Ando takes on Slack with a messaging app built for humans and AI agents to work side‑by‑side

US startup Ando officially launched its new team messaging platform on September 24, positioning it as a Slack alternative built from the ground up for humans and AI agents to share the same workspace. The company also revealed a $20 million seed round led by well‑known venture firms including Accel and Index Ventures.

Unlike traditional chat tools that bolt on a single chatbot, Ando treats AI agents as full participants in channels and DMs. Teams can invite agents that, for example, generate sales reports, triage support tickets or summarize meetings, and have them respond in the same threads as human colleagues. A developer‑friendly API lets companies plug the service into internal systems and build their own custom agents.

International tech media highlight Ando’s focus on permissions, roles and UX for “mixed human–agent teams,” rather than just conversational AI. Outlets like TechCrunch describe it as early infrastructure for a future “agent OS” workplace, where automated systems collaborate continuously with people. For Japanese companies experimenting with autonomous AI tools, Ando offers a glimpse of how everyday messaging might evolve once agents become first‑class coworkers.