Hootology, a market research platform combining trusted principles with modern technology, has raised $1.1 million in a pre-seed funding round to launch HOOQZ. This Generative AI-powered tool enables dynamic discussions in simulated environments to gather qualitative insights at a quantitative scale.
Established in 2016, Hootology serves many large companies and will use the investment to enhance its product offerings and support team growth.
The marketing research and analysis market is valued at around $83 billion, but many insights are often inaccurate due to outdated methods and fraud scandals. HOOQZ addresses this issue by offering interactive experiences that replace traditional surveys and focus groups.
Its real-time discussions significantly boost engagement and help researchers quantify qualitative data, providing deeper insights into consumer decision-making.
KEY QUOTES:
“By creating dynamic discussions that develop according to participant input in real time, our platform doesn’t just gather data, it curates smart conversations to uncover qual-level sentiments at quant-level scale, narrowing the gap between ‘think’ and ‘know.’ When strategy is rooted in real understanding—honest, textured, human understanding—it leads to better decisions, stronger connections, and brands that actually resonate with their audiences. And that’s what we’re all about.”
Stefanie Francis, Founder and CEO of Hootology
“Hootology is one of the most data and insights-obsessed teams I’ve worked with, and it shows in the product they’ve created. The nuanced and actionable data it provides, getting at the heart of needs and perceptions in a reliable way, makes it one of the best tools to help us create large-scale strategy I’ve seen in a long time.”
Tammy Halevy, Executive Director of Reimagine Main Street, a project of the Public Private Strategies Institute