AI search marketing startup Profound has secured $180 million in Series D funding, reaching a valuation of $1.8 billion less than seven months after its previous investment round.
The round was led by Sequoia and Kleiner Perkins, with participation from existing backers including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures and South Park Commons.
Building visibility for the AI search era
Founded two years ago as an analytics platform, Profound now helps companies understand how consumers discover brands through AI-powered search tools. Its software supports research, content planning and marketing strategy for businesses seeking stronger visibility in generative search environments.
The company operates in the growing fields of generative engine optimization and answer engine optimization, where brands adapt traditional search strategies for conversational AI systems. Profound reports that its revenue has tripled over the past six months and that it now serves more than 1,000 enterprise customers, including Comcast, The Estée Lauder Companies and Walmart.
As AI increasingly shapes how people explore products and services, platforms such as Profound could help define a new generation of data-led brand discovery and digital marketing.
