Pie, an AI-powered growth platform for small businesses, raised $19.5M in a Series A led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, bringing total funding to $23.7M, and emerged from stealth alongside the launch of Front Desk, an AI product that answers calls, takes bookings, and handles customer questions around the clock. The round drew participation from Capital One Ventures, Max Levchin’s SciFi VC, F-Prime, Commerce Ventures, and WEX Venture Capital, among others. Founded by former Square and Toast operators Syed Ali and Akhil Mantripragada, Pie focuses on generating net-new demand for local merchants across AI search like ChatGPT and Claude, plus Google Maps, Yelp, and Nextdoor, pitching itself as a cheaper alternative to agencies charging $2,500 to $5,000 a month. The company reaches merchants directly and through embedded partnerships with vertical SaaS platforms in categories like auto repair, pet care, and beauty.
