Ando launches ai-integrated team messaging app to compete with slack

Ando, founded by Sara Du, launched an AI-integrated team messaging app to compete with Slack. The platform allows humans and AI agents to converse, with agents having identities and inboxes. Du, previously at MCP servers, criticized Slack and Microsoft Teams for not being AI-ready. Ando’s app eliminates human intermediaries, enabling agents to understand context and suggest decisions. The company raised $20 million in pre-seed and seed funding from Accel, Index Ventures, and Emergence. Ando offers channels, DMs, group chats, and live calls, positioning itself as a full replacement for messaging apps. Du noted agents process more data, allowing small teams to scale. Ando operates in software, real estate, and finance across 15 countries. Du acknowledged initial user skepticism due to the platform’s jankiness but noted agents manage conversations more effectively than humans, fostering team collaboration. The company plans to hire more staff and expand operations. Du believes AI agents will handle execution and coordination, freeing humans for strategic decisions. Ando’s app aims to bridge human-AI collaboration in real-time workplace messaging.