Zendesk has introduced a global venture fund to invest in AI-first companies advancing customer and employee experiences, with new investments in PolyAI and unitQ. The fund aims to support startups aligned with Zendesk’s vision, offering expertise and growth partnerships.
Zendesk Launches Global Venture Fund for AI-Driven Companies
Zendesk has launched a global venture fund to invest in AI-first companies enhancing customer and employee experiences. The fund intends to provide financial support, customer experience (CX) and artificial intelligence (AI) expertise, and strategic growth partnerships. The announcement also introduced new investments in PolyAI, a developer of advanced conversational voice assistants, and unitQ, an AI-powered customer feedback platform.
Ben Barclay, SVP of Strategy, Corporate Development, & Transformation at Zendesk, emphasized that the venture extends beyond product development to fostering an ecosystem of startups aligned with Zendesk’s vision. Vasudeva Rao Munnaluri, RVP India & SAARC, highlighted the fund’s focus on empowering AI-first startups in India, particularly those tackling meaningful business problems in the CX and employee experience (EX) spaces.
PolyAI’s technology enhances complex interactions such as order tracking and delivery updates through natural human conversations, boosting revenue and reducing call volumes. Meanwhile, unitQ collects and analyzes customer feedback from over 60 sources in real-time to improve product quality and Net Promoter Scores (NPS).
Patria Bank Acquires Alior Romania’s Consumer Loan Portfolio
Patria Bank has entered an agreement with Alior Bank’s Romanian branch to acquire a portfolio of consumer loans worth RON 97 million (EUR 20 million), effective April 30, 2024. The portfolio, comprising approximately 4,000 clients with unsecured consumer loans in local currency, is expected to be transferred by September 2024.
Valentin Vancea, general director of Patria Bank, stated that this acquisition aligns with the bank’s development goals and will strengthen its profitability alongside organic growth. Patria Bank, the 17th largest bank in Romania with RON 4 billion in assets, aims to enhance its services and products to meet customer needs effectively.
The Patria Bank Group’s majority shareholder is the Emerging Europe Accession Fund (EEAF), supported by organizations such as the EBRD and EIF. Conversely, Alior Romania ranks 30th out of 32 banks in Romania by assets, holding RON 279 million.
