AI agents are the future. And they are rapidly reshaping industries.
78% of professionals are actively planning to implement them and 67% of leadership expecting AI to transform their businesses within two years.
Yet, despite the excitement, only 1% of companies describe their AI rollouts as mature, highlighting the gap between potential and execution.
The demand for AI-powered automation is undeniable. For example, 90% of procurement leaders are adopting AI agents to optimize operations, and 60% of health and life sciences leaders feel their companies aren’t adopting AI fast enough.
However, major challenges remain. 86% of enterprises need tech stack upgrades to effectively deploy AI agents, and 52% of workers cite lack of knowledge as the biggest adoption barrier.
What does this all mean? Startup opportunities in agents.
As AI agent adoption accelerates, startups are emerging to fill critical gaps, building solutions that automate workflows, enhance decision-making, and drive operational efficiency.
This post explores leading AI agent startups, and their impact across industries. If you're considering launching an AI agent startup—or considering potential applications in your business—now is the time to understand the landscape, opportunities, and challenges ahead.
What is an AI agent startup?
An AI agent startup is a company that builds, develops, or deploys autonomous AI agents designed to perform tasks, make decisions, and automate workflows with minimal human intervention. These startups leverage machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and multi-agent systems to create AI-driven solutions for businesses and consumers.
What’s unique about AI agent startups is their focus on intelligent automation, enabling AI agents to perceive their environment, learn from data, and take action in real-time. Often, these actions are tailored to specific industries so that the agents can be specialized. This specialization is key to embodying the necessary trust for the agent to autonomously take action within an organization.
Key Characteristics of AI Agent Startups
Develop AI-driven automation
Specialize in agent-based AI models
Offer plug-and-play AI solutions
Target specific industries
Common types of AI agent startups
The AI agent startup world is growing and adapting quickly. It is dynamic and at the forefront of change. As such, the startup types are sure to grow, but currently, the most common types include:
AI agent marketplaces: Startup marketplaces are a group of AI agent marketplaces that act as SaaS platforms to provide businesses access to a curated list of pre-trained and customizable AI agents for automation and decision-making.
Conversational AI startups: Companies specializing in AI-powered assistants for customer service, legal support, and healthcare interactions.
AI-driven automation startups: Startups focused on streamlining workflows and executing complex business processes with minimal human intervention.
Multi-agent system startups: Businesses developing collaborative AI agents that interact with each other to complete multi-step tasks efficiently.
Enterprise AI infrastructure startups: Companies building foundational AI systems, cloud-based platforms, and developer tools to support AI agent deployment.
Industry-specific AI agents: AI solutions tailored for finance, legal, e-commerce, healthcare, and other specialized fields, automating sector-specific workflows and decision-making processes.
16 popular AI agent startups to check out
Without further ado, here are the up and coming AI agent startups that have entered the market in the past 3 years.
1. Enso
Enso is an AI agent platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), offering pre programmed AI agents that automate a variety of business functions. The platform provides industry-specific AI bots that help with SEO, social media management, competitor tracking, invoicing, and more. With over 1,000 AI agents across 70 industries, Enso enables businesses to integrate predictable automation with the adaptability of large language models (LLMs), streamlining daily operations without the complexity of custom AI development.
Target users:
Small and medium-sized businesses
Marketing teams
E-commerce brands
Entrepreneurs
Main features of this AI startup:
Industry-specific AI agents covering 70+ business sectors
A la carte pricing model for cost-effective AI adoption
Predefined workflows for automation with LLM-powered enhancements
Integration with external AI tools like ElevenLabs for audio content creation
Future marketplace for third-party AI agents in development
2. Wildcard
Wildcard serves as a bridge between AI agents and APIs, allowing AI-driven applications to integrate seamlessly with external tools. Instead of requiring developers to manually tune prompts and chain large language models, Wildcard introduces agents.json, an intuitive framework that enables AI agents to discover and execute API flows effortlessly.
Target users:
AI developers
Engineering teams
Tech startups
Main features of this AI startup:
agents.json framework for AI agents to identify and call APIs
Pre-built, verified API flows for faster AI automation
Natural language tool selection for AI-driven decision-making
Open-source SDK for running actions on any infrastructure
Support for custom API collections tailored to specific AI agent models
3. Lyzr AI
Lyzr AI provides enterprises and startups with a structured platform for building and deploying AI agents at scale. Its flagship product, Lyzr Agent Studio, helps businesses transition from proof-of-concept AI models to production-ready deployments while embedding SafeAI and Responsible AI principles at the agent level. Designed to tackle hallucinations, inappropriate agent behavior, and unreliable AI workflows, Lyzr AI enhances trust, compliance, and accuracy in AI-driven automation.
Target users:
Enterprises
Startups
Developers
Business teams
Main features of this AI startup:
Lyzr Agent Studio for fast AI agent development
SafeAI modules with toxicity control, bias detection, and PII redaction
Responsible AI features for fact-based responses and instruction adherence
Hybrid workflow orchestration combining LLMs and ML agents
Flexible deployment options for cloud, private cloud, or on-premise environments
No-code tools allowing non-technical users to create AI-powered applications
4. Qeen.ai
Focusing on AI-driven marketing and automation, Qeen.ai is a platform focusing on ai agents for e-commerce businesses, designed to optimize content, sales, and customer engagement using autonomous AI agents. With a strong focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Qeen.ai enables small and mid-sized businesses to scale their operations without heavy reliance on ad-driven marketing strategies. Its AI-powered agents handle everything from product descriptions and SEO to personalized marketing campaigns, continuously refining strategies using reinforcement learning-based UI technology (RL-UI).
Target users:
E-commerce brands
Small and mid-sized retailers
Digital marketing teams
Marketplaces
Main features of this AI startup:
AI-generated content automation for product descriptions and SEO
Conversational sales assistants to enhance customer engagement
Dynamic text personalization tailored to user behavior and device type
Real-time marketing optimization using RL-UI technology
Subscription-based pricing model with flexible per-SKU and interaction-based costs
5. ToothFairyAI
Businesses looking for customizable, decentralized AI agents can turn to ToothFairyAI, an Australian startup that offers AI-powered assistants for sales, marketing, project management, recruiting, customer retention, and more. With a library of over 80 specialized agents, businesses can deploy AI tailored to unique workflows and operational needs. These agents handle everything from SEO analysis and financial modeling to legal compliance and customer service.
Target users:
Companies requiring industry-specific AI automation
Marketing teams
Sales teams
Finance Departments
Compliance departments
Customer service teams
Research professionals
Main features of this AI startup:
80+ AI agents with specialized functions across multiple industries
Decentralized AI infrastructure for flexible deployment
Customizable AI agents for specific business processes
Advanced capabilities like image/video analysis, deep research, and reasoning
Support for legal, finance, SEO, and customer engagement tasks
6. Naratix
Optimizing e-commerce operations through AI-powered automation, Naratix has developed five intelligent AI robots designed to enhance product catalog management, search relevance, and conversion rates. Operating in 30 countries across four continents, the Romanian startup integrates seamlessly with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, VTEX, and Shopware. This allows businesses to automate manual processes and optimize online sales performance.
Target users:
E-commerce businesses
Retailers
Enterprise clients
Digital marketers
Main features of this AI startup:
Five AI-powered robots (Nara, Dynamo, Gina, Grant, Julie) for different automation tasks
Seamless integration with Shopify, WooCommerce, VTEX, and Shopware
AI-driven product recommendations and catalog optimization
Automated price monitoring and data enrichment
Conversion rate improvements through AI-enhanced search and personalization
7. VoiceCare AI
Healthcare administrative workloads are a growing challenge, with medical office staff spending up to 36 hours per week on paperwork and calls. VoiceCare AI is addressing this inefficiency by automating payer-provider phone interactions through its advanced voice AI agents. The platform streamlines benefits verification, prior authorizations, claims management, and prescription support, significantly reducing the time healthcare staff spend on routine back-office conversations.
Target users:
Healthcare providers
Insurance companies
Hospital systems
Revenue cycle management teams
Main features of this AI startup:
Voice AI agent "Joy" capable of handling multi-hour, complex payer conversations
Seamless integration with existing healthcare workflows
HIPAA-compliant and SOC 2 Type II attested for data security
High call completion accuracy using reinforcement learning (RLHF)
Automated documentation of every interaction for compliance and auditing
8. Firsthand
Brands and publishers now have greater control over AI-driven consumer interactions with Firsthand. This AI agent platform is designed to facilitate real-time, one-to-one exchanges with audiences. Instead of relying on tech giants to surface and summarize their content, companies can deploy their own AI agents across the web, ensuring their proprietary data and content are used accurately. Firsthand’s platform empowers brands to engage consumers wherever they search for information, using rights-controlled AI-driven interactions.
Target users:
Brands
Publishers
Marketing teams
Advertising networks
Main features of this AI startup:
Custom AI agents designed for brand-controlled consumer interactions
Lakebed data rights management to protect proprietary content
AI-driven conversational marketing that engages consumers at scale
Seamless AI agent distribution across partner websites
First-party audience insights for improved marketing and product strategies
9. &AI
Patent attorneys now have an AI-powered assistant to streamline their workflows with &AI, a platform designed to automate patent prosecution, litigation, and due diligence. By leveraging its AI agent, Andy, law firms can reduce time-consuming tasks like prior art searches, claim chart drafting, and office action responses by 70-90%. Instead of following predefined steps, Andy adapts dynamically to new legal information, providing a more efficient and accurate way to manage patent portfolios.
Target users:
Patent attorneys
Law firms
Legal research teams
Main features of this AI startup:
AI-powered claim chart drafting reducing hours of manual work
Comprehensive prior art search automation for accuracy and efficiency
Dynamic legal document analysis for office actions and litigation prep
Adaptive AI agent (Andy) that independently plans and adjusts workflows
Secure legal workspace designed for law firms and patent professionals
10. Harvey AI
Legal professionals are streamlining research, case preparation, and document drafting with Harvey AI, an AI-powered copilot for lawyers. Designed to assist with legal analysis, contract review, and litigation prep, Harvey AI leverages OpenAI’s GPT-4 models to help attorneys extract case details, analyze legal documents, and generate filings with citations. With backing from Google Ventures, OpenAI, and Sequoia Capital, the platform is already used by top global law firms and consultancies.
Target users:
Law firms
Corporate legal teams
Litigation attorneys
Consultancies
In-house counsel
Main features of this AI startup:
AI-assisted legal research providing case law insights and precedents
Automated document drafting with legal citations and compliance checks
Contract analysis tools for detecting risks and summarizing agreements
Natural language legal queries for case law and compliance verification
Enterprise-grade security designed for law firms and legal teams
11. Basis
Accounting firms are reducing manual data entry and improving accuracy with Basis. This AI-powered platform automates financial workflows, transaction entry, and data reconciliation. Designed as an autonomous AI agent for accountants, Basis integrates with popular ledger systems like QuickBooks and Xero, allowing firms to save time and reduce operational costs. With backing from Khosla Ventures, OpenAI board members, and Google’s chief scientist Jeff Dean, Basis is tackling the accounting labor shortage by providing AI-driven efficiency for firms of all sizes.
Target users:
Accounting firms
Finance teams
Small and mid-sized businesses
Auditors
Main features of this AI startup:
AI-driven transaction entry and categorization for bookkeeping automation
Data reconciliation and accuracy checks to detect discrepancies
Seamless integration with QuickBooks, Xero, and other accounting platforms
Autonomous AI workflow execution that functions like a junior accountant
12. Mistral AI
Mistral AI is streamlining product renewals for companies like Cisco with its open-weight large language models (LLMs). As part of a strategic partnership, the two companies are developing multiple AI agents, including the AI Renewals Agent, which automates data analysis and proposal generation for Cisco’s internal renewals team. With funding from 40+ investors, including Cisco, Mistral AI is expanding its enterprise AI solutions while prioritizing on-premise security, compliance, and privacy.
Target users:
Enterprises
Tech companies
Customer experience teams
AI researchers
Main features of this AI startup:
AI-powered contract renewal automation reducing proposal time by 20%
Real-time data analysis from 50+ sources for intelligent decision-making
On-premise AI models ensuring security, privacy, and compliance
Strategic collaboration with Cisco for developing AI-led customer solutions
Large-scale open-weight LLMs supporting enterprise AI initiatives
13. Sierra Technologies Inc.
Customer service is evolving beyond static chatbots, and Sierra Technologies is leading the way with AI-powered virtual assistants that can engage in context-aware, natural language conversations. Co-founded by ex-Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor, Sierra's AI agents not only answer customer inquiries but also take action on their behalf, reducing the need for human intervention. The platform allows businesses to personalize AI assistants, ensuring they reflect a company's brand tone and values, whether casual, professional, or even humorous.
Target users:
Enterprises
Retail brands
E-commerce brands
Consumer-focused businesses
Customer experience teams
Main features of this AI startup:
Conversational AI with deep contextual understanding of business data
Customizable AI personas to match a brand’s voice and personality
Multi-LLM "constellation" approach for improved accuracy and reliability
AI agents capable of taking actions beyond basic customer inquiries
Enterprise-grade AI solutions used by brands like WeightWatchers and Sonos
14. Pinkfish AI
Enterprise automation shouldn't come with a backlog of 1,000 unfinished tasks, yet many companies struggle to implement AI due to legacy systems and IT constraints. Pinkfish AI is solving this by providing AI-powered agents that build and execute automated workflows through natural language prompts. With 200+ integrations, including Salesforce and Zendesk, Pinkfish makes sure that enterprises can automate mission-critical processes without sacrificing control or reliability.
Target users:
Retail
Subscription-based businesses
Enterprise IT teams
Customer service departments
Operations teams
Main features of this AI startup:
Natural language AI workflow automation with deterministic execution
Seamless integration with 200+ enterprise tools and platforms
Full-code backend capabilities for more flexible customization
Designed for mission-critical automations, ensuring high reliability
Enterprise-grade guardrails to maintain data security and workflow accuracy
15. /dev/agents
Building fully autonomous AI agents requires more than just powerful models—it demands a dedicated infrastructure. That’s exactly what /dev/agents is developing: a cloud-based operating system for AI agents that allows them to collaborate, adapt, and function seamlessly across devices. Founded by former Google and Stripe executives, the company is working to standardize AI agent development, much like Android revolutionized mobile computing.
Target users:
Developers
AI researchers
Tech companies
Businesses exploring AI-driven automation
Main features of this AI startup:
AI operating system designed for cross-device agent collaboration
Standardized tools and APIs to simplify AI agent development
Personalized AI-powered user interfaces with generative AI
Cloud-based infrastructure for scalable AI automation
16. Together AI
While not an AI agent startup in the traditional sense, this startup is definitely worth mentioning. Together AI is an AI acceleration cloud designed to support open-source and custom AI model training at scale. The company provides high-performance GPU clusters optimized for AI workloads, making it a preferred choice for businesses building AI agents. With substantial funding and partnerships, Together AI is building a distributed AI infrastructure powered by Nvidia Blackwell GPUs across multiple data centers.
Target users:
AI startups
Enterprises
Research institutions
Cloud service providers
Main features of this AI startup:
High-performance AI cloud for training open-source and custom models
Access to Nvidia Blackwell, H200, H100, and A100 GPUs with scalable configurations
Distributed AI infrastructure with 200MW power capacity across North American data centers
Partnerships with independent cloud providers and hyperscalers for global AI acceleration
Support for large-scale AI inference and training workloads
Have an idea for an AI agent startup?
Bringing an AI agent startup to life starts with a great idea, but takes a lot more to bring it to life. You need the right development team, strategy, and execution. At DevSquad, we specialize in building AI-powered products quickly and efficiently, ensuring your AI agents are reliable, scalable, and built for real-world applications.
We specialize in helping experts develop tools for their verticals. Whether you're creating an AI-powered automation tool, an AI-driven customer assistant, or a next-generation agent framework, DevSquad can help you build it fast and get it right.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is an AI agent?
An AI agent is an autonomous system that perceives its environment, processes information, and takes actions to achieve specific goals. AI agents can automate workflows, make decisions, and interact with users or other systems, reducing the need for human intervention. They are used in customer service, e-commerce, cybersecurity, finance, and many other industries.
Is there a difference between an AI agent and an AI copilot?
Yes. AI agents operate independently to complete tasks with minimal human input, while AI copilots assist users in real-time, offering recommendations, suggestions, or automation but keeping humans in control. AI copilots typically function as interactive assistants, whereas AI agents can execute complex workflows or processes autonomously.
Are AI agents and AI assistants the same thing?
Not exactly. AI assistants—such as chatbots or virtual assistants—are a subset of AI agents, typically designed for direct user interaction (e.g., answering questions or providing support). AI agents have broader applications, including automated workflows, data processing, and decision-making, often working in the background without direct user input.
What’s the difference between an AI agent startup and an AI agent marketplace ?
An AI agent startup builds and develops AI-powered agents for specific use cases, such as legal research, e-commerce automation, or healthcare administration. An AI agent marketplace, on the other hand, is a platform where businesses can browse, purchase, and deploy AI agents built by various providers, offering pre-trained or customizable AI solutions.
Are AI agent startups different from other types of startups?
Yes. Unlike traditional startups, AI agent startups focus on building autonomous AI-driven systems that require advanced machine learning, automation frameworks, and scalable architectures. They often work with complex AI models, natural language processing, and real-time decision-making, differentiating them from SaaS startups or traditional tech companies.
Thinking about an AI agent startup for your vertical? Learn about our AI agent development process.
