For many small businesses, AI adoption still feels complicated, fragmented and expensive. While large enterprises are building internal AI teams and experimenting with custom models, most small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are still juggling disconnected software tools, manual workflows and limited technical resources.
But increasingly, the next wave of AI startups is trying to solve that problem not by creating more standalone tools, but by building infrastructure that connects everything together. That is the space Webidoo is betting on.
The AI technology company has announced a $25 million funding round led by IXC3, part of Azimut Group, as it looks to expand its AI-driven operating infrastructure across the U.S. SMB market. The company says the funding will support product expansion, adoption of agentic AI tools and a broader acquisition strategy focused on SaaS businesses and marketing agencies across the United States.
Moving Beyond Just “Another AI Tool”
Webidoo’s pitch is relatively simple: most small businesses do not need more software. They need fewer gaps between insight and action.
According to the company, the average SMB now uses around 20 different software tools across sales, marketing, operations and customer management. The problem is that many of these platforms do not integrate properly, creating fragmented workflows and operational inefficiencies.
“The average small business runs 20 tools that don’t talk to each other. We’re not building tool number 21. We’re building the layer that finally makes them all work together,” said Giovanni Farese, CEO of Webidoo.
Rather than positioning itself as another AI assistant or chatbot platform, Webidoo describes its technology as an “AI operating layer” designed to automate execution across existing systems.
Its ecosystem currently includes platforms called Jooice, Groow and Welpy, which are designed to support business functions across marketing, sales and operations.
SMBs Are Becoming The Next Big AI Battleground, Here’s Why
Much of the AI industry’s attention over the past two years has focused on enterprise adoption. But smaller businesses represent a huge untapped market, particularly companies that lack internal engineering teams or the budget to build custom AI infrastructure.
That creates an interesting opportunity for companies that can package AI into something practical and easy to deploy.
“For years, small and medium-sized businesses have been asked to compete in a digital economy without access to the tools that could truly level the playing field. What we are building at Webidoo is not just another AI product suite, but an operating layer that gives SMBs the kind of speed, intelligence, and execution power that was once reserved for much larger companies. This funding gives us the ability to scale that mission faster, especially in the U.S.,” Farese said.
The company’s expansion strategy is heavily focused on North America, with its Chicago office acting as the centre for research, business development and account management. Webidoo says it already works with hundreds of SMBs across the region.
AI Adoption By Means of Acquisition
One of the more interesting aspects of Webidoo’s strategy is its acquisition plan. The company intends to acquire SaaS businesses and marketing agencies whose customer bases and operational workflows can be strengthened using Webidoo’s AI infrastructure. Instead of growing purely through software subscriptions, the company appears to be building distribution directly into its expansion model.
That reflects a wider trend emerging across the AI market, where companies are increasingly looking for ways to integrate AI directly into existing business relationships rather than relying on standalone adoption.
Ricky Gordon, CPO of Webidoo, said the company’s focus is on reducing the complexity that often slows down AI implementation for smaller businesses.
“Most SMBs do not need more complexity. They need technology that helps them act,” Gordon said. “That is the role Jooice, Welpy, and Groow are designed to play.”
Building AI Around Execution
Webidoo is also entering this next stage from a relatively strong financial position compared to many early-stage AI companies. In 2025, the company reported more than $18 million in revenue and over $3 million in EBITDA while continuing to invest in R&D and product development.
The bigger question now is whether businesses actually want another layer of AI infrastructure, or whether simplifying adoption alone is enough to drive long-term loyalty in an increasingly crowded market.
Still, as AI shifts from experimentation toward operational deployment, startups focused on automation, orchestration and execution may become some of the most important companies in the space – especially for smaller businesses trying to compete with enterprise-level technology without enterprise-level budgets.
