In a major milestone for the future of market research, Conveo has secured funding to expand its AI-driven research platform. With backing from Y Combinator and other investors, Conveo is set to scale its operations in the U.S. and Europe, enhance its AI capabilities, and revolutionize the way businesses gather customer insights.
Transforming Market Research with AI
Consumer behavior is shifting at an unprecedented rate, driven by AI, the Creator Economy, and the influence of Gen Z and Alpha consumers. At the same time, evolving regulations and cultural changes are forcing brands to rethink customer engagement. However, many companies still rely on outdated research methods that are slow, costly, and often ineffective, leading to missed opportunities and expensive mistakes.
Trusted by industry giants like Procter & Gamble, Google, and Unilever, Conveo’s multimodal AI video interviewer enables companies to conduct hundreds of in-depth customer interviews overnight, in any language, and at a fraction of the traditional cost. The technology automates the entire research process—from project setup to AI-driven interviewing and instant analysis—delivering insights 100 times faster than conventional methods while uncovering connections human analysts might miss.
From Problem to Solution
Conveo was born from the firsthand experiences of its founders. CEO and Co-founder Dieter De Mesmaeker, having witnessed businesses make high-stakes decisions without sufficient research, recognized the need for a better solution. Meanwhile, Co-founder Hendrik Van Hove, drawing from his time at McKinsey, experienced the inefficiencies of traditional research methods.
“I’ve seen the value of great research at McKinsey,”
said Van Hove.
“But with the manual scheduling, note-taking, and long nights analyzing data, the process was painful. That’s why companies don’t do nearly enough research, and as a result, they make costly mistakes.”
Determined to bridge the gap, the duo set out to create the “Qualtrics of qualitative research.” Their vision: an AI research ‘employee’ capable of conducting and analyzing interviews at scale, reducing time spent on manual tasks, and allowing researchers to focus on generating value from insights.
“We can’t imagine anyone doing research the old way two years from now,”
added De Mesmaeker.
“With perfect recall, Conveo can instantly surface previous research, integrate third-party data, or launch new studies in real time, removing barriers to insights and driving better business decisions.”
Fueling Growth with New Funding
With this latest round of funding, Conveo is set to accelerate its expansion, hiring top talent in AI, engineering, and business development. The company plans to enhance its AI research coworker, ensuring businesses can access rich, real-time insights effortlessly.
“This funding allows us to bring AI-driven research to more organizations, enabling them to make smarter, data-backed decisions without the traditional time and cost barriers,”
said De Mesmaeker.
A Powerful AI Research Platform
Led by research expert Niels Schillewaert, PhD, Conveo merges decades of strategic expertise with cutting-edge technology. Unlike competitors that excel in either research or AI, Conveo seamlessly integrates both. Its AI mimics human researchers by engaging in personalized conversations, following structured guides, and generating real-time follow-ups. More than 50% of valuable insights emerge from these AI-driven interactions.
Key features include:
- AI Video Moderation & Analysis: AI structures, translates, and codes responses, uncovering key themes and insights.
- Enterprise-Wide Accessibility: Employees across organizations can tap into Conveo’s insights and initiate new research projects effortlessly.
- Data Accuracy & Transparency: Every insight is backed by the original transcript and video, ensuring reliability and eliminating AI ‘hallucinations.’
AI Interviews: The Future of Customer Research
A common concern for brands has been whether consumers would trust AI-led interviews. The data speaks for itself—83% of respondents report feeling more open when speaking with AI than with a human researcher, while 93% rate their Conveo AI interview experience at least 4 out of 5.
“Initially, we were skeptical about how customers would react to AI-led interviews,”
admitted Wendy Francois, Market Researcher at Orange.
“But after thorough testing, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”
What’s Next?
With fresh funding, Conveo is focused on expanding its AI-powered research solutions across industries, allowing more companies to access deep, real-time insights. As AI capabilities continue to advance, Conveo aims to further build out its AI research coworker, removing barriers to qualitative research and ensuring businesses stay ahead in a rapidly changing consumer landscape.
About Conveo
Founded in 2024 and backed by Y Combinator, Conveo is redefining customer research with AI-led video interviews. By removing cost and time barriers, Conveo empowers brands like Unilever, Orange, Sanofi, and Google to make smarter, data-driven decisions at scale.
