Summary:
Profound raises $35M Series B led by Sequoia, totaling $58.5M in funding
Startup helps brands maintain visibility in AI search as chatbots reshape the industry
Over 2,000 marketers from 500+ organizations use Profound's platform daily
AI search represents a generational shift in marketing, likened to a "Game of Thrones power shift"
Profound tracks brand mentions across major AI models and provides actionable insights
Cofounder James Cadwallader envisions Profound as the Salesforce of AI search
Profound, a New York City-based startup, has secured a $35 million Series B funding round led by Sequoia, with participation from Kleiner Perkins, Khosla Ventures, Saga VC, and South Park Commons. This investment boosts the company's total funding to $58.5 million, underscoring the growing importance of AI search visibility for brands.
The Rise of AI Search
With AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Perplexity reshaping search behaviors, Profound is at the forefront of helping brands maintain visibility in AI-generated responses. The company has quickly attracted Fortune 10 clients and hundreds of others, including notable names like Ramp, US Bank, Indeed, MongoDB, DocuSign, and Chime. Over 2,000 marketers from 500+ organizations now use Profound's platform daily.
A Generational Shift in Marketing
Sequoia partner Anas Biad highlights the once-in-a-generation platform shift for marketers, driven by AI search. Profound's cofounders, James Cadwallader and Dylan Babbs, are praised for their ambitious vision and rapid execution. Cadwallader, a serial entrepreneur, describes the transition as a "Game of Thrones power shift" from traditional SEO to AI-driven strategies.
Beyond Search: A New Internet Paradigm
The shift to AI search isn't just about changing how people find information—it's altering the entire internet landscape. Brands risk losing direct visibility and control over their online presence, impacting revenue, customer acquisition, and competitive positioning. Profound's platform helps brands create bot-optimized content, a novel approach where content is tailored for AI consumption.
Tracking AI Models and Generating Insights
Profound monitors how major AI models—including ChatGPT, Grok, Meta’s LLaMA, Google’s Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot—surface brand mentions. The platform uses advanced reasoning models to analyze data and provide actionable recommendations, from gap analyses to suggested copy. This empowers marketers to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving AI search space.
A Vision Inspired by Salesforce
Cadwallader draws inspiration from Salesforce's disruptive impact in the early 2000s, envisioning Profound as a leader in the AI search revolution. The company's ambitions extend beyond marketing, addressing PR, content, and customer support challenges posed by AI's growing influence.
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