AI Startups Raise Millions for Niche B2B Automation
VCs are funding AI that automates complex, high-value B2B workflows. DiligenceSquared raised $5M for private equity diligence, Vor Systems raised $3M for energy transactions, and DealFlowAgent raised $750k to automate small business M&A.
DiligenceSquared, a Y Combinator alum from the fall 2025 cohort, was co-founded by a team with deep industry experience: Frederik Hansen from Blackstone, Søren Biltoft from Boston Consulting Group's private equity practice, and Harshil Rastogi, a former Google engineer. Their platform utilizes AI voice agents to conduct in-depth interviews with customers of potential acquisition targets, aiming to significantly reduce the high costs of traditional M&A due diligence. This approach has attracted a $5 million seed round led by Relentless VC. Vor Systems is targeting the complexities of renewable energy transactions with its AI-powered platform. The company was co-founded by Victor Shao, an early DoorDash executive, Guillaume Nozière, who has a background in applied AI research at Meta, and John Bragg, who previously sold a startup to CoStar. Their $3 million pre-seed funding, led by Gigascale Capital, will be used to further develop their product and build partnerships with key players in the renewable energy sector. DealFlowAgent is focusing on the underserved market of M&A advisory for small to medium-sized businesses with revenues between €1.15 million and €34.5 million. Founder Joe Lewin's own experience selling a company highlighted the challenges and costs of the M&A process, which motivated him to create an AI-driven solution. The company secured €646.2k ($750k) in a funding round led by Long Journey, an early-stage venture fund with a portfolio that includes Uber and SpaceX. The application of AI in M&A is a growing trend, with the potential to transform dealmaking by analyzing vast amounts of data to identify potential buyers and streamline the due diligence process. This technology can shorten research time from weeks or months to just days. For small businesses, AI can create broader exposure to potential acquirers, leading to better valuations. The market for AI in renewable energy is also expanding, with a projected value of $158.76 billion by 2034, driven by the need to optimize energy generation and grid management.
