In today’s AI-driven economy, large enterprises are scaling fast. But many local service providers—like beauty salons and wellness studios—are falling behind. That’s where Tempe-based startup Zoca steps in. Backed by a fresh $6 million funding round, Zoca is helping neighborhood businesses get discovered, booked, and rebooked—on autopilot.
The round was led by Accel, with support from GTMfund, Elevation Capital, and Better Capital. This brings Zoca’s total funding to $8.8 million. Its platform uses AI to replace outdated tools, boost visibility, and increase revenue for local professionals.
Solving a Real Problem, Not Just Selling Software
Zoca’s founding story reflects its mission. Ashish Verma and Robin Chauhan, classmates from IIT Kharagpur, saw a major gap. Local businesses weren’t struggling due to poor service. They lacked access to smart, scalable growth tools. As independent beauty and wellness professionals began to leave big salon chains, they faced the same issue—how to grow without costly agencies or technical skills.
The co-founders combined their deep tech backgrounds to tackle the problem. Verma had led AI security at a Fortune 500 company. Chauhan had built scalable data systems at two unicorn startups. Together, they built Zoca: an AI-first growth platform designed for non-technical business owners.
Built for the Underserved, Engineered for Results
Unlike complex SaaS tools or pricey marketing firms, Zoca automates the entire customer journey. Its AI agents identify local demand, optimize listings, convert leads, and keep customers coming back—all without user input. Business owners no longer need to juggle five different tools or learn digital marketing. Zoca does it for them.
The impact is already clear. Launched in 2024, the platform now supports over 1,000 local businesses. It has generated more than 120,000 bookings and over $10 million in revenue. All that growth happened without owners lifting a finger.
Zoca’s edge lies in its smart automation. Its AI picks up subtle neighborhood patterns—like increased demand for “glycolic facials” in one zip code, but not the next. It then tailors each business’s marketing and pricing accordingly. The platform even adjusts service prices in real time based on peak demand.
It also integrates smoothly with Google Business Profile, Fresha, and Vagaro. This means business owners can keep their favorite tools while Zoca supercharges their growth behind the scenes.
Zoca recently expanded its platform to include automated paid advertising and social media. Its “Social Agent” feature suggests trending TikTok and Instagram ideas based on local insights. Now even content creation is automated—tailored to the exact tastes of nearby audiences.
Real Businesses, Real Impact
Zoca isn’t just about features. It’s helping real people grow. Gail Aungst, co-owner of Ohana Sun Tanning, credits Zoca for keeping her at the top of Google results. “Keywords like ‘tanning near me’ are crucial. Zoca helped us win those,” she said.
For Latasha Seawood, owner of Slay by Vashae, the results were immediate. “In the first month, I had to turn people away,” she shared. “Before Zoca, I’d see 3–4 clients a day. Now I have a queue. It changed everything.”
These stories are exactly why investors are excited.
“Zoca is delivering real ROI in a $750 billion market,” said Manasi Shah, Partner at Accel. “Ashish and Robin understand their customers deeply. They’re not just building tools—they’re building outcomes.”
Paul Irving of GTMfund added, “Local businesses are the heart of every neighborhood. Zoca helps them thrive in an AI-first world—without requiring them to become marketers.”
Poorvi Vijay, Principal at Elevation Capital, echoed the sentiment. “Zoca gives every local business a 24/7 AI-powered growth engine. That’s a game changer.”
What’s Next for Zoca?
The startup’s roadmap is ambitious. Zoca plans to expand its AI agent ecosystem and branch into new verticals, including dental offices, pet grooming, and fitness coaching. It also wants to build predictive staffing tools to help owners optimize employee schedules and reduce downtime.
Ultimately, Zoca wants to make AI invisible but indispensable. Its goal is to let service professionals focus on what they do best—while AI handles the rest.
Zoca isn’t trying to make small businesses more digital. It’s trying to make growth effortless. And with a proven platform and fresh funding in hand, the future of local business may look a lot smarter—and a lot simpler—than ever before.
