Gushwork invests in AI-driven search for customer leads, yielding promising initial outcomes.
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Gushwork Secures Funding to Revolutionize AI-Driven Marketing
As artificial intelligence transforms online discovery, the India-founded startup Gushwork is helping businesses attract customers through platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. With promising initial traction, Gushwork has recently attracted significant investor interest.
Recent Funding Round
On Thursday, Gushwork announced the completion of a $9 million seed funding round. The round was spearheaded by Susquehanna International Group (SIG) and Lightspeed, with additional participation from B Capital, Seaborne Capital, Beenext, Sparrow Capital, and 2.2 Capital. This latest investment raises Gushwork’s valuation to approximately $33 million post-money, a substantial increase from nearly $7.5 million following its $2.1 million pre-seed investment led by Lightspeed in July 2023. With this new financing, Gushwork’s total funding has reached $11 million.
The Shifting Landscape of Online Search
The urgency of this funding comes amid a significant paradigm shift in online search. AI-driven companies like OpenAI and Perplexity are beginning to challenge traditional search engines, prompting industry giants like Google to introduce AI-generated summaries and conversational features in their offerings. Gushwork is positioned to capitalize on this trend, aiming to empower businesses to thrive in AI-enhanced discovery environments through its automated marketing solutions.
Gushwork’s Evolution
Founded in 2023 by Nayrhit Bhattacharya and Adithya Venkatesh, Gushwork initially aimed to support small and medium enterprises in outsourcing workflows using an amalgamation of AI and human talent. However, the startup pivoted to focus on search-oriented marketing strategies after identifying strong client demand for improved online visibility. Bhattacharya remarked, “Our initial goal was to help businesses outsource faster and better, but the increasing emphasis on search became impossible to overlook.”
Innovative Marketing Solutions
Gushwork’s platform utilizes a network of AI agents to automate the generation and updating of search-optimized content. Additionally, it constructs backlinks—averaging between 10 to 20 per customer—via a network of roughly 200 to 300 partner websites. The platform also integrates lead-tracking through a comprehensive content management system. The primary aim is to assist businesses in achieving a strong presence in both traditional search results and AI-generated responses without the need for large internal marketing teams.
Customer Base and Revenue Generation
Gushwork has successfully onboarded over 300 paying clients, with around 95% based in the United States. Subscriptions start at $800 per month. The startup is currently generating approximately $1.5 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) since launching its AI search-focused product just three months ago. Bhattacharya expects this figure to reach between $3 million and $3.5 million in the next quarter, with monthly growth rates fluctuating between 50% and 80%.
According to internal data, approximately 20% of web traffic for Gushwork’s clients is now derived from AI-based search and chat platforms. Intriguingly, these sources account for around 40% of their inbound leads. The high-intent nature of these leads has already begun translating into substantial business results for some users. In a notable instance, a professional services client secured contracts worth between $200,000 and $350,000 after implementing Gushwork’s platform. Although Bhattacharya did not disclose the client’s name, he noted that numerous customers are experiencing considerable pipeline growth as AI-driven discovery continues to gain traction.
Target Audience and Market Dynamics
Gushwork’s customer base is primarily comprised of high-ticket B2B service providers, industrial distributors, and contract manufacturers, mainly situated in the U.S. The average subscription rates run between $800 and $900 per month, which equates to an annual contract value of approximately $9,000 to $10,000.
The Future of AI-Driven Discovery
While still in its nascent stages, the shift toward AI-driven discovery is accelerating. An increasing number of buyers are utilizing generative AI chatbots and AI web browsers to research suppliers and products. In July 2025, OpenAI reported that ChatGPT processed around 2.5 billion prompts a day globally, including an estimated 330 million from U.S. users. Bhattacharya remarked that this emerging trend is fundamentally altering how businesses approach their online visibility.
Plans for Growth
Gushwork intends to channel its newly acquired funding into expanding its engineering team, enhancing model accuracy, and scaling its market outreach efforts. The startup also has over 800 businesses waiting to be onboarded, indicating a significant demand for its services.
Conclusion
With its innovative approach to AI-driven marketing and a clear growth strategy, Gushwork is poised to make significant strides in reshaping how businesses are discovered online. By leveraging automated solutions and AI-powered insights, Gushwork is effectively addressing the evolving needs of today’s digital marketplace, enabling businesses to thrive in an increasingly competitive environment.
About Gushwork
Headquartered in Delaware and with an operational office in Bengaluru, Gushwork employs around 70 staff members in India alongside various contractors. As the startup continues to evolve, it remains focused on helping businesses harness the power of AI to enhance their online visibility and capture valuable leads.
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