As AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Perplexity reshape how people search—siphoning queries away from Google—startups are racing to help brands stay visible in AI-generated responses. Profound, which claims it was the first to stake out this post-SEO space, today announced a $35 million Series B funding round led by Sequoia Capital, with continued backing from venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins, Khosla Ventures, Saga VC, and South Park Commons. The new round brings its total funding to $58.5 million.
Since launching less than a year ago, the New York City–based company has signed Fortune 10 clients and hundreds more, though it could publicly name only a few, including Ramp, U.S. Bank, Indeed, MongoDB, Docusign, and Chime. Profound says 2,000 marketers from over 500 organizations now use its platform daily as brands race to secure their place in the AI-first internet. And the race is heating up: According to the Wall Street Journal, AI-powered chatbots now account for more than 5% of U.S. desktop search traffic—up from just 1.3% in early 2024.
