In a digital economy where enterprise adoption of AI is accelerating, local service businesses often find themselves left behind, struggling with outdated marketing tools and ineffective strategies. But Tempe-based startup Zoca is flipping that script.
The $6 million round was led by Accel and joined by GTMfund, Elevation Capital, and Better Capital. This brings Zoca’s total funding to $8.8 million, following an earlier pre-seed round. The company is building an AI-first growth platform to help hyperlocal service businesses get discovered, booked, and rebooked, promising one outcome: more paying clients, guaranteed.
A founding story rooted in real needs
Zoca’s origin story is as grounded as its mission. Founders Ashish Verma and Robin Chauhan, friends and classmates from IIT Kharagpur, realised a systemic failure: local service providers were not struggling due to a lack of talent but due to a lack of intelligent infrastructure. The rise of independent beauty and wellness professionals further highlighted this disconnect, as more individuals ventured away from salon chains but were left unsupported by legacy marketing systems.
Their insight led to a product designed specifically for the everyday needs of small business owners. This end-to-end system replaces what previously required multiple software tools, marketing consultants, and countless hours of manual effort. Both founders bring deep technical expertise: Verma previously led AI security initiatives at a Fortune 500 company, while Chauhan built scalable data platforms at two unicorn startups.
Built for the underserved
Local service businesses, such as salons, massage therapists, and wellness providers, think they are masters of their trade but frequently lack the marketing resources needed to grow. Zoca recognises this gap. Instead of offering another complicated tool or pricey agency alternative, it delivers a fully automated, AI-driven platform that manages the entire client acquisition process. From identifying demand to booking appointments and re-engaging past customers, Zoca handles it.
Since launching in 2024, the platform has already onboarded over 1,000 local businesses, generated over 120,000 bookings, and driven over $10 million in revenue without requiring owners to lift a finger.
The AI agent advantage
Zoca’s use of AI agents to automate every layer of the growth funnel sets it apart. These agents don’t just offer insights, but also take action. They analyse hyperlocal demand trends, optimise discovery efforts, convert leads into confirmed appointments, and maintain client engagement with personalised follow-ups.
For example, Zoca’s proprietary engine picks up on nuanced neighbourhood-level patterns, identifying that demand for services like “glycolic facials” or “lymphatic drainage massages” can vary significantly even within a few miles. The AI then adjusts marketing strategies to match local search behaviour, ensuring relevance and better conversion rates.
Zoca’s AI also dynamically adjusts service pricing based on real-time demand, helping businesses maximise revenue during peak hours. The platform integrates seamlessly with tools like Google Business Profile, Fresha, and Vagaro, so owners don’t have to overhaul their existing workflows.
Zoca isn’t stopping at lead generation. The platform recently rolled out AI agents for managing paid advertising and social media, automating the entire marketing value chain. These tools enable local businesses to compete on the same playing field as large enterprises without the burden of complex campaign management or costly third-party services.
With features like mobile-first websites, 24/7 conversational AI for lead response, and personalised SMS/email retention campaigns, Zoca provides the equivalent of a full-time marketing team at a fraction of the cost. A new “Social Agent” feature even suggests trending TikTok and Instagram content ideas tailored to local audiences.
Looking ahead
Zoca’s roadmap includes expanding its AI agent ecosystem, integrating deeper with other platforms, and reaching into new verticals beyond beauty and wellness. Whether it’s dental practices, pet groomers, or personal trainers, the vision is the same: let local professionals focus on their craft while AI works invisibly in the background to drive growth.
Rather than flashy dashboards and overwhelming analytics, Zoca’s model is rooted in simplicity and results. The future it imagines is one where small business success doesn’t require digital fluency, just the decision to turn on a platform built to work for them, not the other way around.
The company is also exploring predictive staffing tools to help owners optimise employee schedules based on historical and forecasted demand, reducing idle time and boosting profitability.
In a world where AI is often synonymous with complexity, Zoca is proving that its most powerful use might be in making things easier, not harder, for the businesses that keep our neighbourhoods vibrant.
“We saw a fundamental disconnect,” said Ashish Verma, Zoca’s co-founder and CEO. “These entrepreneurs are selling time, not products. Every empty chair is revenue they’ll never recover. The real challenge isn’t just visibility anymore—it’s everything that comes after it. Being found is one part, but converting leads, filling schedules, and retaining clients is where businesses either grow or stall. What makes this space unique is the business model itself. These service professionals aren’t focused on selling more units—they’re maximising their available time. So the ROI on every lead, every appointment, and every repeat visit directly impacts their bottom line. That’s why we built a system that addresses the entire customer journey, not just one piece of it.”
Gail Aungst, Co-owner of Ohana Sun Tanning, commented: “Google search is really important and so key words are critical for us. One of them is “tanning near me”. Zoca’s helped us stay on top and win. They are totally helping us with our rankings”.
Latasha Seawood, Owner of Slay by Vashae, said: “The first 30 days of using Zoca, my business went from maybe 3-4 people a day, into a queue. I was forced to turn people away. No lie. It was like a 30 day turnaround. If you search “sew-in” in your area, I pop up. And that’s because of Zoca.”
“Zoca is driving business outcomes for the underserved $750B local services market: said Manasi Shah, Partner at Accel. Ashish and the team have the highest customer obsession with a deep understanding of AI in automating a significant number of use cases applicable to the local services market. Growth AI agents are just the beginning, Zoca will create an agent-led OS for every hyperlocal business to achieve full potential.”
Paul Irving, Partner at GTMfund, added: “These businesses are the cornerstones of their communities, but most are being left behind in a digital and AI-first world. Zoca allows them to focus on what matters most: delivering an exceptional service to their customers. The growth, the customer retention and engagement – all on auto-pilot with Zoca’s AI platform. It’s a total game changer for these local businesses, and we couldn’t be more excited to support the Zoca team on their mission.”
Poorvi Vijay, Principal, Elevation Capital, said: “Zoca arms every neighbourhood business with a 24/7 AI growth engine. Ashish and Robin’s passion and unique insights to serve this underserved market and help them transform with AI is truly outstanding. We are thrilled to back them as they build the operating system for hyperlocal services worldwide.”
