Imagine a future where your business communication is entirely transformed by cutting-edge AI technology—this is exactly what Beside, an innovative startup specializing in voice AI, is making happen. And here's the part most people might miss: this company has recently secured $32 million in funding to accelerate the growth of its ‘AI receptionist,’ a powerful tool already managing millions of calls every month. But why does this matter, and what makes Beside stand out in such a rapidly evolving industry?
Founded in Paris by Maxime Germain, Beside aims to bridge the gap for small businesses and individual professionals who simply cannot afford a full-time assistant. Their AI-powered receptionist is designed to handle everyday phone interactions—answering calls, recording customer information, scheduling appointments, and following up—all through an easy-to-use app that connects seamlessly to existing phone numbers. Think of it as hiring a highly skilled, reliable executive assistant with a perfect memory—one that grows smarter and more trustworthy over time.
Maxime Germain describes it as, “like employing a Harvard-educated Chief of Staff who never forgets a detail.” He emphasizes that, over months, the AI becomes a trusted partner, deeply understanding customers, managing ongoing tasks, and ultimately helping businesses win more clients.
Recently, Beside closed a significant $20 million Series A funding round led by EQT Ventures, with participation from Index Ventures and notable angel investors, including Stewart Butterfield, the founder of Slack. This follows an initial seed round of $10.5 million, also led by Index, along with an additional $1.4 million in SAFE funding. The investment will fuel the development of new features, expand hiring efforts, and open the door to entering European markets.
EQT Ventures' partner, Kaushik Subramanian, highlights that: “Beside isn’t just refining communication; it’s fundamentally reimagining how work gets done.” The company has been operating behind the scenes for the past 18 months under the name M1, accumulating over $4 million in annual recurring revenue and serving more than 20,000 paying customers. Interestingly, half of these users interact with the app dozens of times daily, showing just how integral it’s becoming in their workflow.
Diversifying beyond large corporations, Beside's approach uniquely targets individual entrepreneurs and small-scale professionals—like contractors, real estate agents, hairdressers, and dispatchers—who rely heavily on phone communication but often lack dedicated administrative support. Germain states that in the U.K., over 60% of small businesses answer fewer than 40% of incoming calls, and approximately 80% of callers who get voicemail don’t bother to call back. This suggests a huge untapped opportunity for AI to improve customer engagement across many industries.
Germain points out that their clientele is diverse—ranging from lawyers and doctors to priests and community organizations—highlighting how the AI’s ability to provide a high-quality, personalized communication experience is valuable across sectors that prioritize customer care.
On the technological front, Beside’s AI receptionist can handle live phone calls, engage in natural conversations with customers, and execute various tasks—all while logging and analyzing each interaction. For example, a beauty salon could use the service to answer a new client’s call, discuss their preferred hairstyle, book an appointment, and send a confirmation—all managed automatically and recorded for review. This system means staff no longer need to worry about missing details, significantly improving efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Furthermore, the platform also offers capabilities for text-based interactions and voice cloning, enabling users to personalize their AI assistant’s voice. All conversations are transcribed and stored, creating a comprehensive “second brain” for business owners. Tim Curts, an insurance agent in Ventura, recounts how he nearly tripled his new written premium—going from $40,000 to $120,000—by simply integrating Beside’s technology into his practice.
Looking ahead, Beside plans to expand features that foster team collaboration by allowing small business groups to share customer insights effortlessly—making interactions feel as personalized as a five-star hotel experience, where everything is tailored to the individual’s preferences without repetitive explanations.
Unlike many voice AI providers that retrofit existing phone systems, Beside has built its own telephony infrastructure from scratch. This setup manages millions of calls monthly, covering aspects like number provisioning, compliance, call forwarding, and number porting. Germain envisions a future where Beside becomes a full-fledged mobile carrier, integrating directly with SIM cards for seamless connectivity—an ambitious goal that addresses the technical challenges of high-quality, nationwide calling in dynamic environments like trucks or busy city streets.
In conclusion, Beside’s innovative approach to voice AI is not just about automation; it’s about creating smarter, more reliable, and deeply personalized communication channels that empower small businesses and individual professionals to thrive despite limited resources. As this technology matures, the question remains: will AI truly replace human touch in customer interactions, or does it simply elevate the experience to new heights? Share your thoughts—do you believe AI can truly replicate the warmth and intuition of a human assistant, or is this just the beginning of a new era where machines become our personal customer service partners?
