Zoom has invested in AI-powered virtual sales coach provider Second Nature as part of the start-up’s Series A round.
Second Nature specialises in training salespeople with its AI-powered coach, Jenny. Salespeople have conversations with the software and receive feedback in real-time based on criteria set by businesses.
Managers can then view employee performance against these metrics without having to watch hours of footage.
Zoom has now become an investor in the firm having already been a customer.
Colin Born, Head of Zoom Ventures, said: “After more than a year of our global sales team training and certifying on Second Nature, we truly understand the enormous potential in AI-driven sales training.
“We decided to become a strategic investor in Second Nature because we’re already enjoying the fruits of this cutting-edge solution – and expect to continue reaping benefits in the years to come”
Second Nature has now raised a total of $12.5m, adding to the $3m it had already secured. Other investors in the latest round included Signals Venture Capital, StageOne Ventures and Cardumen Capital.
The firm says its solution solves the problem of upskilling salespeople in large organisations, particularly with remote work becoming more prevalent.
The solution uses artificial intelligence and natural language processing to provide an interactive experience for salespeople, with Jenny able to ask questions and offer answers that are not scripted.
