Sequoia Backs Blockit: AI Calendar Startup Leverages LLMs for Seamless Scheduling
AI
Calendar Apps
Startups
Venture Capital
Scheduling
LLMs
Blockit
8
Smart Scheduling
Media Hype
7/10
Real Impact
8/10
What is the Viqus Verdict?
We evaluate each news story based on its real impact versus its media hype to offer a clear and objective perspective.
AI Analysis:
While the 'AI calendar' space is already crowded, Blockit's backing by Sequoia and its focus on LLM-driven context understanding elevate it beyond simple automation, suggesting a sustainable competitive advantage and solidifying its place in the emerging landscape of AI-powered productivity tools.
Article Summary
Kais Khimji, a seasoned venture investor with six years at Sequoia Capital, is embarking on a new venture with Blockit, an AI calendar scheduling application. The startup leverages the latest advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs) to tackle the frustrating and time-consuming task of coordinating meetings. Unlike existing solutions, Blockit’s AI agents can handle the entire scheduling process without human intervention, learning user preferences and even adapting to nuances like preferred meeting tones. The company’s approach centers around creating a ‘context graph’ by understanding the 'why' behind scheduling requests – a concept championed by investors like Jaya Gupta and Ashu Garg at Foundation Capital. Blockit’s technology allows users to simply copy and paste the AI agent into an email or messaging app, enabling it to negotiate meeting times and locations based on specified needs. Early traction includes adoption by over 200 companies, including AI startup Together.ai, fintech firm Brex, and robotics company Rogo, alongside prominent venture capital firms such as a16z and Accel. The application is offered initially for free for 30 days, transitioning to a $1,000 annual fee for individual users and a $5,000 team license. This move underscores the growing trend of leveraging LLMs to automate complex workflows and unlock new efficiencies in business operations.Key Points
- Kais Khimji, a former Sequoia Capital partner, is founding Blockit, an AI calendar scheduling company.
- Blockit utilizes Large Language Models (LLMs) to automate meeting arrangements, bypassing the traditional back-and-forth of scheduling.
- The company's approach emphasizes building ‘context graphs’ by understanding the underlying reasons behind scheduling requests, a strategy advocated by Foundation Capital investors.