Ex-Googler’s Yoodli triples valuation to $300M+ with AI built to assist, not replace, people

Yodleyan AI-powered communications training startup, has been valued at more than $300 million — more than triple its level six months ago — as it builds technology aimed at helping people rather than replacing them with machines.

The valuation increase comes on the heels of Yoodli’s $40 million Series B round, led by WestBridge Capital with participation from Neotribe and Madrona. It comes after A The first round is worth $13.7 million It was announced in May, bringing the startup’s total funding to nearly $60 million.

As AI tools proliferate in the workplace and raise fears of automation, Youodli is positioning itself differently. The four-year-old Seattle-based startup uses artificial intelligence to run simulated scenarios — including sales calls, leadership training, interviews and feedback sessions — and provides users with structured, repeatable practice to improve their speaking skills.

Varun Puri (pictured above, right), who previously worked in Google’s

Initially, Yoodli was meant to help people practice public speaking, a skill that two out of three people struggle with, Puri told TechCrunch, citing internal data. However, the startup soon saw users turning to the platform to prepare for interviews, sales presentations, and tough conversations. This shift has propelled Yoodli from a consumer-focused product to enterprise training, and it now offers AI role-playing and experiential learning tools to enable go-to-market, partner certification, and management training.

“In the old world, companies would train people to use static or long-form content or passive videos that we all watched at 4x-5x speed, just to get the job done,” Puri said. “But that doesn’t actually mean you learned it.”

Companies including Google, Snowflake, Databricks, RingCentral, and Sandler Sales use Yoodli to train employees or partners. The startup also sells its platform to training companies like Franklin Covey and LHH, which can design the system according to their own methodology and training frameworks, Puri said. He added that the tool is not designed to replace human trainers, but rather to keep humans updated by providing personal guidance.

“I think philosophically AI can get you, let’s call it zero to eight or zero to nine,” Puri said. “But the pure essence of who you are and how you show up, your authenticity and vulnerability that humans give you feedback on, will always be there.”

The platform works with many large language models, meaning users can run it with models like Google’s Gemini or OpenAI’s GPT depending on their preferences. Organizations can also embed it into their existing software, or users can access it directly through a web browser. The AI ​​supports most major languages, including Korean, Japanese, French, Canadian French, and a list of Indian languages.

Yoodli does not offer a dedicated mobile app, a decision Puri said was made to avoid adding additional steps for users during training sessions.

Puri did not reveal how many people use the platform, but said most of Yoodli’s revenue now comes from enterprise customers. He added that between the Series A and B rounds, Yoodli saw a 50% increase in the number of role-playing games played on the platform and in the total time users spent training. The startup also said it increased its average recurring revenue by 900% over the past 12 months, though it did not provide specific numbers.

Yoodli wasn’t planning to raise more funding so soon after its latest round, but it has seen unexpected interest from investors, with WestBridge leading the most recent raise, Puri said. He noted that strong performance metrics, key clients and key employees helped attract investors. The startup recently hired former Tableau and Salesforce CEO Josh Vitiello as chief revenue officer (CRO), former Remitly CFO Andy Larson as CFO, and former Tableau chief product officer (CPO) Padmashree Koneti as CPO.

Yoodli isn’t alone in the market for AI-based communication tools, but Puri told TechCrunch that the startup differentiates itself through deep customization and focusing on specific training verticals, allowing companies to tailor the system to suit their own use cases and training methods.

The Seattle-based startup has about 40 employees. The latest funding will be used to expand Yoodli’s AI training, analytics and personalization tools, and to increase its presence in corporate learning and professional development, Puri said. The company also plans to hire across various product, AI and customer success research, and expand into markets in the Asia-Pacific region while deepening its footprint in the US.