BRANDRANK.AI
Overview
Brandrank.ai is a cloud-based platform designed to help businesses monitor their brand positioning by leveraging generative AI search engines. Founded in 2024, Brandrank.ai is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company focuses on providing insights to protect and grow brand reputation by analyzing brand performance across multiple AI-driven search engines. It was co-founded by Pete Blackshaw, who also serves as the CEO, and Hank Hudepohl, who is the COO. As of January 2025, Brandrank.ai has raised a total of $2.08 million in funding, with key investors including Sandberg Bernthal Venture Partners and the Mercury Fund.
Recent Developments
- January 2025: BrandRank.AI announced the expansion of its advisory team, welcoming experts like Jeff Cail, Brian Krausz, John Costello, and Tia Rochelle. This move is aimed at strengthening the company’s position in the AI-driven brand analytics sector. These leaders bring extensive experience in market research, brand building, generative AI, and client excellence.
- July 2024: The company secured $1.2 million in a seed and angel funding round. This round was led by prominent investors such as Sandberg Bernthal Venture Partners, Mercury Fund, and individual investors like former P&G CEO John Pepper.
- August 2024: Brandrank.ai raised $1.2 million to enhance its platform's technological capabilities and to build a scalable sales organization. This funding round aimed to propel the company's AI-driven brand search analytics forward.
- March 2024: The company launched its operations to provide a SaaS platform for brand monitoring within the generative AI space, emphasizing brands' need to adapt to AI's influence on consumer behavior.
Company Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 2024 |
| Headquarters | Cincinnati, OH, USA |
| Founders | Pete Blackshaw, Hank Hudepohl |
| Revenue | Not disclosed |
| Profits | Not disclosed |
| Key Investors | Sandberg Bernthal Venture Partners, Mercury Fund, John Pepper, and more |
| Industry | AI and Brand Analytics |
| Number of Employees | 2-10 |
Early History
Brandrank.ai was founded in early 2024 by Pete Blackshaw and Hank Hudepohl, both of whom bring a prolific background in digital transformation and brand management. Blackshaw previously served as the CEO of Cintrifuse and was the Global Head of Digital at Nestlé. Hudepohl, with a strong background in product management, previously led core SaaS product strategies at Paycor. The founding story is rooted in the rapid evolution of AI and its potential redefinition of brand dynamics in digital ecosystems.
Company Profile and Achievements
BrandRank.AI is positioned as a critical player in "The Answer Economy," where consumer engagement moves from search-centric models to answer-driven interactions powered by AI. The company’s SaaS platform equips brands with real-time tracking and analysis of their performance across various generative AI search engines like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic Claude.
- Business Model: Brandrank.ai utilizes a subscription-based SaaS model combined with consultative insights to support marketing managers and brand stewards.
- Collaborations: It has partnered with notable organizations, including the Better Business Bureau, to embed trust frameworks into its analytics.
- Growth: It has established a pipeline exceeding a dozen significant clients, including engagements with Nestlé.
- Sector Leading Insights: The company frequently releases insights and commentary through thought leadership pieces, such as analyzing the sustainability practices of consumer brands.
Current Operations and Market Position
BrandRank.AI operates by harnessing AI to deliver insights into brand perception through continuous tracking on major AI engines. The platform's primary focus is on enhancing brand visibility and trust, enabling clients to address vulnerabilities highlighted by AI-driven consumer interactions. As of now, it services six corporate customers and is actively expanding its analytics towards industries like professional athletics, particularly targeting women’s sports as a growth area.
Conclusion
Brandrank.ai represents a pioneering leap into the confluence of AI-driven analytics and brand strategy. By positioning itself at the nexus of AI and brand management, it stands to impact the broader landscape of how brands are perceived in the digital age. As organizations grapple with the transition towards generative AI-driven consumer interactions, Brandrank.ai’s role is set to grow, potentially steering the conversation in favor of transparency, sustainability, and strategic brand engagement.