Profound, a marketing software company that helps brands appear in AI-generated search results, announced on Tuesday that it has raised a $180 million Series D round at a $1.8 billion valuation. The funding comes less than seven months after the startup closed a $96 million Series C.
Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins led the round, with participation from existing investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures, and South Park Commons.
From Analytics to Full-Stack AI Search Optimization
Launched two years ago, Profound initially offered an analytics platform to track brand visibility in AI search. It has since expanded into a comprehensive solution that helps companies research and create marketing strategies tailored to AI-driven discovery. The startup enables businesses to understand how AI assistants and chatbots surface their brands to consumers.
Profound is part of a growing wave of startups in the GEO/AEO space—generative engine optimization and answer engine optimization, respectively. These companies help brands adapt to a shift in how consumers search for information, as AI systems increasingly replace traditional search engines.
Rapid Growth and Enterprise Adoption
Profound says its revenue has tripled in the past six months. The company now serves more than 1,000 enterprise customers, including Comcast, The Estée Lauder Companies, and Walmart.
As AI continues to reshape search behavior in 2026, solutions like Profound are becoming essential for brands aiming to maintain visibility in an increasingly AI-mediated digital landscape.
via TechCrunch AI