We’re entering a new frontier — the Agent Store, akin to App Store but filled with autonomous AI assistants. Think of jotting down “travel agent,” “CFO assistant,” or even “model gimp,” and voilà — you browse, install, and transact (or should we say “hire”). No prompts needed, no integration headaches.
Why is it happening?
- Developer monetization must evolve. Just as apps needed a marketplace, our GPT + tool ecosystem demands distribution, review, billing, recursion.
- User demand for turnkey agents. Most users don’t want to build prompts (and they are actually not that good at it!) — they want to install “deal‑sourcing agent” or “legal memo writer” and then go back to the water cooler conversation.
- Infrastructure is ready. With persistent memory, API access, LLMs with tool use, and billing frameworks already live, the missing piece has been distribution. And Microsoft already released an embryonic version in April 2025. Expect many more soon.
What will it look and feel like?
- A curated storefront: categories, ratings, developer info, pricing tiers (free, freemium, subscription).
- Seamless install: tap, authenticate once, agent begins working across apps.
- The emergence of voice: Two way conversations will very likely start taking significant market share from our thumbs as an input/output device, especially on mobile devices.
- UX expectations & POAs: sandboxed permissions, digital Powers of Attorney, clarity of capabilities, ease of uninstall — just like mobile apps, but intelligent.
- Evolution of autonomy: Simple Powers of Attorney will be replaced with ever increasing autonomy over time.
- Transparent billing: platform revenue share, PCI‑compliant subscriptions, reviews and updates managed like iOS/Android.
- New managerial skills needed: MBAs will now need to get good at managing teams of non-human agents.
What should existing startups and companies do now?
- Build agent‑native not just APIs. Start by layering memory, autonomy, tool orchestration.
- Prepare UX and billing flows – be store-ready early. Think onboarding, onboarding-to‑subscription, audits, support.
- Differentiate with data: proprietary customer data = AI moat — especially in verticals like fintech, legal, compliance.
- Start building distribution partnerships. If OpenAI, Anthropic, or Gemini open a GPT store, early agents gain discoverability.
What should new founders do?
- Pick niche, move fast. Build domain‑specific agents where vertical knowledge matters — e.g., K‑1 tax prep, credit underwriting, ESG reporting.
- Validate fast with no-code stores like Custom GPTs. Gather feedback and iterate.
- Plan revenue share: think subscription tiers, usage fees, white‑label models. Monetization is table‑stakes.
- Engage the community. Launch a waiting list, host previews, build a reputation. Early agents likely get featured.
Is it a land‑grab?
Absolutely. The first wave of agent stores will be winner-takes-most. Expect:
- Featured position bias: curated picks dominate downloads.
- Network effects: as more users flock to certain agents, integration partners follow.
- Platform lock‑in: store policies, bundling restrictions, revenue shares define who wins.
Winners will be those that arrive early, deeply verticalize, price smartly, and evolve with platform policy — not just code against GPT-4.
At QED were here helping fintech manage the transition to mobile as companies like Nubank and Braintree spearheaded that evolution. We are very excited to help the next generation of fintech founders think through this exciting platform shift. We are only a call away!
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