• by Ray Schultz , August 25, 2020

Octane AI, a Facebook Messenger and SMS marketing platform for Shopify, has raised $4.25 million in a funding round, bringing its total financing to $9 million.  

In addition, the firm has debuted a product called Shoppable Quiz in private beta that clients say will help them with their email and SMS targeting. 

The funding round was led by Bullpen Capital with participation from General Catalyst Partners, Boost VC, FJ Labs, Mana Ventures, Nelstone Ventures, True Search and other venture capital firms.  

The Shoppable Quiz is customizable quiz builder that is integrated with Shopify, Klaviyo, ReCharge and other ecommerce technologies. 

Users can design their own quizzes with a drag-and-drop interface. Brands that integrate with Octane AI’s existing Messenger or SMS tools can send personalized follow-ups based on quiz answers, the company says. 

The Shoppable Quiz also provides customers with an online consultation in which they can ask questions about products, it adds. 

The goal to create “a better way to shop online,” states Matt Schlicht, CEO of Octane AI. 

Schlicht adds that the Shoppable Quiz “enables brands to get to know the needs, preferences, and concerns of each customer, and then uses this information to build a relationship where the right products and information can be shown at the right times.”

Brands seem to approve of the new offering. 

“The Shoppable Quiz is something every ecommerce brand needs to build detailed buyer profiles, and we look forward to using this info to further personalize our emails, SMS, Messenger, and ads.” states Alex Tenney, marketing director at Skinny Mixes, a DTC brand that sells syrups for beverages. 

We’re starting to learn so much more about our customers—our messaging on email, SMS and Facebook Messenger is going to be way more targeted and personalized,” states Zach Niemiec, director of administrative services at nutraceutical company Bariatric Fusion.