Search on the internet is changing very fast. Before, people typed on Google and clicked websites. Now, many people in the United States use AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot. These tools give answers directly, so normal SEO is not enough anymore.
To solve this problem, new companies are coming. They are called AI SEO Startups. Some famous names are Athena, Profound, and Scrunch AI. They help brands and businesses stay visible when people ask questions to AI tools.
What Are AI SEO Startups?
AI SEO Startups are new companies that build tools for AI-driven search. Their job is to make sure that:
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AI chatbots read your website correctly
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Your brand name shows up in AI answers
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Your product is recommended in AI search results
They do not just focus on keywords and backlinks like old SEO. Instead, they focus on how AI models collect and present data.
Why Do We Need AI SEO?
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More people use AI search than Google search.
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Websites lose traffic because AI answers directly.
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Brands need visibility inside AI chatbots.
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Competition is high. If your site is not AI-optimized, your rival gets the lead.
So, AI SEO startups are like guides. They show you how to make your content friendly for AI.
Famous AI SEO Startups in 2025
Let’s look at three big names making news in the U.S.:
1. Athena AI
Athena is a smart platform that checks how AI chatbots see your website. It tells you what information is missing and how to fix it. Athena also shows which answers chatbots give about your brand. This helps businesses improve fast.
2. Profound AI
Profound focuses on data structuring. It helps companies add schemas, knowledge graphs, and structured tables to websites. This makes information easy for AI to copy and use in answers.
3. Scrunch AI
Scrunch AI is more about marketing and content. It helps you write clear, AI-friendly text. It also gives reports about how often your brand is cited in AI answers.
How AI SEO Startups Work
AI SEO startups use many smart methods:
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AI Crawling: They test how chatbots read your content.
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Answer Tracking: They check if your brand appears when people ask questions.
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Content Restructuring: They help you rewrite content in simple, structured form.
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AI Visibility Reports: They give a score for your AI discoverability.
Benefits for U.S. Businesses
In the United States, businesses must fight for attention online. With AI growing fast, startups like Athena, Profound, and Scrunch AI give big benefits:
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Higher brand visibility inside AI results
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More customer trust because AI mentions your name
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Better e-commerce sales when AI recommends your product
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Future-proof marketing that works even if Google traffic drops
GEO and AI SEO Together
These startups also connect with GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). GEO is about writing content in a way AI can read easily. AI SEO startups give the tools and reports to make GEO possible.
So, the future is not just SEO, but GEO + AI SEO.
Example: How a Shoe Store Can Use AI SEO
Imagine you own a shoe store in New York. You want AI tools to recommend your products when someone asks:
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“What are the best running shoes under $100 in the U.S.?”
With normal SEO, you only target keywords. But with AI SEO, startups will help you:
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Write a clear price list for running shoes.
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Add a structured product table with size, brand, and price.
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Make FAQs like “Which shoes are best for kids?”
Then, AI assistants may recommend your store because the data is clear.
The Future of AI SEO Startups
Experts in the United States believe AI SEO startups will grow very fast. In the next 3 years, almost every business will need one. From small shops to big companies, everyone will want their brand to stay visible inside AI answers.
Companies that adapt early will win. Those who ignore AI SEO may disappear from search results.
Final Thoughts
AI is changing search forever. Athena, Profound, and Scrunch AI are three startups showing the way forward. They help businesses understand how AI chatbots read data and how to stay visible.