Unthread has a plan for cleaning up Slack and will show off its tech at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

In the ever-evolving landscape of startup innovation, one company is turning heads with its unique approach to enhancing Slack communication. Unthread, co-founded by CEO Tom Bachant, emerged from a moment of clarity amidst the chaos of Slack-based customer support. Bachant recalls the overwhelming disarray of ticketing systems and direct messages, leading to a lack of insight into the root issues causing disruptions. "We realized that Slack was a chaotic beast needing better tracking," he said, highlighting the potential for automation in managing support requests. Unthread has developed AI-powered support bots specifically designed for Slack, catering to esteemed clients such as Intuit, Lemonade, and Automattic. The company's mission is to autonomously resolve a significant portion of support issues while efficiently channeling the remaining concerns into structured support tickets. More than just a custom Slackbot provider, Bachant's team believes they have found a novel method for identifying and resolving the problems that hinder productivity. As a Top 20 finalist in the Startup Battlefield at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Unthread's influence extends beyond simple automation. Their system can seamlessly integrate with existing ticketing platforms like Jira and Zendesk, and in many cases, it can even replace them. This adaptability allows Unthread to cater to various departments, including HR, legal, and finance. With their solution in place, they can monitor reported issues and progressively automate more tasks, ultimately establishing a self-updating knowledge base for the entire organization. At the heart of Unthread's technology is contemporary AI, which grants them the flexibility to address a wide array of challenges on a larger scale. However, Bachant emphasizes that the core of their value lies in the fundamental organization of a ticketing system within a modern communication framework. "While large language models (LLMs) have transformed how users interact with our product, the fundamental problem we address remains unchanged," he noted. Bachant's journey to this point has not been without its challenges. His entrepreneurial path began with a ride-sharing platform called Dashride, aimed at providing safe transportation for intoxicated college students. After Dashride was acquired by Cruise in 2018, he ventured into the HR sector with a less successful startup before finding his niche with Slack-based support. Now, leading a compact team of ten in New York, Bachant is focused on expanding Unthread’s capabilities while maintaining a strong connection with their clientele. "Our success stems from engaging in meaningful conversations with our customers," he explained. "Understanding who they are, what they value about our product, and what might drive them to seek alternatives has been crucial in shaping our decisions." For those interested in discovering more about Unthread and its innovative solutions, as well as exploring a variety of other startups and hearing insightful pitches, the TechCrunch Disrupt event from October 27 to 29 in San Francisco promises to be an exciting opportunity.