Tektonic AI raises $10M to develop GenAI agents for automating business operations

Just a few years ago, the focus in enterprise software was on 'robotic process automation' (RPA). However, with the emergence of generative AI, the potential for building more effective systems has increased. Seattle-based Tektonic is a new startup in this field, combining GenAI with traditional methods and announcing a $10M seed funding round led by Point72 Ventures and Madrona Ventures.

The company aims to enable users to utilize GenAI agents for workflow automation through natural language. One highlighted area is quotes and renewals, which involve complex manual tasks that vary across businesses. Tektonic was founded by Nic Surpatanu, with experience at Tanium, UiPath, and Microsoft, who sees generative AI as unlocking new software possibilities.

Surpatanu emphasizes the need to combine generative AI with symbolic methods for optimal results. The adaptability and user intent understanding brought by generative AI offer advantages over traditional automation approaches like RPA. Tektonic's approach introduces flexibility to cover a wider range of scenarios.

While Surpatanu acknowledges the need for human involvement in current models, he believes Tektonic can significantly enhance automation efficiency. The company utilizes a mix of foundation and open models for entity extraction and actions.

Looking ahead, Tektonic aims to become a SaaS company connecting to businesses' systems seamlessly. Currently, the system is deployed as a container in a business' virtual private cloud for testing and development with design partners.