AI Marketing Startup Profound Hits $1.8B Valuation With $180M Series D

Profound, an artificial intelligence marketing startup, has raised $180 million in a Series D funding round, bringing its valuation to $1.8 billion, according to a Bloomberg report. The round was co-led by prominent venture capital firms Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins, underscoring strong investor confidence in the company's focus on optimizing brand presence within AI-powered search.

Funding Details

The latest capital infusion was co-led by Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins, both of which have backed the New York-based startup in previous rounds. Other existing investors participating in the Series D include Lightspeed Venture Partners and Khosla Ventures, Bloomberg reported.

This funding marks a significant and rapid increase in the company's valuation. Profound reached unicorn status with a $1 billion valuation following a $96 million fundraise on March 15, 2026.

The Rise of 'Answer Engine Optimization'

Profound's technology addresses the marketing industry's shift from traditional search engine optimization (SEO) to what is sometimes called "answer engine optimization" (AEO). The company's software helps brands track and influence how they are mentioned and described by generative AI chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.

As consumers increasingly turn to AI for web queries, Profound's platform provides analytics on brand visibility, context, and sentiment within AI-generated responses. This allows marketing teams to adapt their strategies for a new generation of search interfaces.

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Rapid Growth Trajectory

Founded in 2024, Profound has now raised over $335 million in total capital. The continued backing from its top-tier investors signals a strong belief in its market position.

Key funding milestones include:

• Series A: Led by Kleiner Perkins (announced June 2025)
• Series B: Led by Sequoia Capital (August 2025)
• Series D: Co-led by Sequoia and Kleiner Perkins (September 2026)

The company's swift ascent to a $1.8 billion valuation highlights the intense investor interest in technologies that address the fundamental changes in online search behavior driven by generative AI.