Profound, a New York-based startup that helps brands optimize their visibility in AI chatbot answers (Answer Engine Optimization), raised a $180 million Series D co-led by Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins at a $1.8 billion valuation. The round, which closed less than seven months after Profound’s $96 million Series C, brings the company’s total funding to more than $335 million since its 2024 founding. Profound says it now serves over 1,000 enterprise brands, including roughly a third of the Fortune 100, such as Walmart, Comcast, and Estée Lauder.
