Sedna Raises $34M to Automate Action Items from Email & Chat

Sedna Secures $34 Million to Tackle Enterprise Email Overload

Despite numerous attempts to replace it, email persists as a dominant communication method, often contributing to significant workload challenges. Sedna, a startup focused on enterprise solutions, has developed a system designed to alleviate this burden. The company’s technology analyzes email and chat content, automating actions and reducing the need for manual triage.

Series B Funding Details

Sedna has announced a $34 million Series B funding round led by Insight Partners. Additional participation came from Stride.VC, Chalfen Ventures, and the SAP.iO fund. These funds will be allocated to expanding the data science capabilities underpinning Sedna’s core functionality.

The company intends to broaden its reach into new industry verticals over time. Currently, Sedna primarily serves the supply chain sector, with clients including Glencore, Norden, and Bunge. The neobank Starling also utilizes Sedna’s services within the financial industry. The company has not disclosed its current valuation.

The Genesis of Sedna

Bill Dobie, CEO and founder of Sedna, based in London but originally from Vancouver, attributes the company’s inception to his personal experiences.

He observed that despite developing productivity software, user workloads remained consistently high. The primary culprit was the constant influx of email, containing a mix of irrelevant and potentially important messages. Dobie highlighted the significant time spent transferring tasks from email into action items.

How Sedna Works

Sedna’s system is designed to “read” emails, providing enhanced context and direction. It eliminates duplicate action items, improving the efficiency of inbox management. The goal is to ensure that users primarily see information requiring their immediate attention.

Speed and Scale are central to Sedna’s value proposition. The platform processes millions, even billions, of messages with subsecond response times. This capability extends beyond typical email volumes to encompass data streams from sources like IoT-based diagnostics.

Vertical-Specific Algorithms

While “smart” inboxes are available for consumers, their effectiveness is often limited. Sedna differentiates itself by tailoring its algorithms to specific industries, enabling it to better understand content and work practices within individual organizations.

Currently, Sedna operates through an API framework, incorporating elements of “low code” functionality to allow users to customize their experiences. Future development will focus on simplifying this customization process. The system leverages decision trees to categorize information, often integrating with existing SAP or trading systems.

Potential for Expansion

Sedna’s technology can currently integrate with Robotic Process Automation (RPA) systems and assign tasks to human workers. The company may explore developing its own secondary software layer or potentially be acquired by a major RPA provider.

Industry Perspectives

Rebecca Liu-Doyle, principal at Insight Partners, stated that Bill Dobie identified and addressed a critical pain point in complex, high-volume team environments. She emphasized Sedna’s ability to introduce speed, simplicity, and a positive user experience to inbox management, regardless of scale.

Stefan Sauer, global transport solutions lead at SAP, noted that Sedna aligns with SAP’s commitment to enhancing customer productivity. The ability to transform complex information into streamlined collaboration is a key priority for many SAP users.

Sedna aims to redefine digital communication for teams, starting with global supply chain operations and expanding into other sectors.