Over the past two years companies like Antithesis, Code Rabbit, Synthesized, Theorem, and Harness have all secured millions in backing from venture capitalists for their approaches to automating, validating, testing, and securing AI-generated code. These startups are selling the “picks and shovels” of the AI gold rush—tech tools that serve a larger industry. While some of the methodologies behind their technology remain unproven, investors are willing to gamble that at least a few will pan out.