as CEO of Outreach—a unicorn valued at over $1 billion—has relocated to London to build this venture, drawing on his experience in scaling software businesses. As reported by TechCrunch, Paid emerged from stealth mode earlier this year, positioning itself not as an AI agent creator but as infrastructure that enables developers to charge for the value their agents deliver.

Medina’s pivot from sales automation to AI infrastructure reflects a broader shift in tech entrepreneurship, where founders are increasingly focusing on the foundational tools needed to sustain the AI boom.

At its core, Paid addresses a fundamental mismatch in the AI economy. Traditional pricing, such as per-user subscriptions, doesn’t align well with agentic AI, which operates autonomously to achieve specific goals. Medina’s platform allows developers to implement outcome-based billing, where fees are tied to results—say, booking a meeting or processing a transaction—rather than usage time or seats. This innovation could accelerate adoption by making AI more accessible and performance-oriented, especially for enterprises wary of unpredictable costs.

Insights from GeekWire highlight Medina’s motivation: after building Outreach into a sales powerhouse, he saw AI agents as the next frontier but recognized monetization as a barrier. “We’re creating the plumbing for the agent economy,” Medina told the publication, emphasizing how Paid’s system integrates with existing AI frameworks to track and bill for outcomes seamlessly.

This approach could reshape how AI startups compete, emphasizing measurable value over hype, and potentially reducing the financial risks for users experimenting with agent technologies.

Investors are betting big on this vision. Lightspeed, known for backing high-growth tech firms, sees Paid as a key enabler in what could become a trillion-dollar AI market. Fuse and others joined the round, underscoring confidence in Medina’s track record. According to WebProNews, the funding will fuel product development and team expansion, with Paid aiming to launch features that support complex agent workflows across industries like sales, customer service, and logistics.

Critics, however, note potential challenges. Ensuring accurate outcome measurement in AI systems, which can be probabilistic, might introduce disputes over billing. Privacy concerns also loom, as tracking results could involve sensitive data. Still, Medina argues that results-based models foster trust, much like performance marketing in advertising.

As AI agents proliferate, Paid’s infrastructure might become indispensable, much like Stripe revolutionized payments for online businesses, setting the stage for a more mature and economically viable AI ecosystem.

Looking ahead, Paid’s success could influence broader tech trends. With AI agents projected to handle more autonomous tasks, platforms like this one may standardize how value is captured. Medina, a Latino founder who has raised eyebrows with his rapid fundraising—$33.3 million pre-Series A—exemplifies diverse leadership in tech, as noted in People of Color in Tech. If Paid delivers, it could not only enrich agent developers but also democratize AI’s benefits, aligning incentives in an industry hungry for sustainable growth.

The startup’s London base adds an international flavor, tapping into Europe’s tech talent pool amid post-Brexit shifts. As Bloomberg reported in a recent interview, Medina praised the UK’s engineering depth, suggesting Paid might bridge transatlantic AI innovation. While the path ahead involves technical hurdles and market education, this funding round signals strong belief in Paid’s potential to redefine AI economics.