Why I’m Starting Meland Labs

When I began to grasp the new capabilities AI is unlocking, I started thinking about how to build something meaningful for the future, not just for myself, but for others. What drew me most was the idea of AI agents, and the countless ways they could reshape daily life.

I’ve spent over a decade working on infrastructure, platforms, automation, PL and toolchains. On the technical side, I fully understand how a general-purpose agent might work. But the questions that kept me thinking weren’t about the mechanics, they were about impact. What could AI actually mean for me, and for people like me? How could it help us live better, more balanced lives? How could it lighten the weight of daily responsibilities and decisions?

The kind of agent I imagine and need, isn’t just a flashy demo that automates and generates something from a single prompt. It should be more like a personal partner, even a digital extension of yourself: someone who checks in daily, keeps you in sync, assists with communication, manages tasks, and works alongside you in specific areas. A partner that can support deeply, and sometimes even take over to give you a break.

When I asked myself where I needed help the most, four areas stood out: communication, value, growth, and wealth.

Communication

At my last startup, I was responsible for both internal tech and external ecosystem growth. That meant living across five communication platforms, day and night, with contacts scattered across time zones. Messages, group chats, and DMs never stopped. On top of that were endless meetings and constant travel. I reached the edge of burnout. My attention, the most precious resource I had, was drained, and with it went my judgment and efficiency. More than anything, I needed a way to reclaim it.

Work

With years of technical experience, I often wished I could create a digital version of myself, someone who could join projects alongside me, offering input, judgment, and feedback. But this idea isn’t just about me. Many people’s skills can be captured, documented, and, in a sense, replicated. Combined with a richer context drawn from communication and work, such a digital twin wouldn’t just mimic you, it could schedule, coordinate, and execute tasks on your behalf, then work alongside you to achieve outcomes neither of you could produce alone. It points toward a new kind of collaboration: one that creates more value, more wealth, and more possibilities.

Growth

Personal growth has been a serious pursuit for me for over a decade. Books, videos, and solo learning can help, but most of my progress came through trial and error, without much direct guidance. While that taught me resilience, I often wished for a mentor who truly understood me, who could offer interactive and ongoing guidance. The truth is, in the daily flow of communication and work, there are countless real situations that show where I’m doing well and where I need to improve. Each of these moments could shape better habits and clearer growth plans, if only they were recognized and acted upon. This kind of feedback, planning, and development, deeply tied to actual conversations and tasks, holds far greater value than one-way learning or abstract advice ever could.

Wealth

I’ll admit I’ve struggled here and made my share of mistakes. And I’ve seen many others face the same challenges: trying to make sense of saving, investing, and wealth-building while juggling the busyness of life. Some slip into speculation, never managing to build lasting wealth. I’ve often wished I had the wisdom of Buffett or Munger by my side, someone who could help me manage and grow limited resources with clarity and consistency. Wisdom does exist in the world, but it usually comes in the form of books, lectures, or videos. What’s missing is a way to connect that wisdom directly to each person’s unique circumstances, offering not just abstract lessons, but long-term guidance, support, and practical steps that fit into real life.

Look, all of this ties directly into our everyday lives. These agents must maintain ongoing communication, memory, work with you across long time horizons, and the more they understand you, the more help and support they can provide, eventually becoming true partners and companions. Any instant task system or simple “AI shortcut” tool isn’t built for this.

For a long time, I’ve wanted to use technology to solve real, universal problems. I believe personal advanced AI agents are one of the biggest opportunities ahead. At Meland Labs, we’re building a “advanced personal AI agent playground” where such companions live, learn, and grow with you, across knowledge, wellness, productivity, wealth, and more. The next frontier isn’t bigger models, It’s better relationships.

But visions have to start somewhere practical. For me, the most urgent problem was communication. That’s why, together with two partners, we recently built the first version of Lumis, an AI assistant designed to cut through communication clutter. Lumis summaries and replies your messages, protects your attention, and frees you to focus on what matters most.

It’s still early, but I hope Lumis can help people like me, and maybe thousands, even millions of others, who are struggling with the same challenges.

Ethan

Founder, Meland Labs