A Kansas City-based artificial intelligence startup closed a $1.35 million seed round led by Atlanta-based Valor Ventures, with participation by KCRise Fund.
Saile Inc. developed patent-pending AI technology that creates personality-driven sales robots, known as “sailebots.” They can perform tasks such as marketing automation, finding and verifying decision-makers, and reading responses and reacting to them in a way that can drive revenue. Founded in 2019, the startup now has $1.6 million in annual recurring revenue.
"Every company wants more of the great salespeople they already have,” co-founder Nick Smith said in a release. “Where most have tried to ‘sales-enable’ their way through an obstacle course of platforms and dashboards, we’re giving them what they really want: their best reps, multiplied, with personality-driven AI that perform sales tasks on their behalf. Essentially, if you really wish you had three more of your best salespeople, here’s a Sailebot.”
Saile co-founder Clive Cadogan said the sailebots perform the tactical and monotonous work, freeing up more time for sales executives to focus on strategic initiatives.
“Most of all, Saile helps sales leaders set themselves apart in the digital age to reach their ideal customers more effectively,” Cadogan said in the release.
Valor founder and managing partner Lisa Calhoun built a 20-year career in sales and marketing automation. She praised Sailebot for its ability to “automate one of the toughest frontiers major companies have today — prospecting. … Saile helps sales leaders double and triple their teams’ effectiveness. In today's tight talent market, this is taking off.”
Saile’s customer base includes Fortune 500 and global sales teams in 25 countries.
The global marketing automation market is expected to reach $12.2 billion by 2030, according to a June report from Acumen Research and Consulting. It pointed to the fact that big-name companies, such as Oracle, Salesforce and Adobe, have acquired marketing automation software companies.
“Many businesses today are overburdened, dealing with issues like tracking engagement and chasing unsuitable leads, to name a few,” Acumen said. “Automation can aid in the scaling of programs (and) the delivery of more targeted and personalized communications.”
