Tessera Labs’s $60M round, led by a16z in May 2026, targets one of software’s biggest and stickiest markets: ERP — rebuilt AI-native.

The problem this startup is attacking

Legacy ERP systems are rigid, expensive, and painful to customize. Tessera reimagines ERP with AI at the core, aiming to automate workflows that incumbents force users to configure manually.

Why this is a live problem now

• AI can finally automate the messy, document-heavy workflows ERPs manage.
• Enterprises are open to replacing aging core systems.
• Vertical AI applications are where much of 2026’s enterprise value is accruing.

Competitive map

• SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics (incumbents).
• Vertical SaaS players moving into operations.
• Other AI-native enterprise-software startups.

Market signal (the number to remember)

• a16z lead — a marquee investor backing AI-native ERP signals belief that even the most entrenched enterprise categories are up for grabs.

Practical takeaway (operator + investor)

Tessera shows the vertical AI thesis extends to core systems of record. Founders should target workflows where AI automation is transformative, not incremental; investors should look for switching-cost moats and measurable productivity gains.

Sources

1. PipelineRoad / Crunchbase (Tessera Labs $60M, top 10 rounds): https://pipelineroad.com/news/20260508-top-10-biggest-funding-rounds-this-week-in-ai-and-tech