Envive Leads the AI Revolution in Online Retail with $15 Million Investment

Seattle-based startup Envive has secured a significant $15 million Series A funding round led by local venture firm FUSE, positioning itself at the forefront of retail innovation through artificial intelligence. The company, which was previously known as Spiffy, has developed sophisticated AI agents that are transforming how online retailers engage with customers and optimize their digital presence. This investment reflects growing confidence in Envive’s approach to creating what they call “the intelligence layer for commerce,” moving beyond static websites and basic chatbots toward truly interactive shopping experiences. Major brands including Spanx, Coterie, Supergoop!, and Wine Enthusiast have already integrated Envive’s technology into their digital platforms, seeing tangible improvements in customer conversion, retention, and product discoverability.

At the helm of Envive is CEO Aniket Deosthali, who brings valuable experience from helping Walmart develop its generative AI shopping assistant. The leadership team showcases impressive AI credentials, with co-founders Iz Beltagy serving as chief scientist while maintaining his role as a lead researcher at the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2), Matthew Peters as chief architect bringing expertise from his AI2 research leadership, and CTO Sameer Singh, who combines his role at Envive with his position as an associate professor at UC Irvine. This exceptional team has deep roots in the Seattle AI ecosystem, having spun out of the AI2 Incubator, where the core technology behind their platform was initially developed. The combination of academic AI excellence and practical retail implementation experience gives Envive a distinctive edge in the competitive e-commerce technology landscape.

Envive’s platform goes far beyond typical e-commerce tools by offering a suite of specialized AI agents designed to handle different aspects of the customer journey. Their sales agent serves as a knowledgeable guide, helping shoppers navigate product catalogs to find exactly what they need. The search agent understands natural language queries, making product discovery more intuitive and human-like. Customer support is handled by their experience agent, which manages inquiries and knows when to escalate issues that require human attention. Perhaps most impressively, their copywriting agent generates brand-appropriate content for product listings and marketing materials, maintaining each retailer’s unique voice while improving discoverability. This comprehensive approach creates a seamless shopping experience that feels personalized and responsive.

“Commerce is entering the agentic era,” explains Deosthali, highlighting the paradigm shift occurring in online retail. “Brands need more than just wrappers around LLMs. They need a system that continuously learns from real-world behavior and drives the outcomes they care about. That’s what we are building: self-improving agents with performance, control, and safety at their core.” This vision represents a fundamental change in how retailers think about their digital presence. Rather than static websites supplemented by basic AI features, Envive enables a dynamic, learning environment that continually optimizes based on customer interactions. The platform is particularly focused on improving visibility in generative AI search results, recognizing that as consumers increasingly rely on AI-powered search tools, brands must adapt their strategies accordingly.

The investment round, which includes participation from Point72 Ventures and the AI2 Incubator alongside lead investor FUSE, provides Envive with the capital needed to accelerate development and expand its market presence. Sri Chandrasekar, managing partner at Point72 Ventures, expressed strong confidence in the company, stating, “I think their combination of advanced AI expertise and retail execution makes them uniquely positioned to lead the industry.” This sentiment echoes throughout the investment community, where Envive is increasingly recognized as a pioneer in applying sophisticated AI to solve real business challenges in the retail sector. The funding will enable Envive to enhance its technology, grow its team, and further develop partnerships with major retail brands.

As online shopping continues to evolve, Envive stands at the intersection of artificial intelligence and retail innovation, helping brands create more engaging, efficient, and personalized digital experiences. The company’s trajectory from an AI2 Incubator project to a well-funded startup with high-profile clients demonstrates the tangible value of their approach. By building AI agents that not only respond to customer queries but actively learn and improve from each interaction, Envive is redefining what’s possible in e-commerce. As retailers face increasing pressure to differentiate their online presence and maximize conversion rates, Envive’s intelligent agents offer a compelling solution that blends cutting-edge technology with practical business outcomes. With substantial funding and strong leadership, Envive appears well-positioned to lead the next generation of AI-powered retail experiences.