Founder Interview: Ben Tannenbaum on Building Aiso and the Future of AI Visibility
Q: What inspired you to start Aiso?
A: I saw an emerging need in how consumers make purchase decisions. Our data shows that a growing percentage of product research now happens through AI platforms like ChatGPT, but brands have no way to track or optimize their presence in these conversations. This challenge reminded me of my previous experience building a B2B SaaS platform in commercial real estate. There, I created a "give-to-get" solution where coworking spaces shared their pricing and occupancy data in exchange for access to their competitors' data. This approach solved a critical industry problem while handling sensitive information at scale. I recognized a similar opportunity in the marketing space — helping brands understand and optimize their presence in AI conversations while maintaining trust and data security.
Q: What makes Aiso different from other solutions in the market?
A: While others try to theoretically predict AI responses or position themselves as the "new SEO," we take a more practical approach. We track real ChatGPT conversations at scale, providing brands with concrete data on what customers are asking about their products. Our data shows that ChatGPT is capturing a meaningful share of consumer research, particularly in certain markets and for specific types of queries. We help brands understand and optimize their presence in these conversations, complementing their existing SEO efforts rather than replacing them.
"We're not trying to replace traditional search or SEO — we're helping brands understand and optimize for a new channel where their customers are increasingly active."
Q: Who are your main competitors and how do you differentiate?
A: We compete with several players in the space, including Goodie, Profound, Otterly, Knowatoa, and Omnia, as well as traditional SEO tools that are adding basic AI features. What sets us apart is our focus on tracking real ChatGPT conversations rather than theoretical predictions, our deep expertise in handling sensitive data at scale, and our ability to provide both self-serve tools and white-glove service with minimal workflow disruption for clients. Unlike some competitors, we don't position AI as a replacement for traditional search — we help brands understand and optimize for both channels.
Q: What's your vision for the future of AI visibility?
A: We believe AI platforms will continue to play an important role in consumer research and purchase decisions. The digital advertising market is $600B+ annually, with brands spending significantly on SEO and visibility. As AI platforms capture more of these queries, we estimate a significant portion will shift to AI visibility optimization. Our goal is to be the leading platform helping brands understand and optimize their presence in AI conversations, complementing their existing marketing efforts.
Q: Tell us about your team and what makes them exceptional?
A: Our founding team brings unique expertise and proven experience. I bring experience in building successful B2B SaaS platforms and handling sensitive data at scale. My previous venture in commercial real estate taught me how to create "give-to-get" solutions that solve industry-wide problems while maintaining trust and data security. Our CTO, Alon Koren, brings deep technical expertise from physics and is passionate about pushing the boundaries of AI technology. This combination of business innovation and technical depth positions us perfectly to tackle the AI visibility challenge.
"Having successfully built platforms that handle sensitive data exchange at scale, we understand both the technical and trust challenges of our mission."
Q: What's your business model and target market?
A: We operate a SaaS platform with both self-serve and enterprise tiers, targeting medium to large B2C brands. Our customers are marketing teams at consumer brands who need to understand and improve their visibility in AI responses. We charge a monthly subscription based on query volume and features needed, with enterprise plans including white-glove consultancy services.
Q: What's the biggest challenge you've faced in building Aiso?
A: The biggest challenge has been helping brands understand our value proposition. Many brands are still coming to terms with the role of AI platforms in consumer research. We don't position ourselves as the "new search" or the "new SEO" — we simply provide an easy way for brands to see what customers are asking ChatGPT and help them add relevant content to their existing SEO work. My experience with the coworking space platform taught me the importance of clear value exchange and trust-building when handling sensitive data. We apply these lessons to help brands understand how AI conversations can complement their existing marketing efforts.
About Aiso
At Aiso, we help brands optimize their presence in AI responses. Our platform analyzes millions of ChatGPT conversations to understand how users interact with AI and what they're searching for. With ChatGPT capturing a meaningful share of consumer research, we help brands maximize their visibility where it matters most, complementing their existing marketing efforts.