AIfluence, a Kenyan ad-tech startup, has raised $1 million in seed funding to help it expand its AI-powered marketing platform.
Founded by Nelson Aseka (CEO), George Issaias (CMO), Lamusia Anzaya (COO) and Ankit Jindal (CTO), AIfluence leverages advanced machine learning algorithms to match influencers with a target demographic through its audience-first strategy.
Advertisers can also use the platform to onboard and manage hundreds to thousands of micro and nano influencers every campaign, resulting in genuine peer-to-peer discussions and higher conversion rates. In 13 African and Asian nations, regional and global advertisers employ AIfluence’s data-driven approach in FMCG, banking, tourism, and electronics.
The seed round for AIfluence is led by Dubai-based EQ2 Ventures, with participation from Antler East Africa, Nigerian VC Oui Capital, ArabyAds, and a European family office. Antler’s inaugural Nairobi cohort in 2020 included AIfluence.
By the end of 2021, the money will be utilized to grow into the rest of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, as well as to further invest in AIfluence’s technology and SaaS platform.
“We are at the cusp of a revolution, globally the way marketing works is changing. We find ourselves at an intersection of advanced technology and the fastest-growing region in the world in terms of digital and social media penetration. It’s an exciting place to be. Africa’s rich tradition for storytelling is alive and kicking,” said Nelson Aseka.
“We simply enable such stories to be shared between peers who know and trust each other, and can place our brand messages into the heart of this communication ecosystem. We believe anyone can be an influencer. Our guiding philosophy is that influence is not a profession, it’s an outcome.”
Patrick Thiriet, CEO of EQ2 Ventures, said “people are the new media” in today’s digital world, and that AIfluence was uniquely positioned to turn this reality into tangible results for advertisers.
“We’ve been impressed by the team’s obsession to use data in order to spread authentic and relevant messages to the right audience. This is what advertising should always be. We’re looking forward to AIfluence’s journey ahead,” he said.