fonio.ai has raised a $17 million seed round at a $140 million valuation, led by 20VC, as the startup looks to expand beyond Europe and broaden its product lineup.
The company, founded by Daniel Keinrath, Matthias Gruber, Massimiliano Gritti, and Alexander Brix, is building AI communication tools for small and medium-sized businesses. Its core product is an AI phone assistant designed to answer calls around the clock, reduce workload for teams, and help businesses avoid missing customer inquiries or sales opportunities.
Fonio.ai says it has become a market leader in Europe for AI phone agents serving SMBs, with close to 10,000 customers. The new funding will support global expansion and the rollout of additional products, including an AI WhatsApp agent, as well as upcoming email agents, chatbots, and an AI-first CRM.
The round underscores continued investor interest in AI tools aimed at automating customer communication for smaller businesses, a segment increasingly targeted by startups looking to bring enterprise-style capabilities to the SMB market.
The company, founded by Daniel Keinrath, Matthias Gruber, Massimiliano Gritti, and Alexander Brix, is building AI communication tools for small and medium-sized businesses. Its core product is an AI phone assistant designed to answer calls around the clock, reduce workload for teams, and help businesses avoid missing customer inquiries or sales opportunities.
Fonio.ai says it has become a market leader in Europe for AI phone agents serving SMBs, with close to 10,000 customers. The new funding will support global expansion and the rollout of additional products, including an AI WhatsApp agent, as well as upcoming email agents, chatbots, and an AI-first CRM.
The round underscores continued investor interest in AI tools aimed at automating customer communication for smaller businesses, a segment increasingly targeted by startups looking to bring enterprise-style capabilities to the SMB market.