22 Jul Built by NEXT176’s Venture Studio: Docaroo.ai Tackles the Chaos of Life Admin

Introducing Docaroo.ai: Built for life’s messiest moments. Backed by NEXT176. And they’re on the lookout for a founder!

What started as a two-day sprint between NEXT176 and Byte Orbit turned into something bigger than expected: a venture built to fix the chaos of modern life admin. From lost IDs to funeral paperwork no one can find, the stories hit a nerve, and Docaroo.ai was born.

Built inside the NEXT ORBIT venture studio (a joint venture between NEXT176 and Byte Orbit), Docaroo.ai is a smart, secure document hub designed for both everyday users and professionals. It’s already live and growing and now, it’s looking for a founder.

We caught up with Tramayne Monaghan, who leads the venture from the NEXT176 side, to hear how Docaroo came to life, what it’s solving, and where it’s headed next.

Q&A with the Docaroo.ai Team

1. Let’s start with the venture studio model. What inspired the creation of Docaroo.ai within the Next Orbit structure, and what problem were you most intent on solving?

During a two-day ideation sprint, the Byte Orbit and NEXT176 teams tackled big life themes: Jobs, Business Ownership, Protecting My Family’s Income, and Responsible Debt. We didn’t expect “life admin” to steal the show, but it did. Everyone had a story about lost documents, expired passports, scrambling during a crisis, and poor end-of-life planning. One focus group participant summed it up perfectly:

“I’m in the process of arranging my mother-in-law’s funeral. Her children and grandchildren are tech-savvy. They should have stepped up and helped her find a way to manage her important documents beforehand.” That moment stuck. It’s not just about files; it’s about being ready when life happens. So we built Docaroo.ai to make it easier to store, track, and share the docs that matter.

2. Life admin is one of those issues that affects everyone, but rarely gets solved elegantly. How did you shape Docaroo.ai to be intuitive for both everyday users and professionals?

We made it simple enough for your gran, smart enough for your boss. Docaroo.ai doesn’t assume you’re a techie, it assumes you’re busy. Instead of making you figure out where things go, we take out the guesswork with smart, pre-defined folders (we call them ‘Pockets’). It’s like handing your messy drawer over to someone who just gets how to organise it. Even the most unorganised person can feel like a pro, and your partner will finally be able to find the car papers without asking you. Add in timely reminders for renewals, nudges to upload important docs, and secure two-channel sharing, and you’ve got a vault that’s as helpful as it is secure.

3. Byte Orbit brings serious fintech build and security credentials, while NEXT176 brings scale and investment muscle. How did that partnership help Docaroo.ai get from concept to live product so quickly?

Docaroo.ai is the first venture to come out of NEXT ORBIT, a joint venture studio created by NEXT176 and Byte Orbit. Together, we set out to build high-impact startups with speed, structure, and scale from day one. It’s a startup’s dream combo. Byte Orbit builds like lightning, with all the security muscle you’d expect from fintech veterans. NEXT176 brings the fuel; networks, strategic support, and guidance to get investment-ready. That synergy let us move fast like a startup, but with the structure and standards of something built to last.

“Like a VC-backed rocket with startup hustle, we’re not just sprinting; we’re building for altitude.”

4. What’s been the user response so far? Any surprising use cases or feedback you didn’t anticipate?

We’ve had a really positive response, especially to how intuitive the platform is and the quirkiness of our UX copy. What stood out most was someone planning to use Docaroo.ai to manage documents for their farming business, saying it could be a game-changer for farming communities more broadly. It was also unexpected how many people have asked about certifying their documents through the platform. That curveball turned out to be a recurring theme; proof that people aren’t just looking to store files, but to trust and verify them too. And of course, one of our favourites: a user using our Business Pockets not just for themselves, but to expand access to important docs across a growing community group. That’s when you realise people aren’t just organising files, they’re building shared systems of trust.

5. We know Docaroo.ai is gaining traction in the B2C market, but you’re now exploring a B2B layer. What kinds of professionals or industries are you speaking to, and what’s showing the most potential?

We’re not live with B2B yet but we’re deep in discovery mode, identifying where Docaroo.ai can make the biggest dent the fastest. At our core, we see documents as part of an ecosystem. That means we don’t just want to help you store them; we want to protect them. Ideally, a document should never leave the safe space of Docaroo.ai. No downloads, no random attachments floating around. Just secure, seamless access. We’re building toward a world where your lawyer, tax consultant, HR team, everyone who touches your documents, uses Docaroo.ai. No more “please send via email” or “just WhatsApp it quickly”, or your documents saved on someone’s desktop.

Naturally, we’re starting with the industries that are notorious for asking for sensitive documents through sometimes unsecure channels and whose processes often get stuck on KYC/KYB checks. Right now, we’re exploring two strong business cases with two fintechs. In one, Docaroo.ai links directly to their merchant onboarding backend to collect, store, and validate client documents. In the other, we’re working on a platform for their HR team to securely manage document collection and validation during onboarding. The early feedback? Across interviews and sessions, people are telling us we’re working on something seriously powerful. So now we’re testing, validating, and shaping the next chapter.

6. NEXT176 is a member of Innovation City, which gives us a unique window into the ventures emerging from their portfolio. How has that ecosystem visibility supported Docaroo.ai’s development or strategic direction so far?

Being in the Innovation City network gives us eyes on the ground; early feedback, sharp thinkers, and access to smart builders who’ve been through the wringer. It’s helped us avoid a few classic mistakes and shape Docaroo.ai’s future with a bit more clarity and confidence.

7. Roo AI, Smart Pockets, automated reminders; Docaroo.ai has quietly baked in some very sophisticated features. Which of these are resonating most with users, and why?

Roo AI is the quiet hero; helping users navigate document chaos without lifting a finger. Smart Pockets let you group documents in a way that actually makes sense to your life, whether it’s hobbies, medical, assets, or even dependents. No more digging through random folders. Automated reminders? They’re the unsung MVP, nudging you before things slip through the cracks. And secure sharing has been a huge hit, being able to share documents with a password, and revoke access at any time gives users total control and peace of mind. People tell us they finally feel on top of their admin, instead of buried by it.

8. You’ve clearly solved the storage problem, but also the sharing, tracking, and compliance problem. How are you hoping businesses might use Docaroo.ai to reduce manual admin or avoid risks?

We’re not just solving for storage, we’re solving for sanity! Businesses lose time and take on risk trying to manage documents across email, WhatsApp, and scattered folders. Docaroo.ai brings it all into one secure ecosystem where collection, access, and validation can happen seamlessly. We’re currently validating use cases across multiple sectors; anywhere document admin slows things down or creates compliance headaches. From onboarding flows to customer verification, the feedback has been clear: this is solving a real, painful problem. And while we can’t say too much yet… we’re also exploring something pretty unique for the insurance space. That one’s still under wraps, but it’s big.

9. You’re currently on the hunt for a founder to take Docaroo.ai to the next level. What kind of person are you looking for, and what will they be walking into?

We’re looking for someone bold, curious, and slightly allergic to admin, but deeply obsessed with fixing it for good. Someone with the vision to see beyond “just another document tool” and the drive to build something that could fundamentally change how people and businesses manage their most important information. They’ll walk into a working product, real user traction, and a venture studio team that knows how to move fast and offer deep support. The founder title comes with full backing, from product and design to strategic guidance and hands-on support to get them ready for fundraising and growth.

“If you’ve got a big vision and the energy to lead it, we’d love to meet you.”

10. Last one: There’s a fintech product in the studio. Can you share a hint about what that is, and what excites you about where the studio model is headed?

The cat’s out of the bag! It’s called ‘Paystashio,’ and it’s shaking up how SMEs manage to spend. We’re talking real-time tracking, smart virtual cards, and spend controls built for control freaks (in a good way). We’re just as excited about it as we are about Docaroo.ai and yes, we’re also on the hunt for a founder for Paystashio. It’s a disruptive play in a space that’s begging for better tools. If you’ve got a vision for smarter business finance, our door’s open.

Join the Next Chapter

Docaroo.ai has launched. The tech is live. The user response is real. And the backing of NEXT176 and Byte Orbit means the foundations are rock solid. Now all that’s missing? A founder ready to scale it. If you’ve got a big vision and the energy to lead it, they’d love to meet you.

To apply for the founder roles at Docaroo.ai or Paystashio, you need to check out this detailed doc here. Applications close mid-day 13 August 2025.