AI Startup Pie Secures $19.5 Million to Automate Small Business Growth

The capital injection brings the startup’s total funding to $23.7 million, signaling strong investor confidence in its mission to bring enterprise-grade tools to local merchants. Founded by former Square and Toast operators Syed Ali and Akhil Mantripragada, the company emerged from stealth mode alongside the launch of Front Desk, an automated product capable of managing 24/7 customer calls, bookings, and inquiries.

Pie differentiates itself by addressing the shift in how consumers discover local businesses, moving beyond traditional search engines toward AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity. Its software suite focuses on three core pillars: AI Search for visibility, Growth for customer acquisition across channels like Google Maps and Yelp, and Front Desk for operational support. Early adopters, including Moxie Management Group, report significant efficiency gains and double-digit sales growth by bypassing expensive agency retainers. With this latest round, the founders intend to scale their distribution model and expand their product engineering team to further cement their foothold in the small business market.