Evertune CEO Brian Stempeck on AI Search and Generative Engine Optimization

The Shifting Landscape of AI Search

• 💡 Consumers are increasingly using GenAI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini for direct answers, bypassing traditional search engines and websites.
• 🎯 This shift significantly impacts brands and publishers, who previously relied on SEO for visibility in Google search results.
• 🧠 AI models provide varied and customized answers based on user profiles and previous searches, unlike consistent traditional search results.

Introducing Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)

• 🚀 Evertune was founded to address the void created by this new search paradigm, helping companies build brand presence in AI search.
• 🔑 GEO focuses on ensuring a brand is recommended by LLMs and understanding the factors influencing these recommendations.
• 💰 Evertune recently secured a $15M Series A funding round, led by Felicis Ventures, to accelerate its growth in this rapidly evolving space.

Evertune's Approach to AI Visibility

• 📊 Evertune measures if a brand is recommended by various AI models (e.g., Toyota for SUVs) by asking thousands of questions at scale.
• 🔍 The platform identifies why models make certain recommendations or omissions, analyzing specific product attributes like safety or fuel economy.
• 🛠️ Evertune provides a playbook for brands to influence AI models by identifying the websites and content creators from which AI learns.
• ✅ Brands are advised to ensure their websites are crawlable by AI and to create content that addresses AI models' knowledge gaps or inaccuracies.

Lessons from The Trade Desk

• 🌱 Brian Stempeck's experience at The Trade Desk (employee #8, scaled to IPO) emphasized deliberate, gradual growth and focused execution.
• 📈 The company's success stemmed from empowering advertising agencies with self-serve tools and fostering long-term client growth.
• ⚠️ A key lesson was to avoid over-commitment and chasing too many initiatives, focusing instead on a few high-potential areas.

Future of AI and Go-to-Market

• 🔮 The influence of AI is expanding beyond search to commerce and purchase decisions, with agents potentially choosing products like groceries.
• 🤝 Evertune's go-to-market strategy prioritizes technical sellers who deeply understand the product and can adapt to rapid feature changes.
• 👏 Client service teams are crucial for retention and upselling, driving significant growth by helping clients maximize platform value.