When you interact with chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, your conversations often follow a linear path. To gain more information, you typically need to ask follow-up questions. For instance, while planning a trip, you might first inquire about a destination and then ask additional questions about food, activities, travel tips, and packing lists.
A team of former Google Maps engineers is developing a new tool called Cova that features an infinite board interface. This design allows you to generate multiple responses based on a single question or prompt an AI bot to offer insights.
Founded by Stephen Chao, Andy Ziebalski, and Mike Cho, the startup has raised $6 million in a seed round with backing from Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil, Homebrew, Advocate, Scott Belsky, Lenny Rachitsky, and other angel investors.
This team previously worked on well-known Google Maps features like Street View. Both Chao and Ziebalski later joined Uber and helped launch Uber Eats. Jess Lee, a major investor in this round from Sequoia, was also a colleague of cova co-founders at Google Maps.
When the founders began working on this product, they realized AI could be more helpful in collaborative spaces, particularly for tasks like planning, writing, storyboarding, and research. During a call with TechCrunch, Chao explained, "Thinking is a messy process, and when you're working on something, you're constantly circling ideas in your mind. Your brain generates different types of thoughts slowly."
He added, "The inspiration for Cova really comes from how we're accustomed to human-to-human collaboration. When we work with others, we have a shared space, like a room where we can interact with shared context. We wanted to create the same experience with Cova," explaining why the startup chose an infinite canvas as the interface.
Chao pointed out that AI chat interfaces are often too linear and not editable. For complex projects, managing multiple conversation threads can become overwhelming.
The Product
Cova offers an infinite board interface on the web, with a chatbot window in the bottom-right corner. The bot provides project-related suggestions to help users get started, avoiding the challenge of staring at a blank space. For example, suggestions might include prompts like "Help me choose a birthday gift for my mother, who loves gardening," or "Help me plan a week-long trip to Yosemite for a family of four."
When users click on any of these prompts, Cova generates multiple response cards related to the query, such as meal planning, packing essentials, general tips, travel lists, and even a full itinerary for a trip.
Users can edit any part of these cards by selecting and prompting changes. They can also create spin-off cards or add additional points, lists, or table elements to existing cards.
Cova allows users to upload PDFs, links via the built-in browser, images, or new blank cards to add more context. Users can also ask Cova specific questions by referencing or mentioning different cards.
Since Cova operates as a shared board, users can share a link with others, similar to Google Docs. Boards can be shared in "view-only" mode or with editing capabilities. When multiple people collaborate on a board, each can use AI separately.
The startup has also released a Chrome extension. While browsing a website, users can activate the extension, ask the AI bot about the content, and add it to their project or card.
Opportunities and Limitations
Many whiteboarding tools exist for collaboration, including Miro, TL Draw, Kosmik, and Visual Electric (also backed by Sequoia).
Cova believes its AI features will attract a diverse audience. The startup mentions that it is using a mix of models, including those from OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta (LLaMA), and Perplexity, to balance costs while delivering prompt responses.
Currently, Cova only works on a web interface, making it best suited for desktop use. Although users can access boards on mobile, the small screen isn't ideal for viewing them.
The founders mentioned that users have been using the tool for home renovation, business development, and exploring new sales strategies. The company itself has used Cova to gather user feedback and create better support content.
"There are products where AI does all the work for you, and there are products where you do all the work. Cova is designed in a way where AI is more like your thinking partner and assistant," said Sequoia's Jess Lee. "Think of it as an assistant helping you, not an oracle telling you what to do."
Cova is free to use with a limit of 100 cards. To unlock unlimited cards and gain early access to new features, users will need to pay $10 per month.
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