TLDR:
- Zendesk has launched a global venture fund for AI-first companies called Zendesk Ventures
- They have already made investments in conversation AI company PolyAI and customer feedback platform unitQ
Article Summary:
Zendesk, a customer experience solutions provider, has announced the launch of Zendesk Ventures, a global venture fund aimed at investing in AI-first companies. The fund will provide capital, CX and AI expertise, and strategic partnership opportunities to emerging companies. Zendesk Ventures has already made investments in conversation AI company PolyAI and customer feedback platform unitQ, adding to its existing portfolio that includes Observe.AI and Zuper. The launch of this fund aligns with the growing opportunities in the AI space, with major tech companies like SAP and Salesforce also investing heavily in AI startups.
Vasudeva Rao Munnaluri, RVP India & SAARC, Zendesk, highlighted the booming AI startup ecosystem in India and expressed excitement for the future of AI startups in the country. Other venture capital firms and big tech companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia are also investing significantly in startups focused on generative AI. Despite a slight decrease in global AI investment overall, funding for generative AI saw a sharp increase in 2023, signaling a growing interest in this sector.
