Global AI-driven conversational search platform Zoovu today announced that it has acquired Belgium-based startup Clever. This move enhances Zoovu’s current offering by adding neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and a sophisticated Intent Engine.
Clever, founded in 2016, is a conversational search company that specialises in unstructured search. The addition of these capabilities to the Zoovu platform increases the lead conversion rate that Zoovu can deliver.
Rob Mullen, CEO, Zoovu, says: “The acquisition of Clever enables us to accelerate our scaling of the company, acquire new IP and secure access to some exceptional talent. This, combined with our own disruptive conversational search platform is likely to see our growth trajectory more than double. More importantly, it means we can provide the best-in-class conversational technology to brands at a time when we are seeing real demand from the industry”.
Maarten Verschuere, managing director, Clever, adds: “We are delighted about the acquisition from Zoovu and look forward to a collaborative future together. Zoovu is forging ahead with being a disruptive force in the conversational search space, and it was a logical and natural fit to combine forces to accelerate our market leadership position and growth journey.”
This acquisition comes one year after Zoovu secured approximately €16.5 million in series B investment, and just months after the opening of its new office in Berlin at the end of last year, as the company continues to expand globally into new regions.
Bao-Y Van Cong, venture partner at Target Global, and Zoovu Board Member comments: “The size of the conversational search market is only going one way – up. As businesses begin to realise the benefits to the bottom line this technology can have, the acquisition of Clever means Zoovu is ideally placed to capitalise on its growth. It’s not a case of if Zoovu becomes a market leader in this category, but when.”
