Kore.AI secures $150 million funding round, eyes potential IPO in coming years

Florida-based Kore.AI, a leading developer of enterprise-focused conversational AI and generative AI products, recently announced a successful $150 million funding round. The investment was led by FTV Capital and Nvidia, among other prominent investors.

Raj Koneru, the founder and CEO of Kore.AI, expressed enthusiasm about the company's robust growth, stating, "We have been growing over 100% per year over the last several years. So much of this fundraising will go towards working capital, investment in sales and marketing, and product development."

With this latest infusion of capital, Kore.AI's total funds raised since its inception now stands at an impressive $223 million. The CEO also hinted at the possibility of an initial public offering (IPO) within the next three years, depending on market conditions and the company's readiness for public status.

In a separate development, Lightspeed, a multi-stage global venture capital firm, recently hosted the second edition of its portfolio investor day, Lift-off, in Mumbai. The event served as a platform for businesses, founders, investors, and key stakeholders from around the world to explore Lightspeed's leading portfolio startups.

Anuj Bhargava, Managing Director of India at Lightspeed, highlighted in an interview with CNBC-TV18 that there is currently no shortage of capital across all stages of funding. He also expressed expectations for startups to return to the market with more realistic valuations compared to previous years.

Meanwhile, HairOriginals, a natural hair extension and wig marketplace, is making waves in the startup ecosystem with clear plans to tap into the fastest-growing global natural hair extension market. The company already delivers ethically sourced and finished human hair products, such as hair extensions, wigs, and toppers, in over 20 countries. CNBC-TV18’s Aishwarya Anand gets a report on the startup's journey.