Create an agent on Slack

In this tutorial you’ll build a custom agent in the Ren UI, connect it to a Slack channel, and start a conversation with it directly from Slack. Everything here happens in the UI. No CLI required.

Before you start

• A Ren account - A Slack workspace where you can install apps (or an admin who can approve the Ren Slack app)

1. Create a custom agent

In the Ren dashboard, open Agents and click New agent.

1. Give the agent a name and an icon so it’s easy to recognize in Slack.
2. Write a system prompt that defines what the agent does and how it should behave. Keep it specific.
3. Pick a model for this version.
4. Save to publish the agent’s first version.

Your agent now lives in your default project on your auto-provisioned pod. You can attach skills and MCP servers later to expand what it can do.

2. Connect Slack

Open Integrations → Slack and click Connect. Ren walks you through installing the Slack app and authorizing your Slack workspace.

1. Approve the Ren Slack app in your Slack workspace.
2. Choose the channel where the agent should be available.
3. Select the agent you created in step 1 as the channel’s agent.

Once connected, the agent is a member of that channel and listens for messages directed at it.

3. Start a chat from Slack

In the connected Slack channel, mention the agent or send it a direct message:

@your-agent Summarize the latest release notes and post the highlights here.

The agent runs on Ren, streams its work back into the Slack thread, and replies in the channel. Every exchange is captured as a session you can open and replay from the dashboard.

What you built

Piece	What it does
Agent	A custom agent with your system prompt and model
Slack channel	Where teammates talk to the agent in their own workflow
Session	A recorded, replayable record of each conversation

Next steps

• Give the agent more capability with a skill or a custom MCP.
• Let it run on a schedule with Schedule tasks.
• Connect more tools from the Integrate guides.