Connectly.ai: AI-Powered Messaging for E-Commerce

Connectly.ai is an AI-powered platform that helps businesses enhance their e-commerce strategy by leveraging conversational commerce, specifically targeting customer interactions through messaging channels.

• Focuses on personalized, automated messaging campaigns across various platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, and web-based chatbots.
• Aims to bridge the gap between retailers and potential shoppers by personalizing marketing campaigns.
• Employs AI to tailor product suggestions, analyze customer preferences, and automate conversations.

The Founders' Journey

Connectly.ai was co-founded by Stefanos Loukakos, former director at Meta’s business-focused Messenger division, and Yandong Liu, former CTO of Strava and a former Yahoo researcher.

• Recognized the challenge online retailers faced in connecting with potential shoppers.
• Shared a passion for messaging-based marketing, leading to the development of Connectly.ai.

How Connectly.ai Uses AI for Personalized Messaging

The platform leverages AI to analyze a retailer's product catalog, customer preferences, and online store data to generate personalized messages.

• AI-powered messages inform customers about price changes, stock availability, and offers.
• Detects abandoned carts and triggers messages with discount codes or shipping offers.
• Automatically builds audience segments based on customer interests and behavior.

Addressing Data Privacy Concerns

Connectly.ai addresses data privacy concerns by ensuring its bots clearly identify themselves and complying with GDPR regulations.

• Allows customers to opt out of receiving messages from brands at any time.
• Emphasizes transparency and user control over data sharing.

AI Chatbots and Customer Engagement

While surveys suggest that many customers prefer interacting with live agents, companies are adopting AI to improve customer service and reduce costs.

• Gartner predicts that contact center operators will save $80 billion in labor costs by deploying AI in the next two years.
• AI-powered chatbots are expected to handle 10% of customer service interactions by 2026.

Connectly.ai's Growth and Funding

Connectly.ai has achieved significant growth, attracting over 300 paying customers and experiencing a 5x increase in revenue last year.

• Projected revenue growth of 100% in 2024.
• Secured a $20 million Series B funding round led by Alibaba, boosting its valuation to $100 million.

Alibaba's Involvement and Potential Collaboration

Alibaba's investment in Connectly.ai signals a strategic partnership and potential collaboration in the future.

• Alibaba recognizes Connectly.ai's innovative approach to AI-powered conversational commerce.
• The partnership could lead to joint initiatives and expansion of Connectly.ai's reach within Alibaba's vast e-commerce ecosystem.

Connectly.ai's Future: Expansion and Growth

With the recent funding, Connectly.ai plans to expand its platform and grow its workforce.

• Aiming to expand its platform's capabilities and functionality.
• Planning to increase its San Francisco-based team from 65 to nearly 80 employees by the end of the year.