Zenzap has raised $44 million in a funding round to develop its AI-powered workplace chat app aimed at replacing consumer messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram for business communication. The round includes investments from Bessemer, Lightspeed, The Garage, and individual investors such as Wix President Nir Zohar and former EY GM Yoram Tietz, the company announced this week.
Founded in 2022 by Guy Weiss, Noam Neumann, and Jonatan Bien, Zenzap started as a bootstrapped project with Weiss initially funding the app himself and working out of Bessemer’s office. Weiss, who previously bootstrapped and sold an e-commerce marketing platform, said he was reluctant to raise capital at first due to the pressure of following a successful exit. The connection with Bessemer partner Adam Fisher helped transition the project into a funded startup.
Zenzap targets businesses that currently rely on consumer chat apps for internal communication, offering an AI-enhanced private messenger that integrates organizational context while adhering to IT and security protocols. The company aims to provide a more secure and efficient alternative to platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and iMessage, which are widely used but not designed specifically for enterprise needs.
The $44 million funding will support Zenzap’s product development and market expansion efforts. The company’s co-founders have positioned the app as a tool to improve workplace communication by combining AI capabilities with compliance requirements. The round marks Weiss’s first external fundraising since founding Zenzap, signaling a new phase for the startup.