Indian startup Emergent launches autonomous AI agent Wingman

Emergent, an Indian startup known for its vibe-coding platform, has introduced "Wingman," a messaging-first autonomous AI agent, expanding into a growing category of software that operates in the background to complete tasks, similar to tools like OpenClaw and Claude from Anthropic. The Bengaluru-based startup previously gained attention for its vibe-coding platform, which allows users without technical backgrounds to build full-stack applications using natural-language prompts.

With Wingman, Emergent aims to move beyond creation into execution, enabling AI agents to handle routine tasks across various tools and workflows. "The obvious next step for us was, can we help them not just build the software, but actually operate more autonomously through it?" said Mukund Jha, co-founder and CEO of Emergent. "You move from software that supports the business to software that can actively help run it."

Founded in 2025, the startup raised $70 million in January at a valuation of $300 million, backed by investors including SoftBank, Khosla Ventures, and Lightspeed Venture Partners. More than eight million builders have used its vibe-coding platform to create and deploy software, with over 1.5 million monthly active users.

Wingman is designed to operate through messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, allowing users to assign and monitor tasks via chat. At the same time, the agent runs in the background across connected tools such as email, calendars, and workplace software. It can autonomously carry out routine actions but seeks user approval for more significant steps.

The launch comes as autonomous AI agents emerge as a key battleground in the industry, with a growing number of companies racing to build tools that can complete tasks on behalf of users. Emergent is attempting to differentiate itself by embedding Wingman into messaging platforms, allowing users to interact with the agent via chat rather than adopting a new interface. The startup also introduced what it calls "trust boundaries," enabling the agent to carry out routine tasks autonomously while requiring user approval for more consequential actions, addressing concerns around fully autonomous systems.

However, like many emerging AI agents, Wingman faces limitations. Jha noted that the system struggles with "consistency in really ambiguous situations, messy edge cases, unclear goals, or workflows where a lot of human judgment is needed." Wingman is being rolled out with a limited free trial, after which access will be paid, with existing Emergent users able to use the agent through their accounts.