Zendesk launches venture fund to fuel AI startups
Zendesk, the company providing
the most complete AI solution for CX in the market, today officially launched
its global venture fund to back AI-first companies focused on enhancing
customer and employee experiences. Zendesk Ventures also announced new
investments in PolyAI, a developer of advanced conversational voice assistants,
and unitQ, an AI-powered product quality platform. The fund empowers emerging
companies to unlock their potential by providing capital, CX and AI expertise,
and strategic partnership opportunities for growth and innovation.
“Every organization is on a path
to becoming AI-driven, and we’re eager to form partnerships with companies
leading this new era,” said Ben Barclay, SVP of Strategy, Corporate
Development, & Transformation, Zendesk. “Our goal extends beyond building
our own products; we’re also supporting an ecosystem of startups whose visions
align with ours. Customer and employee service is changing rapidly because of
advancements in AI. Investing in these companies does more than drive their
growth, it elevates our customers’ ability to provide exceptional interactions.”
The Zendesk Ventures portfolio already includes conversational intelligence platform Observe.AI, and field service management software provider, Zuper. The two new portfolio additions announced today are focused on AI-powered CX and operational efficiency:
PolyAI, a voice-focused solution,
allows Zendesk customers to handle complex interactions such as order tracking
and delivery updates as natural as a human conversation. This capability has
increased revenue for customers across a variety of industries while also
reducing human agent call volumes and time spent on inquiries.
unitQ, an AI-powered product
quality platform, enables businesses by efficiently collecting and analyzing
customer interactions and feedback across a range of 60+ sources in real-time,
to pinpoint the root cause of all user fiction and improve Net Promoter Scores
(NPS).
“The market is clamoring for more proficient, personalized customer experiences. This investment in a Zendesk and PolyAI future, alongside our mutual connections in the call center space, signals a powerful synergy,” said Michael Chen, VP of Alliances, PolyAI. “With Zendesk Ventures strengthening our existing partnership, we’re poised to accelerate product innovation and enhance customer engagement, leveraging our voice AI technology to continue to deliver authentic, high-quality interactions over the phone. Together, we’re eager to forge the path ahead to the next generation of CX.”
“Partnering with Zendesk means
joining forces with a leader that opens doors to top-tier talent and industry
networks,” said Christian Wiklund, Co-Founder and CEO, unitQ. “This experience
has cultivated a rich pool of insights that benefits our entire portfolio.
We’ve gained more than just funding – we’re now connected to a community and receive
tailored mentorship to help our company’s growth.”
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