Meridian Secures ₩17 Billion Investment: 3 Key Takeaways
- $17 Million Investment Secured for AI Agent-Based Spreadsheet
- Financial Modeling Redesigned in an IDE Style
- Official Launch After Emerging from Stealth Mode
Startup Puts AI Agents in Spreadsheets
Meridian emerged from stealth mode and announced a $17 million (approximately ₩17 billion) investment.[TechCrunch] Their goal is to completely rebuild the traditional spreadsheet based on AI agents. Led by CEO John Ling, COO Zach Kirshner, and CTO George Fang.[TechCrunch]
The key is the IDE approach. Instead of cell-by-cell work like Excel, they build financial models like a code editor. AI agents automate repetitive tasks.
AI Spreadsheet Competition Intensifies
Attempts to incorporate AI into spreadsheets continue. In 2025, former MS executives founded a startup to replace Excel-based financial tasks with AI.[TechCrunch] Meridian’s differentiator is that it’s designed agent-centric from the start, rather than adding AI to existing sheets.
The Weight of ₩17 Billion
The spreadsheet market is dominated by MS and Google. However, companies are rapidly adopting AI tools, and the demand for financial automation is high. If Meridian creates tools tailored to the workflows of financial professionals, they can grow in a niche market. However, the actual performance remains to be seen as there are no product demos or pricing information available yet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is Meridian?
A: It’s a startup creating next-generation spreadsheets based on AI agents. Unlike Excel or Google Sheets, it uses an IDE approach to financial modeling. Co-founded by John Ling, Zach Kirshner, and George Fang, it officially launched in February 2026 after emerging from stealth mode.
Q: What is an agentic spreadsheet?
A: It’s a spreadsheet tool with built-in AI agents. Instead of users manually entering formulas, AI automatically handles repetitive tasks such as data collection, analysis, and report generation. It’s characterized by being designed agent-centric from the start, rather than adding AI to existing tools.
Q: What are the advantages compared to existing spreadsheets?
A: It allows systematic management of complex financial models based on IDE. AI agents automate repetitive tasks, reducing manual errors. However, detailed features have not yet been released, so real-world usage reviews are needed.
If you found this article helpful, please subscribe to AI Digester.
References
- Meridian raises $17 million to remake the agentic spreadsheet – TechCrunch (2026-02-11)
- Former Microsoft execs launch AI agents to end Excel-led finance – TechCrunch (2025-09-29)
- Meridian AI Official Website – Meridian (2026-02-11)