Ando launches team messaging app for people and AI agents

Ando has launched a team messaging app designed for people and AI agents to work together. The startup says the platform can replace Slack or other internal messaging tools at companies using AI agents.

Founder Sara Du said she began exploring the idea while helping companies build MCP servers in 2025. She told TechCrunch that moving messages between Slack and agents, and giving agents enough context, posed technical challenges. Du said she wanted agents to join shared work conversations directly instead of relying on employees to pass along their messages.

Ando gives agents their own identities and inboxes. The app includes channels, direct messages, group conversations and live calls that can be transcribed and viewed by an agent, Du said. Agents can choose channels to join and enter conversations without being tagged. They can also message employees when they think a person should be notified, without waiting for approval.

Ando said it has raised $20 million in pre-seed and seed funding from investors including Accel, Index Ventures and Emergence. The company plans to use the funding to hire and support greater token use, Du said.

Du said Ando is working with customers in software, real estate and finance across 15 countries, though many teams are small. Slack and Microsoft Teams have also added AI agent capabilities, while Jack Dorsey recently announced Buzz, a messaging app aimed more at developers. Du acknowledged that Ando faces a difficult challenge competing with established platforms.