Dive Brief:
- Marketing automation firm Autopilot raised a second round of $7 million, with backing from Salesforce ventures, bringing its total funding to $20.5 million.
- The software startup, which re-launched four months ago, plans to use the funds to "fill the void between basic email software and complex marketing software designed for the tech elite," according to Thursday's announcement.
- In addition to the CRM giant, other investors include One Capital, Blackbird Ventures, Garnett Ventures, Rembrandt Venture Partners, Southern Cross Venture Partners, and Tim Draper.
Dive Insight:
Despite the boom in marketing technology (martech), Autopilot claims only 4% of all companies use marketing automation. The Australian startup's software allows marketers easy and affordable martech solutions for email and SMS campaigns, and in addition to the basic marketing automation functions, Autopilot can shoot out thank you cards when someone accepts a deal.
At only $4 per user per month, Autopilot's CEO says the goal is to "democratize" martech and make it more accessible to small- and medium-sized businesses. Since March, CEO Mike Sharkey says they've seen over 3,500 signs ups.
Sharkey blames the lack of accessibility and affordability as the two main culprits behind why "automation has never really 'crossed the chasm' in marketing technology." He told Marketing Dive the focus is on the customer journey and helping marketers target, personalize and automate communications across multiple channels. Autopilot's software also integrates well with popular apps and tools marketers are already using, he explained, and with Salesforce, Twilio, Segment and Slack, among others.
"Our vision is also to equip and empower the modern marketer to be successful with modern marketing, and to support this, we are launching Flight School," Sharkey said. "This is a training ground and community home where marketers can learn and share online best practices, marketing automation methodologies, and more."
