AI Startup Artisan Raises $25 Million to Replace Human Workers with AI Agents
Artisan, a startup that’s developing AI employees to take over repetitive tasks traditionally done by humans, has secured a $25 million Series A funding round. The round was led by Glade Brook Capital, with participation from Oliver Jung, Day One Ventures, BOND, Soma Capital, and Sequoia Scout, as well as Y Combinator, the startup accelerator that Artisan was a part of in its Winter 2024 batch.
Co-founded in 2023 by Jaspar Carmichael-Jack and Sam Stallings, Artisan is creating AI employees called Artisans that can fully take over specific jobs. These jobs are often routine, such as copying and pasting data, updating CRMs, and writing emails. The startup’s first AI employee, Ava, is a fully autonomous business development representative capable of handling every aspect of outbound sales, from discovering leads to booking meetings.
Artisan’s marketing efforts have sometimes generated controversy, including a campaign where the founders wore t-shirts reading “Hire Artisans, Not Humans.” However, the company’s broader goal is to free human workers from mundane tasks, allowing them to focus on more creative work. Carmichael-Jack, Artisan’s CEO, explained that advancements in AI have shifted investor focus from potential to current customer benefits. “Six months ago, all investors wanted to hear about was AI’s potential,” he said. “Conversations evolved from ‘What could this become?’ to ‘What’s it doing for customers right now?'”
The use of AI in the workplace has become a hot-button issue, with some arguing it will replace human jobs while others see it as a way to enhance productivity. Artisan is among several startups developing workplace-centric AI agents. Others include Vapi, which raised $20 million in December, and OptimHire, which secured a $5 million seed round in March.
Artisan’s $25 million funding round comes after the company raised an $11.5 million seed round in October 2024, led by angel investor Oliver Jung. The latest investment will likely help Artisan further develop its AI technology and expand its reach in the market.
