Amplitude, a publicly traded company that makes digital analytics software, has acquired Command AI, an app user engagement startup formerly known as CommandBar.
Most of San Francisco-based Command AI's 30-person team will join Amplitude. James Evans, Command AI's co-founder and CEO, declined to disclose the terms of the deal, but he was candid in saying that no acquisition was planned.
“Our growth has been great and we have plenty of runway,” Evans told TechCrunch. “We weren't doing any shopping ourselves or anything like that, but when Amplitude reached out to us a while ago, this summer, we were very excited about the combination and wanted to accelerate our growth together. I am confident that we can reach more users.”
Evans launched Command AI in 2021 as a way for developers to easily integrate search functionality into web apps. Along with co-founders Richard Freling and Vinay Ayyala, he built Command AI's first product: an in-app search bar that provides personalized results, shortcuts, and the ability to highlight new app enhancements. I did.
Over the years, Command AI's product portfolio has expanded to include chatbots and AI co-browsing, which guides users through in-app features by effectively controlling the mouse. A more recent tool in development, Nudge Autopilot, automatically shows users “nudges” (such as reminders to try certain app features) based on metrics.
Evans said 25 million end users regularly use Command AI's products through apps built by customers such as Hashicorp, Gusto, Yotpo and LaunchDarkly. Prior to the Amplitude acquisition, Command AI successfully raised $23.8 million from backers including Insight Partners, Itai Tsiddon, and Thrive Capital.
Left to right: Amplitude CEO Spenser Skates, Amplitude CPO Francois Ajenstat, Evans, and Ayyala. Image credit: Command AI
So how does Command AI's technology fit into Amplitude's product roadmap? Spenser Skates, Amplitude CEO and co-founder, said the startup will help Amplitude ” It says it will be able to provide “personalized user assistance.”
Specifically, early next year, Command AI will release Amplitude checklists and guides to help customers create action plans and interactive product tours for their apps and websites. Announcements, another Command AI-powered feature coming to Amplitude, allows customers to set “smart triggers” within the app for updates, special offers, and more.
Evans sees this integration as a natural evolution for Command AI, which has long provided a connector to Amplitude.
“There's a very tight loop between Amplitude, which is a tool that helps us understand user behavior, and us, which is a tool that helps us influence user behavior,” he said. . “Imagine you identify a demographic of users who don't seem interested in your product. Naturally, you might want to ask these users questions in a survey or direct them to features you think they might be interested in. We've always solved that relationship through integration, but being on the same team allows us to aggregate that feedback and see the impact of those changes. You can now build loops.”
Upon completion of the transaction, Mr. Evans will become Amplitude's Director of Product and Mr. Aiyala will become Director of Engineering. Both will oversee Amplitude's new Command AI product organization, which will continue to serve current Command AI customers through the end of the year.
Command AI is Amplitude's third acquisition since its founding 10 years ago. Amplitude acquired predictive analytics company ClearBrain in 2020 and data pipeline company Iteratively in 2021.
Amplitude claims to have more than 2,700 paying customers, including 26 Fortune 100 companies.