Codi’s AI Agent Transforms Office Management
▼ Summary
– Codi is an Andreessen Horowitz-backed startup launching the first AI-powered platform to fully automate office management.
– Originally founded in 2018 as a marketplace for flexible office spaces, Codi has evolved to automate office logistics using AI.
– The AI platform integrates with any leased office to coordinate vendors for tasks like pantry restocking and cleaning, saving hundreds of admin hours annually.
– Codi operates on a subscription model costing a fraction of an office manager’s salary and has quickly gained traction, signing 40 companies during its beta phase.
– The startup positions itself against legacy management companies by offering autonomous execution and aims to eliminate the logistical burden of managing physical spaces.
Codi, a startup supported by Andreessen Horowitz, has introduced what it describes as the first fully automated AI platform for office management. Founded in 2018 by Christelle Rohaut and Dave Schuman, the company initially focused on helping businesses locate flexible workspaces through a marketplace model. Over time, their hands-on involvement in managing office logistics for clients inspired a shift toward automation, leveraging recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence.
Originally, Codi required clients to secure office space through its service. Now, the newly launched AI software-as-a-service product works with any leased office, automating day-to-day operational tasks. A beta version was released in May, with the official launch following this week. To date, Codi has secured $23 million in funding, including a $16 million Series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz in 2022.
The timing aligns with a broader corporate push for employees to return to physical offices. According to Rohaut, traditional office management remains inefficient and labor-intensive, costing companies a minimum of $80,000 annually in administrative expenses alone. The role of office managers has also evolved since the pandemic. With the rise of hybrid and remote work, many companies have left these positions vacant. When an office manager is on staff, their time is often dedicated to organizing events rather than handling operational logistics.
Codi’s AI system was trained using data and expertise gathered over several years. Clients input their preferred vendors into the platform, and the AI coordinates services such as restocking supplies and scheduling cleaning. Impressively, the beta product generated $100,000 in annual recurring revenue within just five weeks of its release.
Rohaut emphasized that the platform can save hundreds of hours per year on administrative duties. Codi charges a monthly management fee, structured like a subscription, which she notes is far lower than the cost of hiring a full-time or part-time office manager or even a fractional executive assistant.
A significant number of Codi’s existing office management clients are transitioning to the AI platform. During the beta phase alone, the company onboarded 40 new clients, including well-known names like TaskRabbit and Northbeam.
Rohaut views Codi’s main competitors as legacy management firms and workplace experience platforms such as Envoy. She explained that unlike traditional providers, Codi eliminates the need for staff to source, vet, and coordinate vendors. The platform operates autonomously and integrates a vetted network of service providers. Additionally, while other workplace platforms may focus on experience or access control, Codi specializes in managing the physical operations of an office.
“We are building a future where offices run themselves, much like self-driving cars,” Rohaut stated. “Our goal is to completely remove the logistical burden of managing physical spaces, freeing people to focus on cultivating workplace culture and driving business growth.”
(Source: TechCrunch)
