Key Takeaways
- Seattle startup Gumshoe has raised $2 million to help marketers navigate the rise of AI search tools.
- AI like ChatGPT is changing how people find product recommendations, moving away from traditional search links.
- Gumshoe analyzes AI conversations to show businesses how their brands are mentioned compared to competitors.
- The platform helps marketers understand and adapt to this new landscape where AI directly influences purchasing decisions.
Two Seattle startup veterans, Todd Sawicki and Patrick O’Donnell, have launched Gumshoe, securing $2 million in early funding led by Pioneer Square Labs.
Their goal is to tackle a growing anxiety for marketers: how AI search tools like ChatGPT and Claude are recommending products to consumers.
As people increasingly turn to AI for answers instead of traditional search engines, the way products get discovered is changing dramatically. According to GeekWire, this shift has significant implications for online sales, especially as AI tools begin adding direct shopping features.
Instead of just providing links, AI can now suggest specific products and even assist with the purchase. This leaves marketers wondering how visible their brand is within these AI recommendations.
Sawicki mentioned that marketers are understandably concerned about this new environment. Gumshoe aims to alleviate that stress.
The company’s technology simulates thousands of conversations with various AI models. This helps marketers see exactly how their brand is being discussed, what information sources the AI cites, and how they stack up against competitors.
Gumshoe provides insights into whether a company is winning its share of mentions within AI-generated answers and reveals trends, such as AI’s preference for recent content and specific business pages.
Sawicki highlighted a key difference: traditional search often felt like a popularity contest, whereas AI search focuses more on finding the most accurate or appropriate information.
Gumshoe is currently available in a public beta version with hundreds of companies testing the platform. The plan is to introduce paid access later this summer.
Looking ahead, the company intends to help businesses create content specifically optimized for AI discovery. Other investors include Hawke Ventures and prominent angel investors from the tech and advertising industries.
The Gumshoe team includes experienced leaders like O’Donnell, who co-founded Urbanspoon and MightyAI, along with executives formerly at Foursquare, Placed, Redfin, and Moloco.
