With Consumers Moving from Google to ChatGPT, Peec AI Secures $21M to Support Brand Adaptation

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    <h2>Peec AI: Revolutionizing Product Discovery in the Age of AI</h2>

    <p id="speakable-summary" class="wp-block-paragraph">
        With consumers increasingly relying on ChatGPT over Google for inquiries, product discovery is undergoing a significant transformation. Peec AI, a budding star in Europe, promises brands enhanced visibility and command over this emerging search platform.
    </p>

    <h3>Rapid Growth and Significant Investment</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">
        Just four months after its <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/07/berlin-based-peec-ai-raises-e7-million-four-months-after-launch-to-empower-companies-to-improve-their-geo/">Seed round</a> led by <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/20vc-closes-new-400m-fund-to-make-europe-great-again-says-harry-stebbings/">20VC</a>, the Berlin-based startup secured a $21 million Series A led by <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/14/paris-based-vc-firm-singular-raises-435-million-for-its-second-fund/">Singular</a>. CEO Marius Meiners revealed that their valuation has tripled to over $100 million, although he withheld specific figures.
    </p>

    <h3>Impressive Revenue Growth</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">
        In just ten months since its launch, Peec AI has achieved an annual recurring revenue exceeding $4 million, attracting 1,300 brands and agencies to its innovative platform.
    </p>

    <h3>Empowering Brands with AI Insights</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">
        Brands utilize Peec AI to analyze their visibility in AI-driven searches. The platform not only provides visibility metrics but also tracks sentiment and identifies the sources influencing search results.
    </p>

    <h3>Generative Engine Optimization: The Future of AI Search</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">
        With its innovative approach, Peec AI introduces Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), allowing marketing teams to enhance their brand’s AI search presence akin to traditional SEO. The startup boasts about acquiring nearly 300 new customers monthly, with the latest funding set to bolster this growth and support expansion initiatives.
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    <h3>Recruitment and Expansion Plans</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">
        Backed by new investors including <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.antler.co/">Antler</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.combination.vc/">Combination VC</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://identity.vc/">identity.vc</a>, and <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://s20.team/">S20</a>, Peec AI plans to hire around 40 new employees in the next six months, primarily in Berlin. The co-founders met during Antler’s Winter 2024 cohort, with Tobias Siwonia as CTO and Daniel Drabo as CRO.
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    <h3>Navigating Competition in a Crowded Market</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">
        As the category evolves, Peec AI is aware of the competition, including <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/13/move-over-seo-profound-is-helping-brands-with-ai-search-optimization/">Profound in New York</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://otterly.ai">OtterlyAI in Austria</a>. Speed and visibility will be essential for success.
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    <h3>Innovative Talent Acquisition Strategies</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">
        To attract top talent, the 20-person startup is executing an advertising campaign across Berlin. Additionally, Peec AI plans to establish a sales office in New York City by Q2 of next year.
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    <h3>Simplifying AI Tracking for Marketers</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">
        As more GEO tools emerge, Peec AI aims to set itself apart by providing a user-friendly dashboard that simplifies AI search monitoring. Unlike traditional SEO tools, Peec AI focuses on prompts that brands want to excel in, allowing clients to track up to 25 prompts for €75 per month ($87) or 100 for €169 per month ($196), with free trials available.
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    <h3>Actionable Insights for Enhanced Engagement</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">
        The platform not only tracks visibility but also suggests actionable steps to boost sentiment. For example, it recommends participating in relevant online discussions for companies aiming to be recognized for "the best CRMs for fast-growing companies."
    </p>

    <h3>Data-Driven Content Strategy</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">
        Peec AI's unique insights revolve around content strategy, revealing that tier 1 media mentions do not necessarily yield higher visibility compared to articles from lesser-known sources with relevant headlines.
    </p>

    <h3>Building a Strong Clientele</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">
        Current clients include notable brands like Axel Springer, Chanel, n8n, ElevenLabs, and TUI. As AI searches gain prominence across various sectors, Peec AI remains aware that it must navigate the noise created by multifaceted user inquiries.
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    <h3>Leveraging Proprietary Data for Success</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">
        To effectively analyze user inquiries, Peec AI has invested in raw datasets, recognizing the need to sift through and identify relevant consumer questions. Meiners emphasized the importance of filtering inquiries related to brands and products to enhance user experience.
    </p>

    <h3>Conclusion: The Future of AI Search Optimization</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">
        Peec AI’s proprietary data pipeline may be the cornerstone of its success, showcasing that the AI landscape extends beyond mere models. The application layer and underlying data represent critical growth opportunities for European startups, with Peec AI at the forefront.
    </p>
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Here are five FAQs based on the topic "As consumers ditch Google for ChatGPT, Peec AI raises $21M to help brands adapt":

FAQ 1: What is Peec AI and what services does it provide?

Answer: Peec AI is a technology company that specializes in helping brands leverage AI-driven solutions to enhance customer engagement and marketing strategies. Their services include chatbots, personalized content creation, and data analytics to help businesses adapt to the changing landscape as consumers increasingly favor AI tools like ChatGPT over traditional search engines.

FAQ 2: Why are consumers shifting from Google to ChatGPT?

Answer: Consumers are moving towards ChatGPT and similar AI tools for more personalized and interactive experiences. Unlike traditional search engines, AI models can provide conversational responses, tailored suggestions, and immediate assistance, making them more appealing for users seeking quick and relevant information.

FAQ 3: What does the recent $21 million funding for Peec AI mean for the company?

Answer: The $21 million funding will allow Peec AI to expand its product offerings, enhance its technology infrastructure, and invest in marketing initiatives. This capital will enable the company to better support brands in adapting to evolving consumer preferences and will likely accelerate their growth in the competitive AI-driven market.

FAQ 4: How can brands benefit from using Peec AI’s solutions?

Answer: Brands can benefit from Peec AI’s solutions by improving customer engagement through personalized interactions, increasing conversion rates via tailored recommendations, and gaining valuable insights from data analytics. This allows brands to stay competitive and effectively meet the demands of tech-savvy consumers.

FAQ 5: What does this trend mean for the future of digital marketing?

Answer: The shift from traditional search engines to AI tools indicates a significant transformation in digital marketing. Brands will need to adapt their strategies to incorporate AI technologies, focusing on providing personalized experiences and utilizing data-driven insights for targeted marketing. Companies that embrace these changes are likely to gain a competitive edge in reaching and retaining customers.

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Goldman Sachs Increases Investment in MoEngage to Support Global Expansion

MoEngage Secures $100 Million Funding Round to Enhance Global AI-Driven Customer Engagement

MoEngage, a leading customer engagement platform operating in 75 countries, has successfully raised new funding led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives to accelerate its global growth and integrate advanced AI features into its services.

Details of the Series F Funding Round

The funding round, totaling $100 million, consists of approximately 60% primary and 40% secondary shares. This Series F round also marks the entrance of A91 Partners, an Indian venture firm, co-leading the round alongside Goldman Sachs Alternatives. To date, MoEngage has raised a total of $250 million in funding.

The Shift Towards AI-Driven Marketing Solutions

As consumer brands increasingly turn to digital channels to engage customers, the competition for consumer attention has escalated. Brands are now leveraging existing customer data to deliver more personalized marketing experiences. While traditional marketing platforms continue to serve the industry, there is a growing demand for AI-powered tools that automate decision-making and minimize manual effort. MoEngage positions itself in this evolving space with its innovative Merlin AI suite, designed to help marketing and product teams launch campaigns quickly and optimize targeting.

“We assist B2C brands in effectively engaging their customers by leveraging the first-party data they already possess,” said co-founder and CEO Raviteja Dodda in an interview.

Expanding Global Reach and Market Impact

MoEngage, established 11 years ago, spent its early years primarily focused on India and Southeast Asia. However, over the past four years, it has significantly expanded its market presence, particularly in North America, which now accounts for over 30% of its revenue. Additionally, about 25% of the revenue comes from Europe and the Middle East, while the remaining 45% is generated in India and Southeast Asia.

Goldman Sachs’ recent investment will further strengthen MoEngage’s global footprint. The investment bank also played a pivotal role in the company’s prior Series E round, which raised $77 million in June 2022.

“Our current investors have deep knowledge about our company’s performance, both strengths and weaknesses,” Dodda noted. “[Goldman Sachs] leading this round validates our core fundamentals.”

Investment in AI Innovation

In the last two to three years, MoEngage has heavily invested in generative and decisioning AI capabilities, with these advancements reflected in its Merlin AI suite—which includes various AI agents tailored for marketing applications.

These AI agents function like copywriters, assisting consumer brands in crafting marketing messages, generating multiple campaign variants, and producing natural language text paired with suitable images. The suite also incorporates decisioning AI tools to help brands strategize which customers to target, using which channels, and at the optimal times.

MoEngage’s Merlin AI suite
MoEngage’s Merlin AI suiteImage Credits:MoEngage

Serving a Diverse Clientele

MoEngage currently serves more than 1,350 global consumer brands, including renowned names like SoundCloud, McAfee, Kayak, Domino’s, Deutsche Telekom, and major Indian players like Swiggy, Flipkart, Ola, Airtel, and Tata. Traditional enterprises contribute around 60% of the company’s business, while 40% comes from internet-focused firms. The platform also partners with over 25 global banks and several major insurers, including JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, and India’s largest insurer, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC).

Many of these brands had previously relied on marketing tools from incumbents like Adobe, Oracle, and Salesforce. MoEngage has successfully converted over 300 of these clients, driving growth in both North America and the EMEA regions.

For instance, SoundCloud transitioned over 120 million users to MoEngage within just 12 weeks, utilizing AI-driven insights to expedite product launches and improve retention among its paid users, as highlighted by Hope Barrett, Senior Director of MarTech at SoundCloud.

Numerous clients previously depended on multiple specialized solutions for various tasks. MoEngage streamlined these operations into a single platform, effectively lowering costs and enhancing marketing efficiency.

“Our clients, whether they are banks or e-commerce companies, utilize MoEngage to consolidate all customer data from various touchpoints, including offline stores, websites, mobile apps, and more,” Dodda explained.

Future Growth and IPO Aspirations

Without providing specific figures, Dodda disclosed that MoEngage experienced approximately 40% year-over-year growth last year and aims for a 35% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the coming three years. The company also anticipates achieving quarterly adjusted EBITDA-positive status by the end of the current fiscal year.

MoEngage identifies companies like Braze and CleverTap, along with legacy marketing platforms from Adobe, Oracle, and Salesforce, as its primary competitors.

Currently, MoEngage employs around 800 individuals across 15 global offices and plans to expand its workforce, especially in North America and Europe. This will involve scaling its customer success, support, sales, and marketing teams to deepen its market presence. Additionally, MoEngage is focused on enhancing its AI capabilities and recruiting talent to support these initiatives.

The company aims to be IPO-ready within the next few years, although Dodda did not disclose a specific timeline for this move.

“We see a tremendous opportunity to build a multi-billion dollar revenue company in our space,” he concluded.

Here are five FAQs based on the investment by Goldman Sachs in MoEngage:

FAQ 1: What is MoEngage?

Answer: MoEngage is a customer engagement platform that helps businesses personalize their marketing efforts through data-driven insights. It offers tools for email, mobile push notifications, in-app messaging, and web engagement to enhance user experience and retention.

FAQ 2: Why did Goldman Sachs invest in MoEngage?

Answer: Goldman Sachs invested in MoEngage to fuel its global expansion. The investment reflects confidence in MoEngage’s innovative technology and its potential for significant growth in the competitive customer engagement market.

FAQ 3: How will the funding be used by MoEngage?

Answer: MoEngage plans to use the new funding to enhance its product offerings, accelerate its global expansion, and invest in marketing efforts. This will enable the company to reach more clients and improve customer engagement solutions.

FAQ 4: What impact does this investment have on MoEngage’s market position?

Answer: The investment positions MoEngage as a stronger player in the customer engagement sector. With additional resources, the company can expand its services, improve technology, and compete more aggressively with other market leaders.

FAQ 5: What are the expected outcomes of this expansion for businesses using MoEngage?

Answer: Businesses using MoEngage can expect enhanced tools and features that facilitate better customer engagement, improved user insights, and more effective marketing campaigns, ultimately leading to increased customer satisfaction and retention.

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U.S. and Indian Venture Capitalists Join Forces in a $1B+ Initiative to Support India’s Deep Tech Startups

Groundbreaking Alliance Forms to Boost India’s Deep Tech Startups

A coalition of eight prominent U.S. and Indian venture capital and private equity firms, including Accel, Blume Ventures, Celesta Capital, and Premji Invest, has joined forces to invest over $1 billion in India’s deep tech startups over the next decade, enhancing U.S.-India tech collaboration.

Tackling Funding Concerns in India’s Startup Ecosystem

This alliance responds to persistent funding challenges highlighted by Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who faced backlash for criticizing local startups for lacking innovation and focusing primarily on food delivery services. In contrast, founders pointed out that access to capital for deep tech ventures is scarce in India. The coalition aims to address these issues by channeling long-term private investment into technologies that have historically struggled for funding.

Unprecedented Collaboration Among Investors

The newly formed India Deep Tech Investment Alliance is notable because it formally unites investors who traditionally compete for deals. While collaboration typically happens on a case-by-case basis, this group is committed to pooling resources and efforts under a unified banner.

Members Commit to Long-Term Investment

The alliance, consisting of Celesta Capital, Accel, Blume Ventures, Gaja Capital, Ideaspring Capital, Premji Invest, Tenacity Ventures, and Venture Catalysts, announced its formation following a ₹1 trillion (approximately $11 billion) Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) scheme approved by the Indian government aimed at promoting deep tech R&D.

Strategic Focus on Indian-Domiciled Startups

Each member of the alliance will commit private capital over the next 5 to 10 years to support local deep tech startups. As many notable deep tech companies with Indian founders are currently based in the U.S., the new RDI scheme requires local incorporation, which the coalition aims to leverage.

Providing Mentorship and Expanding Networks

Beyond funding, the alliance plans to offer mentorship and networking opportunities to startups, while also assisting portfolio companies with their expansion into the Indian market.

Navigating Geopolitical Challenges

Despite the complex geopolitical landscape, including recent tensions between the U.S. and India, the alliance is optimistic about India’s potential as a startup hub for foundational technologies like AI, semiconductors, and biotech.

Investment Opportunities for U.S. Companies

“India presents a particularly compelling market, not only for local companies but also for U.S. firms looking to expand,” noted Sriram Vishwanathan, founding managing partner at Celesta Capital, highlighting the alliance’s goal to invigorate the Indian startup ecosystem.

Focusing on Early-Stage Startups

The alliance’s initial focus will be on early-stage startups, from seed to Series B funding, with an eye on attracting further participation from both VC and private equity firms in the future.

Engagement with Government Policies

Members of the alliance intend to engage proactively with the Indian government to advocate for favorable policies, aiming to create a unified voice to support industry interests while adhering to RDI conditions.

Potential Risks and Rewards

While the collaborative effort is positioned as beneficial for the deep tech ecosystem, there’s an inherent risk that miscoordination could leave startups facing challenges. Nevertheless, optimism remains high for India’s ability to produce transformative technologies over the next decade.

“The future is bright: ambition, talent, and patient capital are converging to transform the Indian startup landscape,” stated Accel partner Anand Daniel.

Here are five FAQs regarding the U.S. and Indian VCs forming a $1B+ alliance to fund India’s deep tech startups:

FAQ 1: What is the purpose of the $1B+ alliance between U.S. and Indian VCs?

Answer: The alliance aims to fund and support India’s deep tech startups, fostering innovation and growth in sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, 5G, and biotechnology. By pooling resources and expertise, the VCs intend to accelerate the development of cutting-edge technologies in India.

FAQ 2: Which specific sectors will the alliance focus on?

Answer: The alliance will primarily concentrate on deep tech sectors, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, 5G communications, biotechnology, and other advanced technologies that have the potential for significant impact and scalability.

FAQ 3: How will this funding impact Indian startups?

Answer: The partnership is expected to provide significant financial resources, mentorship, and access to global markets, enabling Indian startups to scale their operations, innovate rapidly, and compete on an international level. This could lead to job creation and technological advancements within India.

FAQ 4: Are there any eligibility criteria for startups to secure funding from this alliance?

Answer: While specific criteria may vary, startups typically need to demonstrate innovative technology, scalability potential, a strong business model, and a capable management team. Startups will likely need to apply through designated channels or partners associated with the alliance.

FAQ 5: How can startups apply for funding through this alliance?

Answer: Startups interested in funding from this alliance should prepare a comprehensive business plan and proposal. They can monitor announcements from the participating VCs for application procedures, investment windows, and specific criteria. Networking at industry events and utilizing platforms connected to the alliance may also enhance visibility to potential investors.

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