Bengaluru-based AI startup Zoca has raised US$6 million in a funding round led by Accel, with contributions from GTMfund, Elevation Capital, and Better Capital.

Founded in 2024 by Ashish Verma and Robin Chauhan, Zoca provides an AI-driven growth platform for hyperlocal beauty and wellness service providers.

Zoca’s platform helps with lead conversion, client re-engagement, and marketing automation.

In its first year, it has supported over 1,000 businesses in generating US$10 million in revenue and booking more than 120,000 appointments.

The startup’s AI tools include local search optimization, automated lead responses, rebooking reminders, and social media management.

Zoca plans to develop its AI agent technology further, expand platform integrations, and extend services to more business sectors.

.source-ref{font-size:0.85em;color:#666;display:block;margin-top:1em;}a.ask-tia-citation-link:hover{color:#11628d !important;background:#e9f6f5 !important;border-color:#11628d !important;text-decoration:none !important;}@media only screen and (min-width:768px){a.ask-tia-citation-link{font-size:11px !important;}}

🔗 Source: YourStory

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ AI democratization is transforming small service businesses

Zoca’s funding represents a broader trend where AI capabilities once reserved for enterprises are now accessible to small local businesses.

The percentage of businesses using AI has jumped significantly from 22% in 2021 to 35% in 2023, showing accelerating adoption across market segments 1.

This shift is particularly impactful for service-based small businesses like salons and wellness centers that traditionally lacked marketing resources but can now leverage AI to compete more effectively.

AI-powered automation can boost small business productivity by up to 40% through streamlining operations that would otherwise require dedicated marketing staff 1.

What makes Zoca’s approach notable is its focus on the specific pain points of service professionals, such as maximizing booked appointments rather than selling more units. This reflects how AI solutions are becoming more specialized for different business models.

2️⃣ Hyperlocal AI is emerging as a distinct high-growth category

Zoca’s focus on hyperlocal intelligence highlights an emerging sub-category within the AI landscape that combines location-specific data with automated marketing.

This approach is similar to what we’ve seen with other location-focused AI companies like ZenCity, which raised $6 million to help cities analyze neighborhood-level data and resident sentiment 2.

The trend is supported by broader industry data showing that 34 of the 100 fastest-growing companies are now AI-driven, representing 55% of the rapidly expanding IT sector 3.

What’s particularly significant about Zoca’s metrics—helping 1,000 businesses book 120,000 appointments—is that they demonstrate quantifiable ROI in a space where AI applications often struggle to show concrete business outcomes.

For local service businesses, where “every empty chair is lost revenue,” as Zoca’s CEO notes, AI that can target neighborhood-specific demand patterns solves an immediate financial problem rather than just offering incremental efficiency.

……