In a world where nearly every online shopping experience feels algorithmic and transactional, Remark is bringing back something we’ve all been missing: the human touch. And investors are paying attention. The e-commerce startup just secured $16 million in Series A funding to scale a model that’s part live conversation, part AI, and fully designed to boost conversion rates where other tools fall short.
At the heart of Remark’s pitch is a simple problem: physical stores convert shoppers at a rate of 30–35%, while online stores struggle to hit 1.5%. CEO Theo Satloff believes that drop-off comes down to one thing—lack of real-time answers.
“When people shop online, they have questions. But instead of getting help, they’re sent to Reddit or a review rabbit hole,” Satloff told Voke.
“In a store, a knowledgeable person makes the difference. We’re trying to bring that online”
Here’s how it works. When you visit a site powered by Remark, it doesn’t just suggest products. Instead, it prompts helpful, context-specific questions—like what kind of stove you have if you’re shopping for cookware. From there, you’re connected to a verified human expert who chats with you, guides you, and helps you make the right choice. If no expert is available? An AI persona trained on real expert conversations takes over.
It’s not just smart—it’s profitable. Remark says its system has led to a 10% net revenue lift for partners. And while early revenue was tied to a cut of each sale, the company has since pivoted to a SaaS model, charging based on site traffic instead.
For brands, this means access to 60,000 verified experts—people who are not only vetted through accreditation groups but who also get paid when their advice (or their AI-trained digital twin) closes a sale. Top experts are earning up to $70,000 a year by working just 15–20 hours weekly. When a customer activates a chat, those experts have mere seconds to respond, creating an almost concierge-like shopping experience that feels both fast and personal.
The funding round, led by Inspired Capital and supported by Stripe, Neo, and Spero Ventures, brings Remark’s total funding to $27 million. The new capital will go toward team expansion and refining its AI models using thousands of expert-driven interactions. With the market flooded by generic AI chatbots, investors like Kamran Ali believe Remark’s human-in-the-loop approach gives it an edge.
“As AI keeps flooding the internet, real human insight becomes more valuable,” Ali said.
“Remark’s ability to merge the two sets it apart”
Looking ahead, the company is already working on tools that can generate personalized blog posts and email follow-ups based on past conversations—a move that could reshape not only how users shop but how brands maintain long-term relationships with them.
In an online shopping landscape that’s become too cold, too generic, and too automated, Remark’s blend of real expertise and smart AI might be the warm, human upgrade the industry didn’t know it needed.
