August 24, 2023: Let's explore Optable's privacy-centric data collaboration solutions

Let’s get to know Optable and what inspired its creation

What is Optable?

Optable has embarked on a transformative journey to revolutionize the utilization of online identity and individual data, aimed at enhancing the customization of offers and content. This vision places transparency and privacy controls at the forefront of the user experience.

Employing contemporary and robust methodologies, they enable data correlation through secluded iterations of their platform. Their cutting-edge technology prioritizes limited data transference, safeguarding user privacy while affording data ownership rights and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards.

Optable is at the forefront of simplifying and enhancing the data clean room methodology for streamlined collaboration within the advertising ecosystem.

What inspired the idea?

Optable's inception was spearheaded by Yves Poiré, Vlad Stesin, and Bosko Milekic.

This dynamic trio had previously been the masterminds behind AdGear, an avant-garde advertising platform that was ultimately acquired by Samsung Ads. Their observations revealed the tides of substantial transformation, propelled by privacy regulations and the decline of ubiquitous public identifiers like third-party cookies, which had long been the bedrock facilitating data synergies.

Optable in the news

In April of the current year, Optable successfully obtained $20 million through its Series A funding round.

This investment cycle was led by a consortium of investors, featuring prominent names like Hearst Ventures, Brightspark Ventures, Desjardins Capital, Deloitte Ventures, asterX, and several others.

The influx of fresh capital is poised to facilitate the expansion of Optable's worldwide footprint, augment its technical expertise, and propel its product advancement initiatives. The primary focus of this expansion is directed toward innovating novel data collaboration solutions that cater to the evolving demands of the industry.

Voiceflow proves, great companies who listen to their customers, can raise in any market.

What is the news?

Last week, Toronto-based Voiceflow announced it had raised $15m USD from OpenView Venture Partners. It was joined by previous investors which includes Felicis Ventures, Craft Ventures, True Ventures and notable angels.

Why is this interesting news?

It’s interesting for a couple of reasons:

The $15m range round is supposedly challenging to raise in the current environment. Voiceflow however, was able to attract a new lead investor on clean terms despite the environment.

Why?

• Strong customer mix including enterprises and individual creators

• Strong product with a history of continuously building what customers need.

• Generative AI tailwinds as Voiceflow enable to easily and quickly deploy AI agents

They have decided to double down on Toronto. After building a distributed team over the last few years the company has decided to focus on building its team out of Toronto as it believes the required talent is here and there are benefits from having people together.

How did they build their product?

Voiceflow's growth shows what it takes to build a scaleable company. Many people think a startup launches and just tweaks its product to success. Voiceflow has shown how important it is to listen to your customers and rebuild the vision of the company to solve the biggest problem your customers have.

Voiceflow started as Storyflow a drag-and-drop tool to make Alexa stories. They noticed that customers were using their internal tool to make Alexa skills. They changed the name of the company and the focus of the product. As Voiceflow watched its customers, it kept on seeing larger problems to solve and tweaked its vision and roadmap to become more valuable to customers. Today Voiceflow is a conversational AI platform that allows teams to build agents collaboratively.

What are the takeaways for the community?

• Great companies can always raise funding no matter what the environment is.

• AI tailwinds are just starting.

• Listening to your customers leads you to success.

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