Phaze has raised an $8.75 million seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz, the company announced November 4.
The startup was founded by Benjy Boxer and Chris Dickson, who previously built Parsec, a remote desktop service used for graphics-intensive work. Parsec was acquired by Unity, and Phaze represents the founders' return to remote computing with a new focus on AI agents.
Computers as Shared Infrastructure
Most AI agents operate through APIs, web browsers or command-line tools. But many real-world workflows depend on applications that require a specific operating system, GPU or interactive desktop environment.
Phaze allows people and agents to access remote workstations through a high-performance desktop connection. The company emphasizes low-latency input, visual fidelity, multi-monitor support and responsiveness for demanding workloads such as CAD, 3D design and interactive creative software.
Agents can use Phaze to operate machines through a desktop interface or command line. According to the company, access follows the user's permissions and can be centrally managed by enterprise administrators.
Why a16z Is Backing the Founders Again
Andreessen Horowitz previously invested in Parsec and supported the founders through its acquisition by Unity. In its Phaze announcement, a16z argued that businesses will increasingly treat computers and applications as infrastructure shared by employees and AI agents rather than devices assigned to individuals.
Phaze's product also includes administration tools, audit logs and role-based controls. The company says it has SOC 2 Type II certification.
The concept becomes more important as organizations experiment with agents that can perform complete software tasks, manipulate specialized applications and work across environments that cannot easily be replaced by APIs.
An Infrastructure Bet, Not Just Remote Work
Remote desktop is an established category, with substantial competition from virtualization, streaming and enterprise workstation providers.
Phaze's challenge is showing that its experience is meaningfully better for latency-sensitive workloads while making computer access safe and convenient for autonomous agents. Running powerful remote machines also creates hardware costs and security responsibilities.
The new capital will help Phaze develop its platform and expand distribution. Its opportunity is to become a shared computing layer for teams that increasingly include both people and AI systems.