Ethos raises $22.75M from a16z for its expert network with voice onboarding

In the quest for expert opinions and advice, businesses frequently turn to platforms like LinkedIn or established networks such as GLG, Third Bridge, and Alphasights. However, many companies find that these services often fail to deliver high-quality insights. London-based startup Ethos aims to transform this landscape by leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance the experience for both experts and companies. Ethos implements a voice-powered onboarding system that enriches the data collected from experts beyond traditional job titles. This innovative approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of an expert's knowledge across various domains. For companies, this means improved matching capabilities for their specific project needs, thanks to the extensive data Ethos gathers. With its technology, Ethos can tackle complex inquiries such as, "Find me individuals who worked at a funded startup backed by top-tier investors focused on finance automation." Additionally, the platform enables pharmaceutical companies to identify doctors who are not only specialists in their fields but have also authored relevant research papers or possess expertise in drug development. Ethos has announced a significant $22.75 million Series A funding round, spearheaded by a16z, along with contributions from General Catalyst, XTX Markets, Evantic Capital, and Common Magic. Anish Acharya from a16z expressed that traditional platforms like LinkedIn and GLG offer only superficial insights based on job titles. Acharya believes Ethos’s voice interview process captures nuanced sub-specializations that can better serve clients' needs. "Voice is the original form of human communication... It unlocks a new way for Ethos to connect experts with businesses effectively," he stated during a conversation with TechCrunch. Founded in 2024 by James Lo and Daniel Mankowitz, Ethos combines the founders' unique backgrounds to address the challenges of creating a robust expert network. Lo, a former McKinsey and Softbank employee, has always been driven by a desire to provide meaningful economic opportunities. Meanwhile, Mankowitz, with his experience as an AI researcher at DeepMind, views the economy as a complex knowledge graph that can be navigated with the right algorithms. Lo noted, "Traditional expert platforms predominantly focus on job titles and descriptions. However, clients are often searching for specific skills and capabilities rather than mere job titles. We foresee a gradual convergence between the human economy and the agent economy in pursuing these skills." In addition to the data supplied by experts, Ethos taps into various public resources, including blogs, academic publications, and social connections to effectively match companies with the right personnel. The startup's unique approach involves conducting interviews via voice agents to extract valuable insights. Although competitors like Listen Labs and Outset are emerging in the conversational AI space, Ethos believes its expert network is particularly well-suited to meet the needs of certain clients. While the company has not disclosed the identities of its clients, it mentions that top hedge funds, private equity firms, leading AI research labs, and consulting enterprises are already utilizing its platform. Ethos typically charges clients a fee of 30% or more per project, depending on the specifics of the engagement. The company reported that it is on track for an annualized revenue in the eight-figure range, although it did not reveal exact figures. While the exact number of experts on the platform remains undisclosed, Ethos shared that approximately 35,000 individuals are joining weekly through invitations sent to potential participants. One of the significant challenges for Ethos is expanding its expert user base to align with client requirements. The company has noted that investments from AI labs aiming to map human talent are benefiting its growth. Lo remarked, "AI labs are directing significant capital towards every economically valuable profession. This focus presents a remarkable opportunity for us." As Ethos continues to build its team, which currently consists of eight members, the startup aims to maintain a lean structure while scaling its operations effectively.