TechCrunch Startup News Parloa triples its valuation in 8 months; plus, robotics software maker Skild AI hits $14B valuation
Jan 15, 2026
In this episode, Parloa secures $350 million, tripling its valuation to $3 billion, thanks to strong backing from General Catalyst. The discussion dives into how Parloa competes with players like Intercom and Core.ai, emphasizing a diverse market landscape. Meanwhile, Skild AI raises $1.4 billion, hitting a staggering $14 billion valuation, highlighting their innovative approach to robotic software that's designed to learn from human interactions. Exciting developments are on the horizon for both companies!
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Early Enterprise Customers As Proof Points
- Parloa already answers calls for large enterprises like Booking.com, SAP, and Swiss Life.
- The CEO frames these customer wins as evidence the company can scale in enterprise settings.
Huge Market For Customer Service Automation
- Parloa targets automation of a large global customer support workforce estimated at 17 million agents.
- CEO Malty Kosub believes competition won't be winner-take-all because the market is enormous.
Parloa's Rapid Revaluation And Strategy
- Parloa raised $350 million at a $3 billion valuation, up from $1 billion eight months earlier.
- The company plans to use funds to build multi-model contextual AI agents that recognize customer identity across channels.
