Monday.com introduces a $200 million Monday Ventures AI fund.

      Monday.com is stepping into the role of an investor. The Israeli work-management firm has introduced Monday Ventures, a corporate fund aiming to invest up to $200 million in startups developing the future of workplace AI, as reported by the Israeli business newspaper Globes.

      The funding process has already commenced. Monday Ventures will initially allocate $50 million, with any additional funds requiring board approval, distributing checks ranging from $1 million to $5 million across various stages.

      The fund is headed by Aviel Ichai, a former member of NEXT47, and has completed three investments, with a fourth on the way: it led the seed round for Blocks.diy, a workflow-automation company established by former Monday employees; supported Guidde, which offers an AI training-video tool, in its $50 million Series B; and participated in the $12 million seed round for NanoCo, creator of an AI assistant named NanoClaw.

      Why start Monday Ventures and why at this moment?

      The timing is significant. In February, Monday.com’s shares dropped around 21% following disappointing guidance for Wall Street, exacerbated by concerns affecting all work-software companies: the risk that AI agents could disrupt the market that Monday serves.

      Having generated $1.23 billion in revenue last year, the company has transitioned from a work-management tool to what it now refers to as an AI-agent platform, adopting a consumption-based pricing model. The venture arm represents the outward-facing aspect of this strategy.

      Investing in small stakes of the startups focused on workplace AI achieves multiple goals. It allows Monday to gain early insights into potentially disruptive tools, provides access to Israel’s rich pool of AI talent and deal opportunities, and offers a safeguard: if the trend reshapes work software development, Monday aims to be an owner rather than merely a target. Investing in learning is more cost-effective than facing unexpected challenges.

      Other software incumbents are also pursuing venture capital initiatives.

      As AI transforms enterprise software, established companies are launching venture arms to stay connected with the businesses that are reshaping their markets, rather than waiting to buy them at a higher cost later. This trend aligns with the growing wave of agentic-AI investments throughout the sector.

      However, there is caution; corporate venture can often serve as a signal rather than a strategy, showcasing a forward-thinking approach while the core business determines its own AI narrative. Monday has yet to formally elaborate on the fund apart from reports, and the true test lies not in the announcement itself but in whether these investments enhance the product.

      For now, the message is clear: the company, known for assisting teams in managing work, is now seeking an investment in the software that may automate that work.