India’s vibe-coding startup Emergent steps into OpenClaw-style AI agent space

Emergent, a Bengaluru-based startup that gained recognition for its vibe-coding platform, has introduced a new product called Wingman — a messaging-first autonomous AI agent — as it moves into a fast-growing segment of software designed to operate in the background and complete tasks. The category has gained momentum through tools such as OpenClaw and systems developed by Anthropi, such as Ask Claude.

The company initially built its reputation by offering a vibe-coding platform that competes with products like Cursor and Replit, enabling users without programming experience to create full-stack applications using natural language prompts. With the introduction of Wingman, Emergent is now extending its focus beyond application creation toward execution, aiming to enable AI agents to handle routine operational tasks across multiple tools and workflows.

Mukund Jha, co-founder and CEO of Emergent, said the shift reflects a natural progression in how users interact with software. “The obvious next step for us was, can we help them not just build the software, but actually operate more autonomously through it?” he explained. “You move from software that supports the business to software that can actively help run it.”

According to the company, more than 8 million builders have used its platform to develop and deploy applications, and it has over 1.5 million monthly active users. Founded in 2025, Emergent secured $70 million in January at a $300 million valuation, with backing from investors including SoftBank, Khosla Ventures, and Lightspeed Venture Partners.

Wingman is designed to operate via messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram, allowing users to assign, track, and manage tasks directly in chat. At the same time, the AI agent operates in the background, integrating with connected tools like email, calendars, and workplace software. While it can execute routine actions independently, it seeks user approval for more critical decisions, the company said.

The launch comes as autonomous AI agents are becoming a major focus across the technology sector, with multiple companies competing to develop systems capable of carrying out tasks on behalf of users. Projects like OpenClaw — formerly known as Clawdbot and Moltbot — have gained attention among early adopters, while companies such as Anthropic and Microsoft are developing their own agent-based solutions.

Emergent is attempting to differentiate itself by embedding Wingman into widely used messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, Telegram, and iMessage, allowing users to interact with the agent in environments they already use rather than requiring them to adopt a new interface. The company also introduced a feature it calls “trust boundaries,” which allows the agent to autonomously complete routine tasks while requiring user confirmation for more significant actions, addressing concerns around fully autonomous systems.

Jha noted that existing work habits influenced the decision to build within messaging environments. “A lot of real work already happens through chat, voice, and email — asking for something, following up, sharing context, making a decision,” he said. “Increasingly, they’ll be the main ways we work with agents too.”

Despite its capabilities, Wingman still faces limitations. Jha acknowledged that the system can struggle in scenarios involving ambiguity, complex edge cases, unclear objectives, or workflows that require significant human judgment.

The product is being introduced with a limited free trial, after which it will move to a paid model. Existing Emergent users will be able to access Wingman directly through their accounts as the company continues to expand its presence in the evolving AI agent landscape.