Payload, a headless open-source content management system (CMS) provider, has announced that it has secured $4.7 million in seed funding. The investment round was led by Google's AI-focused Gradient Ventures, with significant contributions from MongoDB Ventures, Y Combinator, SV Angel, Grand Ventures, and Exceptional Capital. Numerous angel investors also participated in the funding round.
Based in Michigan, Payload differentiates itself from most CMS tools by focusing on the needs of developers. The platform was bootstrapped in 2021 and founded by CEO James Mikrut, COO Dan Ribbens, and CTO Elliot DeNolf. Payload's creators believe that while traditional app frameworks provide developers with the resources to build backends, they often lack the CMS-style user interfaces required for effective app and content management.
James Mikrut, Payload's CEO, explains, “To devs, ‘content management system’ is usually a swear word. […] We’re not competing with Webflow or Squarespace — rather, we’re going to give talented engineers a tool they can trust to build critical content infrastructure.” This approach led them to develop a CMS with a strong focus on the needs of engineers.
Instead of creating a no-code CMS, Payload has opted for an approach that resembles a framework more than a pure headless CMS. Developers begin by describing their Payload configuration in TypeScript. The service then generates a Mongo database, sets up REST and GraphQL APIs, handles file storage, manages authentication and access control, and creates the admin UI. The end product is a clean, minimalist user interface that caters to the needs of developers.
Payload is currently in its first launch week and has already released version 1.0 earlier this year. With the seed funding, the company aims to expand its team and foster investment in the open-source community surrounding the platform. Plans are also in place to launch Payload Cloud, a managed service designed to serve as the core of their monetization strategy and the central hub for deploying Payload apps.
With the growing popularity of low-code and no-code solutions, such as AppMaster or Webflow, Payload's dedication to catering specifically to developers may appeal to engineering teams seeking a more customizable, developer-friendly solution to build and manage their app infrastructures.
