Hightouch Raises $80M for AI-Powered Marketing Tools

Hightouch, a startup co-founded by a former engineering manager at Segment, has raised $80 million in funding, achieving a post-money valuation of $1.2 billion. This Series C round, led by Sapphire Ventures, also included participation from NVC, Amplify Ventures, ICONIQ Growth, Bain Capital Ventures, and Y Combinator.  The new funding marks a significant increase in valuation for Hightouch, nearly doubling its worth since its last funding round in 2023. The capital will be used to enhance Hightouch’s technology, support business development, and expand its team. Tejas Manohar, co-CEO of Hightouch, recalled the challenges faced at Segment, where integrating data from various sources was often too complex for users. In 2019, he and co-founder Josh Curl, along with machine learning expert Kashish Gupta, launched Hightouch to address these issues. The company has developed a customer data platform (CDP) that simplifies the use of data from cloud data warehouses for marketing, sales, and customer service, benefiting both technical and non-technical users. Hightouch's CDP allows users to create SQL queries or use a graphical interface to sync data with over 250 different applications, including major CRM and marketing platforms. Additionally, Hightouch has introduced AI Decisioning, an AI-driven product that automates campaign testing and optimization. Launched in August 2024, AI Decisioning has generated significant customer interest, prompting the company to seek additional funding. With existing clients like Spotify and Grammarly, Hightouch is capitalizing on the growing demand for AI solutions in the business landscape. As companies increasingly seek to leverage AI for improved customer experiences and increased revenue, Hightouch is well-positioned to meet these needs with its innovative tools.