Ellen Choi’s Post

Service-as-software is a $4.6T opportunity. But no one knows how to actually grab that opportunity yet. Enterprise software has gone from assisting human workflows to now, LLMs giving software the ability to actually perform parts of the workflow. Instead of relying on timely and sometimes inaccurate human inputs of structured data, today's systems actively capture and process both structured and unstructured data. The service-as-software shift was huge—but we're on the edge of one that's even bigger. My Foundation Partners Joanne Chen and Jaya Gupta have now outlined how to put the service-as-software paradigm shift into action: through a System of Agents, which doesn’t just streamline a workflow but actually completes whole tasks, becoming the worker. A System of Agents mirrors a human team, with agents taking on collaborative, specialized tasks and continuously learning from each other, just as human teams do. Advice for founders building with Systems of Agents: → Position at the data source, own the path. Traditional software waits for humans to input data, whereas Systems of Agents capture it at the source. When an agent owns the interface where data is born, the system can then orchestrate every downstream action. → Move beyond software budgets, tap workforce spend. When a System of Agents completes a whole job task, it should be categorized as a personnel cost, not a software expense. → Use AI’s 24/7 nature and scalability to create new workstreams. AI agents working in areas like healthcare can operate 24/7, providing reliable support and an around-the-clock presence. → Stay ahead of pricing and business model shifts. Service-as-software shifts the core business model from seat-based pricing to outcome-based pricing; value is placed on the tangible improvements that AI delivers. In the past 6 months, we’ve heard from hundreds of startups working in this space. After those conversations, we’re announcing the System of Agents 50, which includes the companies you see here. 👇 Full blog in the comments. 

Reposting Ashu Garg, Jaya Gupta and Joanne Chen's insightful breakdown on Service-as-Software and the evolving role of AI through Systems of Agents. The article brilliantly articulates how we're transitioning from software assisting human workflows to AI agents actually performing and completing tasks. This System of Agents, where AI acts as the worker, not just the tool, is an exciting leap forward—mirroring human teams and pushing the boundaries of what technology can do for enterprises. The future of enterprise efficiency is here, and it's all about leveraging AI's ability to learn, adapt, and own the entire workflow. Thanks to them for sharing such a thought-provoking perspective! Check out the their blog in the comments for more insights. #ServiceAsSoftware #AITransformation #SystemOfAgents #AIFuture #EnterpriseAI #AIInnovation #AIResponsibility

THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS SOFTWARE: THEN, NOW & WHAT’S NEXT THEN & NOW ▶️ Expensive subscriptions across multiple software tools. ▶️ Disconnected systems that made data scattered and hard to manage. ▶️ High costs for IT teams and developers to configure tools, maintain integrations and keep everything running. ▶️ Complex security and compliance requirements across different platforms. Many businesses are still working within this same setup, grappling with multiple systems that don’t talk to each other, rising costs, and a constant need to maintain security across disconnected platforms. WHAT’S NEXT A future powered by AI “Agents” that make software actually work for you. ▶️ Integrated Systems Without the Headache: Imagine all your tools connecting automatically, no IT team required to set it up or maintain it. ▶️ Adaptable to Your Needs: Instead of relying on heavy customization, these AI agents would learn from your workflows and adjust themselves to fit the business. ▶️ Cost-Effective Solutions: Instead of paying for ten different tools, a single AI-driven system could cover essential tasks, making software budgets go further. ▶️ Automated Security and Compliance: These agents would monitor and adapt security protocols in real-time, ensuring continuous compliance without manual oversight. HOW WE GET THERE It’s important to be realistic about where AI is today. Current AI, machine learning, and automation tools already handle specific tasks efficiently, like data synchronization, reporting, and workflow automation. However, the vision of a “System of Agents” would demand AI that can understand context and adapt dynamically to new situations – something closer to what we might see with advancements in specialized AI rather than a true Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). For inspo, check out: https://lnkd.in/gCmwQ7gj THE PATH FORWARD While AGI could make this vision fully autonomous, it’s not essential to start moving in this direction. By focusing on specialized, interoperable AI systems that can communicate with each other and adapting business tools for greater compatibility, we can start bridging the gap today. The future of software isn’t just in more apps – it’s in smarter, interconnected tools that adapt to your business as you grow.

10 years ago none of us would have imagined how software would transform from helping us to be efficient to being our colleague. We moved from using software as systems of record and transactions to automation, intelligence and decision support. From being instructed what to do to having the first right to act, software has arrived. The shift from a software to SaaS to 'service as software' is disruptive. A natural evolution of software which can seem radical to us today. In our lifetime we would see businesses in the future which are a house of agents. Agentic AI forces real reimagination of the future as to what is a team, how is the budget allocated, reset performance benchmarks and the much debated talent shortage. Insightful work by Joanne Chen and Jaya Gupta https://lnkd.in/gTu4wn8M #AgenticAI #ServiceAsSoftware #GenAI #AI #HumanInABox #FutureWork #Software #Tech #BigIdea

If you have struggled to envision how #agenticworkflows will truly change business, I recommend you read this fantastic essay from the folks at Foundation Capital. It describes how systems of #AI agents will take on collaborative, specialized tasks and replicate working processes that we would typically see with high performing human teams, moving us beyond the software-as-a-service era to a future where we will purchase a variety of “services-as-software.” The use cases they reference – sales management, accounting, recruiting, system administration – paint a compelling picture of how extensive these services could be, and I was surprised to see the 50 different startups listed who are already developing a wide variety of solutions.  Total addressable market is not limited by software budgets. They see a trillion dollar opportunity by going after traditional workforce spend. We are definitely in a new era! #GenAI #Futureofwork https://lnkd.in/eaFsqpDK

Is your off-the-shelf software holding back your business potential? If you're finding gaps in how your current software meets your business's unique needs, it might be time to consider custom software development. This is especially important as integrating AI becomes vital to staying competitive. Some Signs You Might Need Custom Software 👇 Integration Challenges: Your existing software doesn’t play well with other tools, causing operational bottlenecks. Inefficiency: Manual tasks persist because your current software can’t automate them. Data Insights: You’re missing out on valuable insights because you can’t effectively capture or analyse data. Scalability Issues: Your current solution can’t grow with you, and adapting it is both costly and cumbersome. Emerging Tech Needs: Off-the-shelf solutions lack the advanced AI capabilities you need, like tailored machine learning models or predictive analytics. Are you seeing these signs in your business? Let's talk about how custom software can address them effectively. Connect with us to explore how a tailored solution can transform your operations. #CustomSoftware #BusinessGrowth

🧑💻👾 The Rise of Self-Healing Software: A Glimpse into the Future of Automated IT Support 🤖💡 In the world of IT, downtime and system errors can lead to massive financial losses 💸 and frustration. Enter self-healing software—a rapidly emerging technology that promises to revolutionise how we manage and maintain IT systems 🖥️. Imagine a world where software doesn’t just detect problems—it fixes itself automatically, without the need for human intervention. Welcome to the future of autonomous computing. Self-healing software uses AI and machine learning algorithms 🤖 to constantly monitor system health, identify issues, and repair problems in real time 🔄. Whether it’s correcting coding errors, restoring crashed applications, or balancing server loads, this technology acts like an immune system for your IT infrastructure, preventing minor issues from becoming catastrophic failures ⚠️. The benefits of self-healing software go far beyond convenience. By automating the resolution of IT issues, companies can drastically reduce downtime ⏳ and ensure consistent service availability. This is especially crucial in industries like finance 💹, healthcare 🏥, or e-commerce 🛒, where even a few minutes of system outage can lead to huge losses or, in extreme cases, risk lives. But beyond error detection, predictive maintenance is the next frontier 🌐. Using vast amounts of historical data 📊, these systems can anticipate potential failures before they even happen, offering fixes or optimizations in advance. This proactivity ensures smoother operations and eliminates the need for firefighting, leaving IT teams to focus on more strategic tasks 🧑💻. However, as with any AI-driven solution, the rise of self-healing systems raises concerns about job displacement 🤷♂️. Will IT teams become obsolete as machines take over problem-solving? Not quite. Instead, IT roles are likely to evolve towards managing, fine-tuning, and overseeing these intelligent systems, shifting from hands-on repair to high-level strategy 🧠⚙️. As companies adopt self-healing software, we’re stepping into an era where systems can heal themselves, ensuring constant uptime, and creating a future where IT is less about reactive maintenance and more about innovation 🌟. #selfhealingsoftware #abapit

🚀 The future of software is here: Service-as-Software powered by AI agents! Key insights from @Foundation Capital : • $4.6 trillion opportunity as AI transforms software from tool to worker • Evolution from workflow automation to Systems of Agents • AI agents collaborate like human teams, delivering specialized tasks • Positioning at data sources unlocks powerful insights and actions • AI solutions can tap into trillion-dollar workforce budgets Exciting times ahead for builders in this space! Which industry do you think will be transformed first? #AIAgents #FutureOfWork #TechInnovation https://lnkd.in/eKgawCrt

What is System of Agents? Why is it important now? Thanks to Foundation Capital for providing a detailed analysis of Systems of Agents. We are witnessing a significant transformation in how work is accomplished - the emergence of "Service as Software" fueled by intelligent Systems of Agents. 🚀🚀 My key takeaways 💡 From Tool to Autonomous Worker - Software is evolving from a workflow assistant to an autonomous decision-maker. - AI agents can now capture unstructured data (even from the point of origin or interface), understand context, and execute complex tasks. Potential market opportunity: $4.6 trillion in the next five years 💡 Collaborative Intelligence: How AI Agents Work - Multiple specialized agents collaborate like a human team. - Each agent has a specific role (e.g., sales development, technical solution design). - Continuous learning occurs through shared interactions and data refinement. 💡 Transformative Business Model Shift - Moving from seat-based to outcome-based pricing. - AI solutions now access trillion-dollar personnel budgets, not IT budgets. Value by tangible improvements, not just software licenses. 💯 The future isn't about AI replacing humans - it's about AI and humans collaborating to unlock unprecedented possibilities. PS: The real christmas treat is here 👇 https://lnkd.in/gDb5Auyh #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #AIAgents #BusinessInnovation

Exploring a New Era in Business Technology: The Emergence of Service as Software. Discover more at https://bit.ly/4g7Rd99. This innovative shift highlights how businesses are evolving by integrating services into software solutions, driving efficiency and growth. AI isn't just about automating tasks anymore; it's about understanding the data that the business generates and making the insights from that data work harder to bring positive change—contributing directly to speed, efficiency, and ultimately profitability or revenue. #BusinessTech #Innovation