A Scottsdale-based artificial intelligence chatbot software company was selected for the most recent cohort of Google for Startups Latino Founders Fund.
Botco.ai announced on Thursday it’s among 23 startups nationwide selected for the Latino Founders Fund, which provides recipients $150,000 without giving up equity in return and $100,000 in Google Cloud credits. Botco.ai will also receive ongoing Google mentorship and product support to encourage future growth.
“This recognition is a testament to our advanced innovation and the immense potential of the Botco.ai GenAI Chat Cloud. With the support and resources offered by this award, Botco.ai will forge ahead in our mission to revolutionize customer engagement and transform the way businesses connect with their audiences,” Rebecca Clyde, co-founder and CEO of Botco.ai, said in a statement.
Originally from Costa Rica, Clyde co-founded Botco.ai in 2018 and has overseen its tremendous growth within the intelligent chat industry.
The Latino Founders Fund — established in 2022 — helps Latino-led startups nationwide secure funding, strengthen communities and create generational change, according to Google's website.
Since 2020, Google for Startups has provided more than 547 entrepreneurs with $45 million in funding via its Black Founders Fund and Latino Founders Fund.
"We are extremely proud to be supporting the work done by Botco.ai with the 2023 Google for Startups Latino Founders Fund," Daniel Navarro, marketing lead for Google for Startups, said in a statement. "Botco.ai’s mission to empower businesses with people through helpful, relevant, and personalized AI conversations stood out amongst applicants and we are looking forward to helping them continue making an impact in the CRM and software industry."
Botco.ai will use the infusion of capital to fuel its growth and accelerate development of its platform. The company recently launched its GenAI Chat Cloud, a suite of products that allow enterprises to utilize AI to enhance sales, marketing and customer service.
“We will leverage this invaluable opportunity to further expand our reach, empower our team, and solidify our position as trailblazers in genAI chat,” Clyde said in her statement. “With the aid of this fund, Botco.ai will amplify our efforts in creating personalized and meaningful customer interactions, fostering deeper connections between businesses and their diverse audiences. We will invest in cutting-edge research and development, nurturing the next generation of AI-driven solutions that empower businesses to deliver exceptional customer experiences.”
Botco.ai was named a software category winner in the 2022 Venture Madness pitch competition. The company raised $3.6 million in seed funding in 2021.
Clyde serves on the executive committee of the Arizona Technology Council and is the vice president of programs for the Arizona chapter of Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. She also owns Scottsdale-based marketing agency Ideas Collide and previously served as co-managing director for Girls in Tech Phoenix.
