While the AI revolution accelerates across enterprise sectors, many local service businesses—from salons to wellness studios—are still stuck using outdated tools and struggling to grow. Tempe-based startup Zoca is changing that, building an AI-powered growth engine that helps local providers get discovered, booked, and rebooked—with results guaranteed.
Zoca just closed a $6 million funding round, led by Accel and joined by GTMfund, Elevation Capital, and Better Capital. This brings its total funding to $8.8 million, fueling its mission to help independent businesses thrive in an increasingly digital economy.
A Solution Born From Real Frustration
Zoca was founded by Ashish Verma and Robin Chauhan, friends and classmates from IIT Kharagpur. Their insight was simple but powerful: local service providers weren’t failing because of a lack of skill—but because they lacked modern, intelligent marketing infrastructure.
Their goal wasn’t just to build another tool—but a complete AI-first platform tailored for professionals in beauty, wellness, and personal care. These providers often operate solo or in small teams, and don’t have time for marketing consultants or complex software. So Zoca automates the entire process—from lead generation to bookings and retention—with no learning curve.
Since launching in 2024, over 1,000 businesses have signed up for Zoca, generating more than 120,000 appointments and over $10 million in revenue—all without business owners lifting a finger.
Zoca’s AI agents are the secret sauce. These agents don’t just provide insights—they act on them. They analyse neighbourhood-level trends, adjust promotions in real time, manage appointment slots, and re-engage past clients with smart messaging. For example, if there’s a spike in searches for “lymphatic drainage massage” in one zip code, Zoca adapts immediately to optimise discovery and conversion.
And it goes further. Zoca dynamically adjusts service pricing based on demand, plugs directly into tools like Google Business Profile, Vagaro, and Fresha, and integrates seamlessly into existing workflows. Businesses don’t need to change what they do—just turn Zoca on.
A Full Marketing Team—At a Fraction of the Cost
Zoca now also handles paid advertising, social media, and content recommendations. Its AI automatically suggests localised Instagram Reels and TikTok trends, creates mobile-first websites, and responds to leads with 24/7 conversational AI.
The result? A full-service marketing team, automated through AI, designed for small businesses that don’t have time—or the budget—for traditional marketing.
Salon owner Latasha Seawood saw a dramatic shift. “The first 30 days of using Zoca, I had to turn people away. No lie. It was like a queue every day. If you search ‘sew-in’ in my area, I pop up. That’s Zoca.”
Gail Aungst from Ohana Sun Tanning added: “Search terms like ‘tanning near me’ are everything. Zoca helps us stay at the top and win.
Zoca’s traction has caught investor attention across the board. “Zoca is delivering business results for an underserved $750B local services market,” said Manasi Shah, Partner at Accel. “AI agents are just the beginning—Zoca is building an agent-led OS for every hyperlocal business.”
“These small businesses are the heart of their communities,” said Paul Irving from GTMfund. “With Zoca, they finally get the tools to compete in an AI-first world—without hiring anyone or learning complicated tech.”
Poorvi Vijay of Elevation Capital agreed: “Zoca gives every neighbourhood business a 24/7 AI growth engine. Ashish and Robin deeply understand this space and are building something transformative.”
What’s Next for Zoca
Zoca is already expanding its AI agent ecosystem, with plans to reach new service verticals—from dental clinics to pet groomers to fitness trainers. It’s also developing predictive staffing tools, helping owners optimise staff schedules based on demand forecasts—reducing downtime and boosting profitability.
As co-founder Ashish Verma puts it: “These business owners are selling time, not products. Every unfilled appointment is lost revenue. Our platform doesn’t just help them get found—it helps them convert, fill schedules, and build loyalty. That’s what really drives growth.”
In a world where AI is often seen as complex, Zoca proves its greatest impact might be in making things simple. For the small businesses that make up the fabric of every community, that simplicity could mean the difference between survival and success.
