HalloSophia, a startup from Austria specializing in hybrid service infrastructure, has quietly made significant strides in expanding its operations to the US, particularly in Silicon Valley. Co-founder Markus Waghubinger highlights the benefits of this move, emphasizing the valuable lessons learned from the AI movement currently happening in the San Francisco Bay Area.
From Online Consulting to Service Infrastructure
Originally launched as an online marketplace offering consulting services at a fixed price, HalloSophia has evolved significantly since its founding in 2020 by Markus Waghubinger and Johannes Mayer, with Sebastian Kaiser-Mühlecker joining later as a co-founder. The platform, now rebranded as a hybrid service infrastructure, integrates automated support with human expertise, allowing businesses to offer their users the best of both worlds and deploy their hybrid service model on autopilot within a day.
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Establishing a US Presence
In June, HalloSophia expanded its operations by establishing a C-Corp in the United States, a step facilitated by the Austrian Economic Chamber’s GoUSA program. This move underscores the company’s commitment to long-term growth in the US market, with a clear focus on positioning itself within Silicon Valley’s competitive AI landscape as a voice for human expert services in an AI-driven world.
The human factor in AI
Pivoting to AI-Integrated Services
Recognizing the growing trend towards generative AI, HalloSophia shifted its focus from consulting to developing a platform that blends AI with human services and lets tech companies seamlessly embed personal services into their customer services. This pivot has allowed the company to secure initial Proof of Concept (PoC) clients in the US, where new revenue streams were generated for their customers and establish itself as a key player in integrating human expertise into AI solutions. A tangible example: whenever a legal AI creates a contract for you, HalloSophia’s integration gives you the option to book a review with a local lawyer from the tech company’s trusted network of legal experts.
Strengthening US Presence and Preparing for Series A
HalloSophia has actively participated in key industry events, including the highly reputable Llama Lounge in San Francisco, where it was selected as one of ten AI startups to present its solutions. The startup is currently planning a bridge financing round in Europe and preparing for a Series A funding round in the US, aimed at expanding its market reach.
The Importance of Silicon Valley
Waghubinger strongly advocates for European tech companies to explore opportunities in Silicon Valley, citing the region’s unparalleled concentration of tech expertise and investment opportunities. He believes that the combination of AI services and human expertise, which HalloSophia offers, is gaining significant traction in the US market, particularly as companies seek to enhance customer support, while call centers can’t match the capabilities of AI anymore, it requires dedicated expert centers as the “human support system”.
Looking Ahead
HalloSophia’s vision is to empower digital companies to become full-service providers by integrating AI support with human expertise. With its solid foundation and strategic expansion into the US market, the Linz-based startup is well-positioned for continued growth and innovation in the service infrastructure sector.
