How This AI Startup Is Turning Social Media Likes Into Millions in Sales

For years, brands have poured resources into building massive Instagram and TikTok followings, only to struggle with converting likes and comments into actual sales. A new AI startup believes it has the solution.

Pinpoint, an AI-native social operating system, just secured $2.5 million in seed funding to revolutionize how businesses monetize social attention. The funding round was co-led by Phoenix Capital Ventures and British internet collective The Sidemen via Upside Ventures, with participation from Antler VC, Bulletpitch+, the management of beauty creator Brooke Monk, and executives from Spotify, Raine Group, Google, and Twilio.

Instead of redirecting audiences to websites or email funnels, Pinpoint keeps the entire transaction on social platforms. For example, if a customer comments on a TikTok video, Pinpoint can instantly send them a direct message with a product recommendation, track the purchase, and re-engage them later with personalized offers.

It also captures first-party data—such as emails and phone numbers—directly through DMs, enabling brands to follow up via email or SMS without relying on third-party platforms.

For entrepreneurs, the value proposition is clear: eliminate the friction between follower engagement and revenue.

"The world has moved on from email and SMS," says co-founder Joshua Cohen. "We're helping brands advertise in a way that feels authentic to today's generation—meeting them where they already are on social media."

This approach is gaining traction. In just four months of beta testing, over 100 brands have signed on, including celebrity-backed companies like The Rock's PAPATUI, Jake Paul's Betr, Molly Baz's Ayoh, and Matty Matheson's Matty's World. Fast-growing ventures such as Overtime, IGK Hair, Bobbie, PrizePicks, and Major League Pickleball are also early adopters.

Phoenix Capital Ventures highlights that their investment reflects a broader opportunity: while social platforms excel at building communities, most brands lack effective tools to monetize them. Pinpoint aims to bridge that gap.

With the new funding, the startup plans to expand integrations beyond Instagram and TikTok, positioning itself as a leader in the next wave of AI-powered social commerce.

Why It Matters

• Social media is the new storefront: Pinpoint demonstrates how AI can transform likes, comments, and DMs directly into sales, bypassing traditional funnels like websites or email campaigns. Entrepreneurs who rely on social platforms for reach now have a clearer path to monetization.
• Owning first-party data is non-negotiable: Amid increasing privacy regulations and the decline of third-party tracking, tools like Pinpoint that capture emails and phone numbers through social interactions help founders future-proof customer relationships and marketing strategies.
• Meet consumers where they already are: Today's buyers are active on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, not in email inboxes. Pinpoint enables entrepreneurs to connect directly with audiences in real time, turning everyday interactions into personalized shopping experiences.