Sara Du has launched Ando, a team messaging platform that allows both humans and AI agents to collaborate seamlessly. Du realised that current communication platforms were not designed to support AI agents effectively, leading to unnecessary hurdles and inefficiencies.

The key innovation with Ando is its ability to give AI agents their own identities and inboxes, enabling them to participate in conversations as naturally as humans. This system aims to eliminate the need for human proxies to relay AI work, allowing for more direct and efficient collaboration.

Ando’s funding of $20 million from prominent investors such as Accel, Index Ventures, and Emergence signals the growing importance of AI in the workplace. Du’s vision is ambitious, aiming to scale smaller teams and reduce the reliance on large numbers of human workers for routine tasks.

Despite initial skepticism, Du and her team have shown promising results with Ando, where AI agents can autonomously bring together relevant conversations and suggest decisions. The platform is currently being used by teams in software, real estate, and finance across 15 countries.

The launch of Ando represents a significant step towards integrating AI into the fabric of team communication, potentially transforming the way businesses operate.