Conversational Commerce solutions

2022. Charles raises $20M to bring conversational commerce to WhatsApp in Europe



Conversational commerce has gained significant traction in Asia, primarily due to the influence of WeChat. However, it has yet to reach the same level of adoption in Europe. German startup Charles aims to change this dynamic with its recent $20 million funding. Charles offers a comprehensive platform that seamlessly integrates key components of conversational commerce with the marketing capabilities of newsletters. It positions itself as an end-to-end solution, encompassing both backend and interface functionalities. By connecting messaging service APIs like WhatsApp with popular e-commerce and CRM systems such as Shopify and Salesforce, businesses can facilitate product sales, distribute newsletters, and provide ongoing support to customers.


2022. Japan’s Zeals raises $38.8M to scale its chat commerce platform



Zeals, a startup based in Tokyo, has successfully raised $27.2 million. This innovative company provides businesses with a chat application that facilitates seamless communication with their customers. Conversational commerce, a concept introduced by former Uber employee Chris Messina in 2015, enables online businesses to effectively sell their products and services through messaging and chat platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has significantly accelerated the adoption of messaging apps as a primary medium for personal, business, and commerce interactions. Zeals currently serves over 400 enterprises, including Toyota dealerships, Shiseido, and NTT Docomo, enabling them to enhance their customer engagement and support.

2022. Clickatell raises $91M to scale its chat commerce platform



Clickatell, a leading player in the mobile communications and chat commerce arena, has successfully secured $91 million in a recent funding round. In the realm of chat commerce, where prominent entities such as Twilio, Zendesk, and Stripe dominate communication platform as a service (CPaaS), contact center as a service (CCaaS), and e-commerce payments respectively, Clickatell operates at the intersection of these three domains. It aids businesses in implementing payment solutions within chat channels. Clickatell proudly claims to have developed one of the world's initial chat banking solutions on WhatsApp through its chat commerce integration with ABSA Bank, one of South Africa's largest banks.


2021. Сonversational commerce startup Whym raise $4.3M



Whym, a startup specializing in conversational commerce, has recently secured $4.3 million in new seed funding. The team at Whym recognized the potential of merging messaging and commerce to create a novel experience where transactions can be conducted through text or direct messaging threads, thereby enabling a unique form of social shopping. As the company evolved, Whym expanded its offerings to provide brands with a micro-storefront solution that can be seamlessly integrated with their existing texting campaigns. This enables customers to browse and purchase products, including various options such as different colors or sizes, directly from the messaging platform. Brands can also promote their product links on social media platforms and messaging apps through methods like "link in bio" solutions, swipe-ups (link stickers on Instagram), messaging apps, and more.


2021. Conversational commerce startup Wizard raises $50M



Wizard, a B2B startup operating in the field of "conversational commerce," has successfully secured a Series A funding round of $50 million. The company envisions a future where mobile commerce predominantly occurs through text-based interactions. Wizard offers a B2B service that empowers brands and retailers to engage in transactions with consumers via text. Their comprehensive service provides an end-to-end shopping experience on mobile devices, encompassing opt-in processes, search functionalities, payments, shipping, and even reorders. Unlike previous encounters with messaging app chatbots that may have been frustrating, these text-based chats aim to deliver a seamless and enjoyable interaction.


2021. Business messaging platform Gupshup raises $240M



Gupshup, a business messaging platform that embarked on its journey in India 15 years ago, has recently secured $240 million in funding. The startup operates a conversational messaging platform, currently utilized by over 100,000 businesses and developers to create customized messaging and conversational experiences for their users and customers. With an eye towards the future, Gupshup is now contemplating the possibility of exploring the public markets as early as next year. The platform serves clients across various sectors, including banking, e-commerce, travel, hospitality, and more. These organizations rely on Gupshup to deliver transactional information, authentication codes, and other valuable use cases to their customers.


2021. Mobile commerce startup Via rounds up $15 million in Series A



Via, a startup based in the Bay Area and founded two years ago, operates within the conversational commerce sector. This emerging market trend has become increasingly evident over time. Via has identified several key trends that support its mission. Firstly, mobile phones are projected to surpass desktops in terms of e-commerce sales this year, accounting for as much as 70% of total sales according to some estimates. Additionally, people tend to read text messages promptly, and consumers spend over 30 minutes per day engaging with mobile messaging apps. Unlike numerous startups that focus solely on helping retailers and businesses broadcast marketing messages via SMS, Via emphasizes the importance of addressing various components that contribute to a satisfying consumer experience. This includes delivering coupon codes and facilitating the returns process, among other elements. Via recognizes the untapped potential in enhancing the overall consumer journey beyond marketing communication.


2021. Yalo raises $50M to build ‘c-commerce’ services for chat apps like WhatsApp



Facebook has been actively promoting WhatsApp as a platform for businesses to engage and sell to their customers. Today, a startup specializing in providing tools for retailers and other businesses to create and manage such services on messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, is announcing a significant funding round to seize this opportunity. Yalo, a c-commerce ("chat commerce") startup, focuses on developing tools for businesses to leverage messaging apps for customer outreach and sales strategies. With $50 million in funding, Yalo plans to expand its services, with a particular emphasis on emerging markets like Latin America and Southeast Asia. Yalo has already attracted renowned brands such as Unilever, Nestle, Coca-Cola, and Walmart, who utilize its platform for sales and marketing endeavors. While the potential audience is estimated to be around 350 million, Yalo does not disclose the exact number of active users on its platform.


2021. Conversational Marketing platform Qualified raises $51M



Salesforce currently dominates the realm of CRM (Customer Relationship Management). While it is widely utilized for organizing contacts and information, it may not provide all the necessary solutions for enhancing sales and marketing efforts, particularly in the context of remote meetings. Today, a startup addressing this gap announces significant growth funding following a successful year for its business. Qualified, which focuses on facilitating better interactions for B2B sales and marketing teams already utilizing Salesforce, leverages additional data sources to create more comprehensive profiles of website visitors. This enhanced profiling aids in improving and personalizing outreach initiatives, thereby generating "qualified" leads. The company has secured $51 million in funding to further develop its services.


2020. Attentive raises another $40M for mobile messaging



Mobile messaging startup, Attentive, has recently secured a $40 million Series B funding. Attentive plays a significant role in driving an average of 18.5% of total online revenue for modern e-commerce brands. Notably, the number of new customer sign-ups is continually increasing, as Attentive now serves over 1,000 businesses. Prominent companies such as Coach, Urban Outfitters, CB2, PacSun, Lulus, and Jack in the Box rely on the platform to manage their mobile messaging strategies. The platform offers various tools, including text message subscriber management, creation of engaging messages, and comprehensive campaign tracking for businesses to analyze their results effectively.