Pypestream

{{Short description|American software company}} {{Infobox company | name = Pypestream | logo = Pypestream logo.png | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | logo_padding = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang =  | former_name = | type = | industry = Enterprise Artificial Intelligence | founded = {{start date and age|2015}} in New York City | founder = Richard Smullen | hq_location = | hq_location_city = | hq_location_country = | area_served =  | key_people = | products = | brands = | services = | website =  }}

'''Pypestream''' is an American software company that offers a self-service automation platform.<ref name=":0" /> The company was founded in 2015 by Richard Smullen, the co-founder of Genesis Media LLC,<ref name=tech/><ref name=cnn/><ref name=fin/> and is headquartered in New York City.

== Technology == The Pypestream platform drives an engagement interface called a Pype that uses conversational AI within a graphical user interface. It gained popularity due to the high cost of assisted-service engagements versus the minuscule cost of self-service engagements, coupled with the brand-enhancing experience delivered by a Pype.<ref name="tech2" /><ref name=omni>{{cite web| url=http://www.omnichannelcustomers.com/topics/omnichannelexperience/articles/416580-customer-friendly-pypestream-system-slashes-labor-costs.htm| title=Customer-Friendly Pypestream System Slashes Labor Costs| date=January 26, 2016| author=Christopher Mohr| publisher=Omnichannel Experience| access-date=May 17, 2016}}{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It is used for customer service, employee service, recruiting, patient service, traveler service, marketing, and other automated engagement use cases. Pypestream couples AI-driven natural-language understanding (NLU) with a widget-based GUI that encourages pointing, swiping and gestures.<ref name="cnn" /><ref name="xcon" />

== History == In late December 2015, Pypestream's mobile application launched in beta.<ref name="cnn" /><ref name="xcon" />

By April 2016, the company had 500 businesses signed up and using the messaging platform, including Washington Gas and Billboard.<ref name="cnn" /><ref name="twice" /> The same year, the company was named in the Red Herring list of 100 most exciting startups in North America<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.redherring.com/startups/red-herring-crowns-top-100-north-america-winners/| access-date=August 5, 2016| date=June 14, 2016| publisher=Red Herring| title=Red Herring Crowns Top 100 North American Winners}}</ref> and announced a partnership with Discovery Health, the largest medical scheme administrator in South Africa, in order to include the Pypestream technology in the app for members of Discovery Health Medical Scheme.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://discovery-holdings-ltd.mynewsdesk.com/pressreleases/innovative-customer-service-solution-for-south-african-medical-scheme-members-1431546| access-date=August 5, 2016| date=June 7, 2016| publisher=Discovery Holdings| title=Innovative customer service solution for South African medical scheme members}}</ref> In July 2016, Pypestream partnered with Insurance Thought Leadership to create a messaging platform specialized for insurance customer service. As of 2016, there were over 12,000 businesses using Pypestream since its launch in December 2015.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/07/29/chat-startup-pypestream-to-advise-major-insurance-companies/| title=Chat startup Pypestream to advise major insurance companies| date=July 29, 2016| author=Khari Johnson| publisher=VentureBeat| access-date=September 26, 2016}}</ref>

In February, 2017, Pypestream raised $15 million in funding from Rick Braddock and The Chattergee Group.<ref>{{Cite news |title= Pypestream raises $15M for its customer messaging platform |url= https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/28/pypestream-series-a/ |author= Anthony Ha |date= February 28, 2017 |access-date = August 16, 2021 }}</ref>

In 2018, Pypestream was named one of the four Hot Vendors in Conversational AI by Aragon Research.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aragonresearch.com/hot-vendors-in-conversational-ai-2018/|title=Hot Vendors™ in Conversational AI, 2018|website=Aragon Research|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref> Its current clients include Allianz, EY, Google, Sling, Brown & Brown, and Shell.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://callcenterinfo.tmcnet.com/analysis/articles/440675-conversational-ai-outfit-pypestream-raises-15m.htm|title=Conversational AI Outfit Pypestream Raises $15M+|website=callcenterinfo.tmcnet.com|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/12/13/pypestream-raises-15-million-for-conversational-enterprise-ai/|title=Pypestream raises $15 million for conversational enterprise AI|date=2018-12-13|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://loyalty360.org/content-gallery/daily-news/sling-tv-partners-with-pypestream-to-make-customer|title=Sling TV Partners with Pypestream to Make Customer Service Capabilities Easily Accessible|website=loyalty360.org|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref> The company has been granted five patents by the U.S. Patent Office<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patents.justia.com/assignee/pypestream-inc|title=Patents Assigned to Pypestream Inc. - Justia Patents Search|website=patents.justia.com|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref> and secured $15 million in funding by W.R. Berkley, bringing their total up to $35 million.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cheddar.com/media/conversational-a-i-start-up-pypestream-brings-in-15-million|title=Conversational A.I. Start-Up Pypestream Brings in $15 Million|website=Cheddar|language=en|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref>

==References== <references>

<ref name=tech>{{cite web| url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/10/07/pypestream-seed-funding/| title=Pypestream Raises $2M To Help Businesses Talk To Their Customers| date=October 7, 2015| author=Anthony Ha| publisher=Tech Crunch| access-date=May 17, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name=tech2>{{cite web| url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/11/11/pypestream-launch/| title=Pypestream Offers Consumers A New Way To Chat With Businesses| author=Anthony Ha| date=November 11, 2015| publisher=Tech Crunch| access-date=May 17, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name=cnn>{{cite web| url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/01/12/technology/startup-pypestream/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115201429/http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/12/technology/startup-pypestream| url-status=dead| archive-date=January 15, 2016| title=Is this app the call center of the future?| author=Sara Ashley O'Brien| date=January 12, 2016| publisher=CNN| access-date=May 17, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name=twice>{{cite web| url=http://www.twice.com/rip-hold-times-pypestream-bringing-customer-service-digital-age/60224| title=RIP Hold Times: Pypestream Bringing Customer Service Into The Digital Age| date=January 25, 2016| author=Lisa Johnston| publisher=Twice| access-date=May 17, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name=xcon>{{cite web| url=http://www.xconomy.com/new-york/2016/02/22/pypestreams-ceo-talks-messaging-between-businesses-and-consumers/2/| title=Pypestream's CEO Talks Messaging Between Businesses and Consumers| author=João-Pierre S. Ruth| date=February 22, 2016| publisher=Xconomy| access-date=May 17, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name=fin>{{cite web| url=http://www.finsmes.com/2015/10/pypestream-closes-2m-seed-funding.html| title=Pypestream Closes $2M Seed Funding| date=October 9, 2015| publisher=Finsmes| access-date=May 17, 2016}}</ref>

</references>

Category:Software companies based in New York (state) Category:2015 establishments in New York City Category:Software companies of the United States Category:Software companies established in 2015 Category:American companies established in 2015