Malaysian AI messaging platform Respond.io raised $62.5 million（約100億円） to expand its customer conversation software into North America and Europe, where adoption is accelerating.

What happened: Respond.io, a Kuala Lumpur-based startup founded in 2017, closed a $62.5 million（約100億円） Series B round led by Camber Partners. The company now processes 2 billion messages per quarter and has grown to $35 million（約56億円） in annual recurring revenue, growing 169% year-over-year, at a 30% profit margin. The CEO plans to use the funding for hiring, organic growth, and acquisitions in strategic markets.

Why it matters: Respond's software lets mid- to large-sized businesses handle customer inquiries across WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and other messaging channels, using AI agents (software that works without human direction) to qualify leads and close sales automatically. Unlike older platforms built around email and phone calls, Respond is purpose-built for messaging—a shift businesses are making rapidly. The company's pricing model charges by conversation volume rather than per user, so it profits equally whether humans or AI handle replies, insulating it from the risk that general-purpose AI tools like ChatGPT could replace its core value.

What to watch: Respond currently earns only 20% of revenue from North America and Western Europe but says both regions are now its fastest-growing markets and expects them to become the company's largest segment within two to three years. The CEO is already in talks with acquisition targets and sees bolt-on technology and established teams with strong customer bases in these regions as high-priority buys. The company aspires to a Nasdaq listing.