Meet the startup that’s rebuilding retail’s lost magic – online.

When Guillem Oliva, co-founder and CEO of Konvo AI, talks about the early days of the company, there’s a blend of nostalgia and ambition that’s hard to ignore.

“If you’re from a small town like myself, you probably remember going into a store where someone knew your name, knew your taste, and would even call you when something new came in.”

Konvo AI is on a mission to bring that deeply personal, human touch into the fast, faceless world of eCommerce. And so far, they’re not just onto something, they’re running with it. In less than a year of active selling, Konvo AI has already onboarded 200+ brands, helping them connect with customers in a way that feels less like automation and more like conversation.

From Retail Roots to AI-Fueled Conversations

Guillem’s path to founding Konvo AI was shaped early by his mother’s retail stores and his own years in the eCommerce trenches.

“Retail is beautiful but not scalable. eCommerce is scalable but rarely personal. With AI, we realized we could finally merge those two worlds.”

That insight became the foundation of Konvo AI, a conversational platform that acts as a digital sales assistant, offering real-time, personalized interactions that mimic the human connection you’d get in a boutique.

Growth Without the Bells and Whistles (At First)

The growth story is scrappy, bold, and refreshingly honest. For the first six months, it was just Guillem and Scott Kapelewski, his co-founder, bootstrapping their way to nearly 30 paying customers. No funding. No large team. Just relentless outreach, experimentation, and speed.

Then came the pre-seed round: €800K raised from JME Ventures, Itnig, Abac Nest, Combination Ventures, and Marius Obiegala. With funding in hand, they doubled down on what had already been working.

Outbound + Community = Results

Outbound gets a bad rep, but Guillem and team have built a system that makes it sing.

“Outbound isn’t dead. It just needs a little warming up. We combine multi-channel outreach, email, phone, and LinkedIn, with a layer of social proof from our existing customers. That combination has worked incredibly well for us.”

It’s not just about the tools, it’s about the ecosystem. Konvo is building a brand that people talk about. Private dinners with brands, community-led growth, and smart partnerships with agencies are helping turn customers into evangelists.

“It’s about turning customers into fans. If their friends are already using us, a cold email isn’t so cold anymore.”

What Didn’t Work and Why That Matters

Not everything has been a win. The team tested a full-on product-led growth (PLG) motion with self-serve signups and referral loops. It didn’t stick.

“We just weren’t equipped to support activation at scale yet. It was easy to get people to sign up. Activating them? That’s a different beast.”

It’s a powerful reminder that timing and team capacity matter just as much as a good idea.

What’s Next: 500 Clients and Beyond

The next milestone? 500 brands. But Guillem’s vision doesn’t stop there.

“Every single brand selling online has this problem. We want to be part of every online shopping experience that needs a human touch.”

With an ambitious roadmap, a lean team of top-tier talent, and an approach that prioritizes speed and focus, Konvo is on track to become a foundational layer in the eCommerce tech stack.

Move Fast, Hire Sharp

We closed the interview by asking Guillem what advice he’d give to aspiring founders. His answer wasn’t a one-size-fits-all mantra, but two principles stood out loud and clear.

“Everybody’s journey is going to be different, but there are two things I’d really make people understand.”

1. Velocity is everything.

“How fast can you move? How fast can you get to your first customer? How fast can you get feedback, even from someone who told you no? That speed, that responsiveness – it’s the name of the game.”

For Guillem, velocity isn’t just about speed for its own sake, it’s about learning fast, adapting fast, and not getting stuck overthinking.

2. Small teams, big talent.

“We’re a small team, and we want to keep it that way. But everyone at Konvo is extremely talented. That’s why we can move fast. And that kind of talent doesn’t happen by accident, it happens by design.”

Guillem’s philosophy is clear: hire deliberately, move quickly, and don’t let the size of your team limit your ambition.

“If you get those two things right – velocity and talent – you’re already ahead of the game.”

Final Thoughts

Konvo AI isn’t just another AI startup riding the hype wave. It’s a company born from firsthand pain points and built with real empathy for the end user. And with Guillem at the helm, it’s a startup that’s not only growing quickly, but growing smart.

If you’re an eCommerce brand that still dreams of treating your customers like regulars in a neighborhood store, Konvo AI might be the missing piece.