India’s vibe-coding startup Emergent enters OpenClaw-like AI agent space

Emergent, a Bengaluru-based startup renowned for its innovative vibe-coding platform, has unveiled its latest offering, Wingman—a groundbreaking autonomous AI agent focused on messaging. This launch marks Emergent's strategic expansion into a burgeoning sector of software designed to operate quietly in the background and manage tasks, akin to well-known tools like OpenClaw and Claude from Anthropic. Initially attracting attention for its vibe-coding platform, which empowers non-technical users to create full-stack applications through natural language commands, Emergent is now venturing into the realm of task execution. "The clear next step for us was to explore how we could assist users not just in software development but also in its autonomous operation," stated Mukund Jha, co-founder and CEO of Emergent. "We aim to transition from software that supports business functions to software that actively manages them." The startup has reported that over 8 million users have engaged with its vibe-coding platform, with 1.5 million active monthly users. Founded in 2025, Emergent successfully secured $70 million in funding in January, achieving a valuation of $300 million, backed by notable investors such as SoftBank, Khosla Ventures, and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Wingman is designed to integrate seamlessly with popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, enabling users to assign and track tasks through chat. While the agent operates behind the scenes across connected applications like email and calendars, it maintains a balance by autonomously executing routine tasks while seeking user consent for more significant decisions. This launch coincides with a surge in interest around autonomous AI agents, with numerous companies striving to develop tools that can carry out tasks on behalf of users. Projects like OpenClaw, formerly known as Clawdbot and Moltbot, have garnered interest from early adopters, while tech giants like Anthropic and Microsoft are also exploring this dynamic market. Emergent aims to stand out by embedding Wingman into existing messaging platforms, allowing users to engage with the agent through familiar interfaces without needing to learn new software. The introduction of what they term "trust boundaries" allows the agent to perform routine tasks independently while still requiring user approval for more impactful actions, addressing concerns related to fully autonomous systems. Jha emphasized the decision to develop Wingman within messaging platforms was influenced by how people naturally conduct their work. "Much of our work occurs through chat, voice, and email—requesting assistance, following up, sharing information, and making decisions," he explained. "These will increasingly be the primary modes for interacting with agents." However, like many emerging AI agents, Wingman has its challenges. Jha acknowledged that the system often struggles with consistency in complex situations, where ambiguity, unclear goals, or tasks requiring significant human judgment are involved. Initially, Wingman will be available through a limited free trial, after which users will need to subscribe, with existing Emergent users able to access the agent via their current accounts.