In-Person AI Teams Within Remote Companies: The Startup-Within-Enterprise Model

Blend remote scale with in‑person speed: colocate small AI squads inside a remote org to accelerate iteration without losing async strengths.

Sep 29, 2025 1m 20s

James LePage

Expert Insights

James LePage proposes an innovative structure for AI teams within remote companies, suggesting the idea of creating an in-person group, akin to a startup, embedded within a larger enterprise. James posits that such a setup can expedite problem-solving in complex areas such as the Open web and AI.

Hear James discuss:

How forming ‘startups within enterprises’ can accelerate progress by empowering smaller, in-person teams to make faster decisions and remove traditional bottlenecks.
Why close-knit, in-person collaboration can unlock deeper innovation in tackling AI and Open Web challenges.
How a hybrid structure can merge startup agility with enterprise-scale resources and drive more efficient, AI-assisted software development.
The ways consistent, in-person engagement strengthens team synergy and collaboration.

This is an experiment. We have a very lovely office that people enjoy being at in New York... What happens when we have people come in every day... and sit together and think about the biggest problems in Open web, in AI and all of this stuff. What comes of that, especially with this remote company... how can this in-person group maybe almost operate like a startup within automatic, to kind of cut through a lot of the, uh, the speed.

— James LePage, Director of Engineering AI, Automattic

THE NEW DEFAULT angle

Here are some practical steps for software development teams:

Run a Pilot: If possible, create an in-person group within your remote team to stimulate a co-located startup-like working environment. Carry out a pilot project and measure its effectiveness in terms of speed, ingenuity, and outcomes.
Nurture an Ecosystem: Establish an environment conducive to free ideation, brainstorming, and problem-solving. Leverage the advantages of in-person interactions, coupled with the resource abundance of the larger corporation.
Facilitate Direct Communication: Encourage team members to directly communicate, discuss ideas, and debate various aspects of AI implementation. This may enhance collaboration and foster creativity in finding novel solutions.
Measure Performance Metrics: Quantify outcomes by setting clear performance metrics linked to speed, innovation generated, and problem-solving efficiency. Use these metrics for continuous evaluation and adjustments.