Novi
Novi Connect is a B2B SaaS platform that helps CPG and retail brands optimize how AI shopping assistants like ChatGPT select and recommend their products, using LLM-based category modeling, trust signal analysis, and a verified data distribution network with major retailers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Novi does
Novi Connect, Inc. is a B2B SaaS platform that helps consumer packaged goods (CPG) and retail brands optimize how their products are selected and recommended by AI shopping assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. The company positions itself in the emerging Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) category, focused on product-level authority rather than brand-level visibility. Its core technology combines LLM-based modeling for category alignment, category fit scoring, and trust signal analysis with a verified data distribution network that pipes brand product information directly into major retailer and marketplace data feeds including Target, Ulta Beauty, and Sephora.
The platform consists of two primary products: the AI Shopping Optimizer, which restructures product feed content and schema to maximize AI selection rates, and the Product Authority Builder, which enables brands to verify and distribute product data through Novi's exclusive retailer feeds. A Shopify app integration extends the platform to SMB and mid-market merchants. Novi claims 90,000+ brands in its network, 8M+ product schemas optimized, and case-study outcomes including a 257% increase in AI product selection for a global beauty brand and a #1 AI recommendation spot achieved in 47 days for a Fortune 500 client. A provisional patent application was filed in June 2026 for an AI Product Selection Intelligence System.
The business model is a recurring SaaS subscription with monthly billing and auto-renewal, supplemented by data verification and certification-compliance services for certification body partners. GTM combines direct enterprise field sales targeting Fortune 500 CPG and retail brands with a self-serve product-led motion through the Shopify app marketplace. Distribution is reinforced by strategic partnerships with NielsenIQ, Shopify, and a syndicate of institutional investors including Greylock Partners, Khosla Ventures, Tiger Global, Defy Partners, Maveron Ventures, and Cowboy Ventures, alongside individual investors such as Jessica Alba.
Novi firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Novi
- Legal name
- Novi Connect, Inc.
- Website
- https://noviconnect.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Novi Connect is a B2B SaaS platform that helps CPG and retail brands optimize how AI shopping assistants like ChatGPT select and recommend their products, using LLM-based category modeling, trust signal analysis, and a verified data distribution network with major retailers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Novi industry classification
Industry- Product category
- AI Commerce Optimization Software
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- System Integration & Connectors (BPAMAOAC)
Keywords
Where Novi is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Novi business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- SaaS Subscription Platform: Novi offers a product portfolio management software-as-a-service application with recurring subscription fees. Access to the Services requires creating an account and paying fees communicated in advance. Paid Services include initial period charges followed by recurring periodic charges (monthly). Auto-renewal for successive renewal periods at then-current non-promotional rates.
- Data Verification Services: Services for assessing compliance with certifier badge and certification programs, including sharing User Materials with Certifiers for compliance determination.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Subscription-based SaaS with tiered pricing not publicly disclosed |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Novi product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Novi Connect is a B2B SaaS platform that helps consumer packaged goods (CPG) and retail brands optimize their product data for AI shopping assistants. Its two core offerings—the AI Shopping Optimizer and the Product Authority Builder—analyze how AI systems interpret, categorize, and recommend products, then distribute verified product data via exclusive direct feeds with major retailers such as Target, Ulta Beauty, and Sephora.
Product overview
Novi offers Novi Connect as its primary AI Shopping Optimization platform for CPG and retail brands. The platform consists of two core products: the AI Shopping Optimizer, which provides product-level optimization to maximize product recommendations across AI shopping systems, and the Product Authority Builder, which enables verified data distribution via exclusive direct data feeds with major retailers and marketplaces. A Shopify Catalog Import module streamlines onboarding for Shopify merchants. The platform is complemented by educational resources including white papers on Product Recommendation in Agentic Search and Trust Signals in AI commerce. Novi positions itself as the data infrastructure between brands, certification bodies, standards holders, and major retailers like Target, Ulta, and Sephora, helping products get recommended in AI-driven shopping experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AI Shopping Optimizer Product-level optimization module that maximizes the likelihood of products being selected and recommended across AI shopping conversations by optimizing the content and structure of product feeds.
- Product Authority Builder Verified data distribution module that allows brands to verify and distribute product data via Novi's exclusive direct data feeds with major retailers and marketplaces, including Target, Ulta Beauty, and Sephora.
- Shopify Catalog Integration Integration module that allows brands to connect their Shopify catalog to Novi in minutes, streamlining onboarding and eliminating manual spreadsheet work while delivering SKU-level optimization recommendations.
- Novi AI Optimizer Dedicated AI optimization tool providing product-level authority and optimization built on trust for AI shopping.
Quantifiable outcome
- 257% increase in AI product selection for a Global Beauty Brand
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Novi
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Novi technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability5 records
Feature5 records
Novi partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- NielsenIQcoreNovi joined the NielsenIQ Partner Network to integrate data and enhance its platform's capabilities for clean and sustainable CPG brands. The integration aims to streamline certification processes, improve marketing recommendations, and help brands connect sustainability efforts with measurable revenue outcomes.
- ShopifycoreShopify catalog integration enables brands to connect their product catalogs to Novi in minutes, streamlining onboarding and eliminating manual spreadsheet processes while delivering SKU-level optimization recommendations tailored to product categories.
- Certifiers and Certification BodiescoreNovi shares User Materials with certifying body partners for assessing compliance with badge, promoted product attributes, or other certification programs. Certification bodies include organizations that issue EWG Verified, EPA Safer Choice, Made Safe, and other sustainability certifications.
- TargetcoreMajor retailer partner receiving verified product data via Novi's direct data feeds. Part of the exclusive network enabling brands to distribute verified product data at scale.
- Ulta BeautycoreMajor beauty retailer partner receiving verified product data via Novi's exclusive direct data feeds for AI shopping optimization.
- SephoracoreMajor beauty retailer partner in Novi's verified data distribution network enabling brands to reach AI shopping assistants.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Novi competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Algolia: Algolia provides AI-powered search and product recommendation APIs used by retailers and DTC brands. Comparable to Novi on the recommendation and product discovery layer, with a stronger infrastructure/API footprint but less focus on LLM-driven agentic shopping.
- Bloomreach: Bloomreach is a digital experience and e-commerce personalization platform with AI-driven product discovery and merchandising. Comparable to Novi for retailer AI commerce use cases, with broader commerce and content capabilities.
- Constructor: Constructor is an AI-powered search and product discovery platform for enterprise e-commerce retailers. It overlaps with Novi's recommendation and product-selection optimization capabilities but operates as a broader site-search and personalization incumbent for large retailers.
- Coveo: Coveo is an enterprise AI search and relevance platform with product discovery and recommendation capabilities. Comparable to Novi as a broader incumbent serving commerce and customer experience use cases, including AI-powered product findability.
- BrightEdge: BrightEdge is an enterprise SEO platform that has expanded into AI search visibility and content optimization. Comparable to Novi for enterprise brand and retailer SEO/AEO budgets, with deeper incumbent distribution but narrower product-level optimization depth.
Direct peers
- Klevu: Klevu is an AI search and product discovery platform purpose-built for e-commerce merchants. Comparable to Novi on AI-driven product recommendation, with a stronger SMB and Shopify-merchant orientation versus Novi's enterprise CPG focus.
- Botify: Botify is an enterprise SEO and AI-search optimization platform that helps brands improve discoverability in organic and AI-driven search. Direct competitor to Novi for content and brand-level AEO budgets, particularly in retail and consumer verticals.
- Profound: Profound is an AI visibility and optimization platform that helps brands track and improve how they appear in AI search engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity. Directly comparable to Novi as a fellow AEO platform competing for similar enterprise CPG and retail budgets.
- Yext: Yext is a digital presence platform that helps brands manage structured data across publishers and AI surfaces. Comparable to Novi as an AEO/structured-data optimization competitor with established enterprise distribution and listings management.
Emerging players
- Findify: Findify is an AI-powered search, personalization, and recommendation platform for Shopify merchants. Comparable to Novi at the SMB Shopify end of the market, with narrower feature depth and a smaller enterprise footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Novi social profiles
Digital presenceNovi compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Novi financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Novi leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Novi funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Novi M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Novi
What does Novi do?
Novi Connect is a B2B SaaS platform that helps consumer packaged goods (CPG) and retail brands optimize their product data for AI shopping assistants. Its two core offerings—the AI Shopping Optimizer and the Product Authority Builder—analyze how AI systems interpret, categorize, and recommend products, then distribute verified product data via exclusive direct feeds with major retailers such as Target, Ulta Beauty, and Sephora.
Is Novi a public or private company?
Novi is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Novi founded?
Novi was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Novi based?
Novi is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Novi make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. SaaS Subscription Platform is the primary driver. The others are data Verification Services.
Who are Novi's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Algolia, Bloomreach, Constructor, Coveo and BrightEdge. Direct peers are Klevu, Botify, Profound and Yext. Findify is listed as an emerging player.
Does Novi have an API?
No public API is recorded for Novi.
What industry is Novi in?
Novi's product category is AI Commerce Optimization Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAOAC, System Integration & Connectors. Its NAICS code is 5182 and its SIC code is 7373.