What Profound does
Profound builds marketing software that helps brands appear in AI search results, a category known as answer engine optimization (AEO), according to TechCrunch (Sep 2026).[1] Profound started as an analytics platform that tracks brand mentions, sentiment and performance across major answer engines.[1],[2] Profound has since expanded into helping companies research and create marketing strategies, TechCrunch reported in September 2026.[1] Its AI Marketer product brings company context and agents together for marketing teams, according to the company (Sep 2026).[3] Profound was founded in 2024 and is based in New York, The Next Web reported.[4]
Business model and customers
Profound says it has more than 1,000 enterprise customers, including Comcast, The Estée Lauder Companies and Walmart, and that its revenue increased 3x in the six months to September 2026, as reported by TechCrunch.[1]
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Company Snapshot
Profound is a Enterprise SaaS company, based in New York, New York, USA, founded 2024. Latest valuation $1.8B (As of Sep 15, 2026, TechCrunch). Total funding >$335M (As of Sep 15, 2026).
Recent changes
- Sep 15, 2026Sep 15, 2026Raised $180M Series D at a $1.8B valuation TechCrunch
- Sep 15, 2026Sep 15, 2026First reported total funding: >$335M Bloomberg
- Sep 15, 2026Sep 15, 2026AEO Startup Profound Hits $1.8B In Just 7 Months Pulse story
- Sep 15, 2026Sep 15, 2026Valuation rose from $1B to $1.8B TechCrunch
- Sep 3, 2026Sep 3, 2026Profound Raises $96M to Own AI Search Answers Pulse story
Earlier changes (13)
- Feb 24, 2026Feb 24, 2026Raised $96M Series C at a $1B valuation Profound
- Feb 24, 2026Feb 24, 2026New investor: Evantic Capital Profound
- Feb 24, 2026Feb 24, 2026New investor: Lightspeed Venture Partners Profound
- Feb 2026Feb 2026First reported valuation: $1B Bloomberg
- Aug 12, 2025Aug 12, 2025Raised $35M Series B Profound
- Aug 12, 2025Aug 12, 2025New investor: Sequoia Capital Profound
- Jun 18, 2025Jun 18, 2025Raised $20M Series A Profound
- Jun 18, 2025Jun 18, 2025New investor: NVentures Profound
- Jun 18, 2025Jun 18, 2025New investor: Saga Ventures Profound
- Jun 18, 2025Jun 18, 2025New investor: Kleiner Perkins Profound
- Jun 18, 2025Jun 18, 2025New investor: South Park Commons Profound
- Jun 18, 2025Jun 18, 2025New investor: SV Angel Profound
- Jun 18, 2025Jun 18, 2025New investor: Khosla Ventures Profound
Funding History
4 events · sources dated per row| Date | Event | Amount | Valuation | Investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2026 | Series D | $180M | $1.8B | TechCrunch | |
| Feb 24, 2026 | Series C | $96M | $1B | Profound | |
| Aug 12, 2025 | Series B | $35M | — | Sequoia CapitalLeadunverifiedKleiner PerkinsunverifiedKhosla VenturesunverifiedSaga VenturesunverifiedSouth Park Commonsunverified | Profound |
| Jun 18, 2025 | Series A | $20M | — | Kleiner PerkinsLeadunverifiedKhosla VenturesunverifiedNVenturesunverifiedSaga VenturesunverifiedSouth Park CommonsunverifiedSV Angelunverified | Profound |
How Profound has been funded
On Jun 18, 2025, Profound announced a $20M Series A led by Kleiner Perkins with Khosla Ventures, NVIDIA NVentures, Saga Ventures, South Park Commons and SV Angel.[5] On Aug 12, 2025, Profound announced a $35M Series B led by Sequoia Capital, with Kleiner Perkins, Khosla Ventures, Saga VC and South Park Commons participating.[6] On Feb 24, 2026, Profound raised a $96M Series C at a $1B valuation, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners alongside Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins, Evantic, Saga and South Park Commons.[2] On Sep 15, 2026, Profound raised a $180 million Series D at a $1.8 billion valuation led by Sequoia and Kleiner Perkins, less than seven months after its Series C, TechCrunch reported.[1] Existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures, Saga Ventures, Evantic and South Park Commons also joined the Profound Series D.[3] Bloomberg reported, via The Next Web, that the Series D brought Profound's total raised since 2024 to more than $335M.[4]
Investors and their roles
- Sequoia Capital (led the Series B in Aug 2025; co-led the Series D in Sep 2026)[6],[3]
- Kleiner Perkins (led the Series A in Jun 2025; co-led the Series D in Sep 2026)[5],[3]
- Lightspeed Venture Partners (led the Series C, Feb 2026)[2]
- Khosla Ventures (participated in the Series A, Series B and Series D)[5],[6],[3]
- South Park Commons (participated in every round from the Series A through the Series D)[5],[6],[2],[3]
- Saga Ventures and Evantic (Series C and Series D participants)[2],[3]
- NVIDIA NVentures and SV Angel (Series A participants, Jun 2025)[5]
Underlying values
| As of | Value | Method | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2026 | $1.8B | Reported | TechCrunchAlso reported by Bloomberg |
| Feb 24, 2026 | $1B | Reported | TechCrunchAlso reported by Bloomberg |
Investors
Latest Pulse
- Sep 16, 2026Why One September Day Explains AI Capital's MoodThree unrelated capital events -- two new unicorns and an $8 billion acquisition financing -- landed the same day the FTC chair warned AI labs against seeking both new regulation and antitrust protection at once.→
- Sep 15, 2026$2.2B Priced In One Day Across Three AI BetsValue Add Pulse tallied the capital raised across three separate September 15 announcements -- Profound, Thatch and Rocket Lab's Iridium financing -- against the prior week's eleven largest US venture rounds.→
- Sep 15, 2026AEO Startup Profound Hits $1.8B In Just 7 MonthsProfound, which helps brands track how they appear inside ChatGPT and Gemini answers, raised a $180 million Series D co-led by Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins at a $1.8 billion valuation, less than seven months after its last round.→
- Sep 3, 2026Profound Raises $96M to Own AI Search AnswersProfound raised a $96 million Series C led by Lightspeed to help brands track and influence how they get cited inside AI chatbot answers, the generative engine optimization category forming as search shifts from links to answers.→
Coverage Timeline
newest firstAll Coverage
FUNDING$2.2B across 3 events
$2.2B Priced In One Day Across Three AI Bets
Value Add Pulse tallied the capital raised across three separate September 15 announcements -- Profound, Thatch and Rocket Lab's Iridium financing -- against the prior week's eleven largest US venture rounds.
BY THE NUMBERS
AEO Startup Profound Hits $1.8B In Just 7 Months
AI$180M Series D
AEO Startup Profound Hits $1.8B In Just 7 Months
Profound, which helps brands track how they appear inside ChatGPT and Gemini answers, raised a $180 million Series D co-led by Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins at a $1.8 billion valuation, less than seven months after its last round.
DEEP DIVE
Profound Raises $96M to Own AI Search Answers
FUNDING$96M Series C
Profound Raises $96M to Own AI Search Answers
Profound raised a $96 million Series C led by Lightspeed to help brands track and influence how they get cited inside AI chatbot answers, the generative engine optimization category forming as search shifts from links to answers.
DEEP DIVE
Value Add Research
Related Companies
Shared investors
Profound FAQ
What is Profound's valuation?
Profound was valued at $1.8 billion in its $180 million Series D in September 2026, up from $1B at its $96M Series C in February 2026.[1],[2]
How much revenue does Profound make?
Profound has not disclosed its revenue, The Next Web reported in September 2026; the company says revenue grew 3x in the six months before its $180 million Series D.[4],[1]
Who invested in Profound?
Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins co-led Profound's Series D in September 2026, with Lightspeed Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures, Saga Ventures, Evantic and South Park Commons participating.[3] Lightspeed led the February 2026 Series C, Sequoia led the August 2025 Series B and Kleiner Perkins led the June 2025 Series A.[2],[6],[5]
Who owns Profound?
Profound is privately held and backed by venture investors including Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins and Lightspeed Venture Partners; it was co-founded by CEO James Cadwallader and CTO Dylan Babbs.[3],[2]
Is Profound a public company?
No. Profound raised a private $180 million Series D in September 2026, so it is privately held as of that date.[1]
References
researched 2026-10-19Sources & methodologyshow
Where these figures come from
- Profoundprimary source1 fact
- Profoundprimary source1 fact
- Profoundprimary source1 fact
- TechCrunchmajor outlet2 facts
- Bloombergmajor outlet1 fact
Figures are labelled Reported (a source states it), Estimated, Derived (computed from other facts) or Rumored (in talks / unconfirmed). Rumors never replace a confirmed figure. Each figure keeps its own as-of date; history is preserved rather than overwritten.