A startup specializing in AI-driven bots for process automation, 11x.ai, has successfully secured $24 million in Series A funding, led by Benchmark. The company, originally founded in London, is among a growing number of AI startups relocating their headquarters to San Francisco, as shared by founder and CEO Hasan Sukkar.
This Series A round comes roughly one year after 11x.ai raised $2 million in seed funding from Project A Ventures. Established in 2022, 11x.ai refers to its AI agents as "automated digital workers," highlighting the software's ability to manage repetitive tasks, thereby allowing human employees to concentrate on more strategic initiatives.
Targeting go-to-market teams such as sales, marketing, and revenue operations, the company initially introduced Alice, an AI sales representative, and has since launched Jordan, an AI phone representative. "He sounds like a real human and can engage in conversations lasting up to 30 minutes with impressive intelligence," Sukkar noted.
According to Sukkar, the company is nearing $10 million in annual recurring revenue and boasts an impressive client roster that includes Brex, DataStax, and Otter, as detailed on its website.
"Looking ahead, we plan to launch two additional digital workers in the coming months,” Sukkar added. “This is part of our strategy to create a comprehensive suite of deeply integrated agents," or virtual employees, each equipped with distinct names and job-specific training.
The 11x.ai digital workers currently support 25 languages, including Swedish, Italian, German, and Hebrew. Sukkar previously mentioned plans for a bot named James and another named Bob, which would focus on talent acquisition and human resources tasks. However, the decision was made to release Jordan, the phone representative, first.
Sukkar is confident that autonomous agents represent the future of the workforce, though he acknowledges that the technology is still in its early stages. "Unlike traditional software that enhances productivity and efficiency, agents allow us to automate tasks autonomously, requiring no human input, and delivering exceptional skill," he articulated, sharing his vision of a highly competent, human-free workforce.
He believes that when AI agents can effectively replace humans in manual processes, it would trigger a transformation as significant as the advent of the internet or cloud computing. However, 11x.ai faces competition from established players such as UiPath, ServiceNow, and Salesforce. Additionally, the rapidly growing market for AI sales bots features numerous competitors, including Docket, Regie.ai, AiSDR, and Artisan, as noted by industry VCs.
Despite the competition, investors like Sarah Tavel, a general partner at Benchmark and leader of the $24 million Series A funding, remain optimistic about 11x.ai. Tavel, who has researched the critical role of AI in work software, has also joined 11x.ai's board.
Sukkar revealed that the company received approximately eight investment offers within just 10 days. "The process was incredibly swift," he said, emphasizing their choice to partner with Benchmark due to shared vision and Benchmark's historical success as an investor. Other participating investors in this round included 20VC, Project A, Lux Capital, and SV Angel.
The funding will be directed towards further product development and team expansion, which currently comprises 27 employees. While maintaining an office in London, most key personnel will relocate to San Francisco.
Reflecting on his motivation to start 11x.ai, Sukkar recalled a past job filled with tedious and repetitive tasks during his student years. "I often wished for a computer to take over such mundane work, realizing how much human potential is squandered on monotonous tasks daily. Agents empower us to redefine what’s achievable," he concluded.
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