Pie raises $19.5M to keep small firms visible in AI search

Pie, a New York startup founded by Square and Toast veterans, has raised a $19.5M Series A led by Lightspeed to help small businesses stay discoverable as customer search shifts from Google to AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Perplexity. The platform offers three products: AI Search optimization for chatbot recommendations, a Growth tool targeting high-intent channels like Google Maps and Yelp, and a newly launched AI receptionist called Front Desk that handles calls and bookings 24/7. Priced at around $359/month — far below the $2,500–$5,000 agency alternative — Pie claims customers see 15–20% year-on-year sales growth. The company competes in the emerging generative engine optimization (GEO) space alongside rivals like Peec AI.