London-based startup merx has raised £1 million in a pre-seed round led by VentureFriends to develop its Gen AI-powered platform. The platform helps brands boost sales through messaging apps with personalized customer interactions.
- Founded in 2023 by Mohamed El Shaer and Pietro Cammerini, merx offers a Gen AI-powered conversational commerce platform that helps brands sell more through messaging apps like WhatsApp.
- The platform enables businesses to engage customers with personalized, two-way interactions, boosting conversion rates and increasing Customer Lifetime Value (CLV).
- Merx automatically processes business data to create AI agents that speak in a brand’s voice, recommend products, and assist customers throughout their shopping journey. It connects with existing systems, boosts CRM with GDPR-compliant opt-ins, and uses AI insights for personalized engagement.
Details of the deal
- The investment was led by VentureFriends, a venture capital firm that backs startups across Europe and the MENA region at pre-seed and seed stages, with investments ranging from €500,000 to €2.5 million. London-based VC Ascension, also joined the round.
"Pietro Cammerini and Mohamed El Shaer are already working with some of the biggest global brands, helping them to amplify their presence, engage directly & personally with customers, and drive deeper engagement - ultimately boosting conversions and maximising sales," VentureFriends' team, commented on LinkedIn.
- Merx will use the funds to develop its AI-powered platform, improve customer engagement through advanced AI, and expand its engineering team.
