## Gruve.ai Aims to Revolutionize AI Tech Consulting with Software-Like Margins
Companies are increasingly recognizing the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI), but many pilot projects fail to transition into real-world applications. Gruve.ai, a startup founded by the team behind Rahi Systems, is stepping in to bridge this gap. The company aims to leverage AI to deliver its services, helping enterprises move AI solutions from the testing phase to tangible implementation.
Rahi Systems, an IT solutions company, was acquired by Wesco for $225 million in 2022, providing a solid foundation of experience for the Gruve.ai team. For decades, companies lacking in-house expertise have relied on IT services firms like Accenture to implement new technologies. However, this reliance on human consultants often comes with a hefty price tag.
“The technology services industry hasn’t been disrupted in the last 25 to 30 years,” said Tarun Raisoni, CEO of Gruve.ai, in an interview with TechCrunch. “AI truly changes that dynamic.”
Gruve.ai plans to disrupt the traditional IT consultancy model in two key ways. Firstly, by employing AI agents to handle repetitive tasks, the company reduces the need for a large consulting staff. Secondly, instead of charging clients on an hourly basis, Gruve.ai will implement a usage-based pricing model.
This approach has captured the attention of venture capitalists who have traditionally shied away from investing in IT services due to their reliance on human labor and limited scalability. By utilizing AI agents, Gruve.ai can achieve software-like gross margins of 70% to 80%, a significant increase compared to traditional tech consultancies, according to Navin Chaddha, managing partner at Mayfield.
Gruve.ai’s innovative model and the team’s proven track record with Rahi Systems have secured a $20 million Series A funding round led by Mayfield, with participation from Cisco Investments and other investors. This brings Gruve.ai’s total funding to $37.5 million.
Raisoni explained that Gruve.ai begins by collaborating with clients to understand their specific AI needs and preparing their data for AI applications. The company then recommends and implements tailored AI solutions.
“You must understand your customer’s business before you can implement because their business processes are different, their workflows are different. How they service their clients is different,” Raisoni emphasized.
Once deployed, AI agents will automate tasks like security breach detection and facilitating the transition from on-premises to cloud-based CRM systems.
Similar to traditional IT consultancies, Gruve.ai partners with trusted tech vendors, including industry giants such as Cisco, IBM’s Red Hat, and Google. They also collaborate with approximately a dozen AI-native startups, including Glean and Supervity.
However, unlike most tech consultancies, Gruve.ai will not bill clients upon initial implementation. Instead, their “services are available on demand, the same way electricity is provided or the same way cloud computing is provided,” Chaddha explained. For instance, if Gruve.ai implements AI for security, the client will only be charged when the AI detects and analyzes a security breach. This pay-per-use model promises to deliver both cost savings and increased efficiency for businesses looking to harness the power of AI.
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