Alibaba Invests $20 Million in AI-Powered E-commerce Developer Connectly

Source: DigitalCommerce360

By Priya Khosla September 19, 2024

Global e-commerce giant Alibaba has made a significant investment in Connectly, a developer of AI-driven applications that enhance personalized digital marketing for online sellers. Alibaba’s $20 million contribution is part of Connectly’s efforts to scale its AI-powered conversational commerce platform, which enables businesses to automate personalized messaging campaigns across popular apps like WhatsApp, SMS, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram.

Stefanos Loukakos, CEO of Connectly, emphasized the impact of this investment, stating, “Support from Alibaba will enable us to continue to invest in our proprietary AI models and scale our business.” Connectly’s platform aims to revolutionize customer interactions by shifting from one-way communication channels, such as SMS and email, to dynamic, AI-driven conversations that boost engagement and personalization at scale.

Founded in 2020, Connectly has now raised a total of $132 million, with backing from investors including Alibaba, Unusual Ventures, Volpe Capital, and others. Alibaba’s involvement signals its commitment to advancing AI in e-commerce, particularly through partnerships with innovative companies like Connectly, which are transforming how brands connect with customers through personalized, AI-driven commerce solutions.