ClickUp Enters the Coding Wars: Acquires Cursor Rival Codegen to Build Autonomous AI Workers

Project management unicorn ClickUp has officially entered the software development arena, announcing today the acquisition of Codegen, a specialized AI startup that automates complex coding tasks. The move signals a major strategic pivot for ClickUp, transforming it from a platform where teams track work into one where AI agents actually do the work.

The acquisition serves as the engine for ClickUp’s newly unveiled "Super Agents"—digital teammates capable of writing code, fixing bugs, and deploying software without human hand-holding.

From "Managing" to "Making"
For years, ClickUp’s mission was to be the "one app to replace them all," consolidating docs, tasks, and chat. With Codegen, the company is targeting a new layer of the stack: execution.

Codegen (formerly a competitor to AI code editors like Cursor and Windsurf) built its reputation on "agentic" workflows—AI that doesn't just autocomplete lines of code but can take a high-level instruction like "fix this bug" and autonomously navigate the codebase to resolve it.

"The future isn't about humans adapting to AI, it's about AI adapting to humans," said ClickUp CEO Zeb Evans. "Super Agents don't just automate. They understand, remember, and act with context, unlocking a new era where anyone can build software without writing a single line of code."

"Super Agents" Explained
The integration of Codegen’s technology will allow ClickUp users to deploy AI agents that act as "digital coworkers" with specific skills.

The "Developer" Agent: Instead of just moving a Jira ticket to "In Progress," a product manager could tag a Super Agent. The agent would read the requirements, write the necessary code, run tests, and open a pull request—all within the ClickUp ecosystem.

Beyond Code: While Codegen brings engineering prowess, ClickUp plans to expand these agents to other verticals, using the same "autonomous" logic for marketing, sales, and operations tasks.

The Talent and Consolidation Play
The deal also secures high-value talent in the heating-up AI talent war. Jay Hack, Codegen’s founder and CEO, will join ClickUp as the new Head of AI.

This acquisition reflects a broader trend of consolidation in the "AI for Code" market. With standalone editors like Cursor and Windsurf gaining massive traction, broader platforms like ClickUp are under pressure to integrate these capabilities natively rather than risk becoming mere "administrative wrappers" around the real work.

Bad News for Standalone Users?
As part of the integration, the standalone Codegen service will be sunset. Current Codegen users have been notified that the service will be officially deprecated on January 16, 2026, forcing them to migrate to ClickUp’s ecosystem to retain access to the technology.