A Gold Coast startup, Sophiie AI has raised $5 million in Seed funding to further develop its AI platform for tradies and service businesses, add headcount and pursue international expansion including the US later this year. The round was backed by Archangel Ventures, Admiralty Capital Group, Antler, Gandel Invest and Aussie Angels and values the business at $30m.
Sophiie AI evolves from receptionist to AI operating system
Sophiie was launched in 2024 by cofounders Jacob Banks, Luke Kelleher and Juan Castro as an AI-powered administrative tool and virtual receptionist for tradespeople. The company targets a common pain point for trades and service businesses: time lost to administration — an estimated 16 hours a week — spent handling enquiries, coordinating teams, scheduling jobs, preparing quotes, sending invoices and managing customer communication.
“We started Sophiie to take that burden away. With our new platform, we’re going much further. We’re building an AI operating system that can sit at the centre of a service business and help manage the journey from the first customer enquiry through to getting the job done and getting paid.”
Sophiie AI market traction and growth
Banks said the startup already has thousands of businesses using Sophiie across Australia, New Zealand and the UK and is growing rapidly. “This $5 million round gives us the capital to take what we’ve built in Australia and scale it internationally. We already have thousands of businesses using Sophiie across Australia, New Zealand and the UK, and we’re seeing 10-15% growth month-on-month. “We believe there is an enormous opportunity to build the global AI operating system for trades.”
Investor support and next steps
Admiralty Capital Group founding partner Amanda Andriano praised the founders’ focus and sector knowledge. “From our earliest conversations, it was clear Jacob, Luke and Juan weren’t simply building another AI application,” she said. “They had a deep understanding of one of the largest and most underserved sectors of the market, and a clear vision for how artificial intelligence could fundamentally transform the way trades and service businesses operate.”
Banks outlined his view on AI’s role in the sector: “The next generation of trades businesses won’t operate the way they have for the past 20 years,” he said. “AI will be involved in almost every part of the operation. Our goal is to make that incredibly simple: Sophiie should understand your customers, your jobs and your team, and then take care of as much of the work around them as possible.”
Sophiie AI is a finalist in the Best in Tech Awards in the AI Gamechanger category; the winners will be announced at a gala dinner in Sydney on September 10, and tickets are on sale now.
