Zo
New York City, US · Founded 2023 · 38 employees on LinkedIn · 2 known investors
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Zo is an AI agent platform that provides access to multiple AI models for chatting, generating media, and transcribing audio, along with a set of built-in tools and integrations. It functions as an agent harness that connects to external tools and lets users bring their own API keys or AI subscription providers to power the agent.
Also known as Zo Computer
Founders & leadership
Zo was founded in 2023 by Ben Guo and Rob Cheung.
Investors · 2
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Zo (Zo Computer) operates a cloud-based personal computer paired with an AI agent, positioned as an alternative to conventional SaaS applications. Each user's files and projects are hosted in a personal cloud rather than centralized multi-tenant servers, an approach the company frames as making a self-hosting experience simple enough for non-technical users. The product bundles current AI models for chatting, media generation, and audio transcription, and functions as an agent harness with built-in tools plus connectors to external tools and services.
Beyond conversational use, Zo is used to build and host websites and application backends, including personal portfolio sites, nonprofit community sites, and business sites, published on custom domains or on zo.space subdomains. The company says users can also run other agent software such as Hermes or OpenClaw inside a Zo instance. Zo states its mission is to enable broad access to cloud computing, and it maintains a Discord community and an ambassador program that offers hands-on support and AI credits to users who promote the product.
Founding story
Zo was founded by Rob Cheung, previously the first engineer at Substack, and Ben Guo, an early engineer at Stripe.
Business model
Zo sells access to a hosted personal cloud computer and AI agent on a subscription basis. A 14-day free trial provides limited AI model access with phased usage limits and a computer that sleeps when idle; after the trial, Zo-funded chat and ordinary computer access end while files remain stored and retrievable, and a paid plan is required to restore ordinary computer access. Users can also supply their own API keys or connect AI subscription providers such as Codex to power the agent, and credits or connected providers do not by themselves extend computer access. The company states it does not sell user data, permit advertising, or train AI models on customer work.
Paid subscription plans for continued computer access after a 14-day free trial, with usage credits and optional user-supplied AI provider connections.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market
Market position
Zo positions itself in the personal AI agent category alongside OpenClaw and Hermes, claiming precedence as the original OpenClaw and emphasizing an out-of-the-box hosted experience rather than a self-managed installation. It also frames itself as an alternative to traditional SaaS tools, citing users who consolidated multiple separate tools into Zo, and to website builders such as Webflow and WordPress for site creation.
Zo distinguishes itself from terminal- or self-hosted agent setups such as OpenClaw and Hermes by shipping a ready-to-use cloud environment for the agent, requiring no terminal configuration, Mac Mini, or VPS. The company claims to be the original OpenClaw, citing a June 2025 launch, and says it can run those alternative agents inside a Zo workspace. Other stated points of differentiation include per-user personal cloud hosting instead of centralized SaaS storage, portability of user files, model flexibility through bring-your-own API keys or connected AI subscriptions, and commitments not to sell data, serve advertising, or train models on customer work.
Technology
Zo provides a per-user cloud computer paired with an agent harness that includes built-in tools and integrations with external services. It bundles AI models for chat, media generation, and audio transcription, supports connecting AI subscription providers such as Codex, and allows bring-your-own API keys for any LLM provider. Workspaces persist user files, support hosting of websites and backends on zo.space subdomains or custom domains, and can run other agent frameworks such as Hermes or OpenClaw inside the environment. Idle computers sleep during the trial, and workspace owners can use recovery sessions or request a ZIP archive to retrieve files.
Go-to-market
Zo markets directly to individual users through a self-serve free trial that requires no credit card, supported by customer testimonials and showcased sites built on the platform. Community-led distribution includes a Discord server and a Zo Ambassador program, through which users who share Zo with their networks receive hands-on support and AI credits. Support is offered by email at help@zocomputer.com.
Individual non-technical and self-taught users, including creatives, professionals, and small organizations — cited examples include artists, a resident physician running a nonprofit, and independent operators building personal brands, websites, and community backends.
Compiled by commissioned research from 1 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Timeline · 1
launches, deals, and filingsZo states it launched in June 2025, describing itself as the original OpenClaw and a cloud-based personal agent environment.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 1
primary sources listed
- Zozo.computer · web
1 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Zo do?
- Zo Computer offers a personal cloud computer with a built-in AI agent for building sites, running tools and automating work.
- Who founded Zo?
- Zo was founded by Ben Guo, Rob Cheung in 2023.
- Who are Zo's investors?
- Zo's investors include Lorimer Ventures, Red Swan Ventures.
- Where is Zo headquartered?
- Zo is headquartered in New York City, US.