Hexagon raises a US$1,8 million seed round to strengthen SEO in the age of AI

Hexagon secured a seed investment of approximately US$1,8 million led by Pear VC to accelerate the development of its Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) platform, a technology designed to help brands improve their visibility in AI-powered search experiences such as ChatGPT.

Hexagon aims to redefine digital visibility in the age of AI

As consumers increasingly turn to generative AI platforms to search for information instead of traditional search engines, Hexagon aims to position itself as a partner helping brands adapt to this shift.

Rather than focusing on conventional search engine rankings, the company’s GEO technology is designed to ensure that businesses are accurately understood, referenced, and prioritized in responses generated by AI models.

The startup was founded by Brazilian entrepreneur Ramon Silva, known for selling Avocado, a dark-store startup that later served as the basis for the creation of Turbo, to Colombian delivery platform Rappi.

Hexagon recently raised a seed investment of nearly US$1,8 million from Pear VC, a U.S. venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments and known for backing companies such as DoorDash, Cognition, and Gusto.

The investment will support technology development before team expansion

As CEO Ramon Silva, the company decided to prioritize strengthening its technology before ramping up hiring.

“We chose to invest in technology and infrastructure first, before expanding the team,” Silva said.

The executive said the goal was to build a robust solution to address a challenge that is only beginning to emerge, driven by the growing adoption of generative AI technologies by both consumers and businesses.

Hexagon currently works with clients in Brazil, including Loft, Getnet, Buser, BTG Pactual, and Tako. Although it also serves companies in the United States, the startup did not disclose their identities or share revenue figures or financial projections following the funding round.

The company is also betting on the future of AI-powered commerce

In addition to its GEO platform, Hexagon is closely following the development of the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP), a technology that will allow users to make purchases directly within generative AI environments without leaving the conversation.

The company has already begun implementing strategies related to this technology in the United States as part of its vision for the evolution of AI-powered digital commerce.

Looking ahead, Silva said the startup will focus on two fronts: expanding its client base in both Brazil and the United States, and continuing to strengthen its technology while educating the market about the growing importance of visibility on AI platforms.

According to the CEO, brands must understand that building a presence in these environments is no longer optional but a business necessity.

Market projections point to sector growth

Various market studies reflect growing interest in solutions such as the one developed by Hexagon.

Consulting firm Bain estimates that agentic commerce could generate between US$300.000 million and US$500.000 million in the United States by 2030, representing between 15 % and 25 % of online sales.

Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley projects a market of between US$190.000 million and US$385.000 million, while a McKinsey report estimates that the U.S. B2C retail segment alone could reach a value of US$1 trillion.

For Ramon Silva, this transformation represents one of the most important shifts in how people discover information online.

“We are experiencing the biggest change in the logic of online discovery since Google. Brands that are not understood by these models will simply cease to exist in this new environment,” he said.

The founder believes companies that begin adapting their presence on AI platforms now will have the opportunity to gain a competitive advantage before this new channel becomes a market standard.