Keplar: Voice AI Startup Disrupting Market Research | Backed by Kleiner Perkins
Revolutionizing Customer Insights with AI
Historically, large corporations – those listed on the Fortune 500 – depended on specialized market research firms to gain valuable understanding of customer satisfaction levels. These services were often expensive and required significant time for completion, frequently spanning several weeks.
Keplar, an emerging startup focused on market research, is changing this landscape. They leverage the power of voice AI to conduct customer interviews, delivering analysis at a significantly reduced cost and with far greater speed than traditional consulting methods.
Recent Funding and Key Investors
The company recently announced a successful seed funding round, securing $3.4 million. This investment was spearheaded by Kleiner Perkins, with additional participation from SV Angel, Common Metal, and South Park Commons.
The Genesis of Keplar
The concept behind Keplar originated in 2023. Dhruv Guliani, formerly an engineer at Google specializing in speech and voice AI models, and William Wen, a machine learning engineer, connected through the South Park Commons founder fellowship program.
Through discussions with market researchers and brand managers, they identified a critical opportunity. Existing tools – namely written surveys and human-conducted interviews – could be effectively replaced by sophisticated conversational AI.
How Keplar Works
According to Guliani, companies can initiate studies within minutes using Keplar’s platform. The system transforms product-related questions into a comprehensive interview guide.
Subsequently, Keplar’s voice assistant proactively contacts participants and engages them in detailed questioning, aiming to uncover specific customer preferences and areas for product improvement.
If access to a client’s CRM is granted, the AI voice researcher directly contacts existing customers. The resulting conversations are then compiled into detailed reports and presentations, mirroring the deliverables of conventional market research.
The Role of Advanced LLMs
The feasibility of relying on voice bots was previously limited. However, recent advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs) have dramatically improved voice AI capabilities.
Guliani notes that participants often don't realize they are interacting with an AI. “These conversations feel remarkably authentic. Reviewing the recordings, you’ll even hear participants addressing the AI moderator by name – Ellie, Andrew, or Ryan.”
Current Clients
Clorox and Intercom are among the companies currently utilizing Keplar’s services.
Competitive Landscape
Keplar is not alone in its pursuit of disrupting the customer research market. Notable competitors include Outset, which secured $17 million in Series A funding led by 8VC in June, and Listen Labs, which raised $27 million from Sequoia in April.
These companies are all striving to leverage AI to provide faster, more affordable, and more insightful customer feedback solutions.
