Askable secures £17 million funding to reshape user research

Askable, an on-demand research platform, has recently secured £17 million (approximately AU$22 million) in a Series A funding round led by Airtree Ventures. The company aims to transform product development through enhanced user insights, connecting businesses with top-tier researchers and a sophisticated platform that merges human intelligence with artificial intelligence to generate deep insights on a significant scale.

The announcement comes amid growing demands on research teams, which are facing tight budgets and ongoing project backlogs. Askable positions itself as a vital partner in this landscape, offering technology that enables research teams to expand their output, reduce risks associated with critical product decisions, and concentrate on creating solutions that meet genuine user needs.

Askable was founded in 2017 by John Goleby, Scott Goleby, and Andreas Zhou within an incubator set up by their agency. From its beginnings in Brisbane, the company has evolved into a global leader in user research, with operations now extending to London and Chicago. Prior to this funding round, Askable had remained self-funded and profitable, marking this as its first venture into external investment.

The newly acquired AU$22 million will allow the company to enhance its on-demand research services, invest in next-generation technologies, and recruit top talent from around the world. This move is intended to empower enterprises to innovate with greater confidence and speed.

Speaking to BusinessMole, John Goleby, Co-Founder and CEO of Askable, stated, “The greatest brands in the world still launch products no one wants. Without a way to quickly and deeply extract the full truth from users, digital products stand almost no chance of success.” He further asserted that traditional research methods are not keeping up with contemporary demands, leading to inefficiencies that result in suboptimal product decisions and added risks. “Askable fundamentally shifts the way products are built. Deep user insight fuels intentional product decisions, ultimately delivering experiences users crave, and well, expect,” he added. More than 600 of the world’s largest brands are reportedly leveraging Askable’s expertise to inform their strategies.

John Henderson, Partner at Airtree Ventures, commented, “Askable is a bootstrapped Brisbane success story on the brink of being the top global player in the user research market, with a differentiated vision supercharged by new AI capabilities.” He noted that while the US and EU markets have seen hefty investment in research tools aimed at enhancing efficiency, many have resulted in confusion rather than clarity. Henderson believes Askable’s approach, which offers on-demand research capacity, represents a significant breakthrough. “We’re excited to lead their first external funding round to supercharge their growth in the US and deliver their vision globally,” he concluded.

As the demand for effective user research tools continues to grow, Askable’s innovative solution is poised to play a critical role in shaping the future landscape of product development and business practices.

Source: Noah Wire Services