Why z21 Ventures invested in Breakout?

Why We Invested in Breakout: The Future of AI-Driven Sales

At z21 Ventures, we back founders who push boundaries—those redefining industries rather than just solving problems. When we met the Breakout team, we saw something different: Breakout, an AI-driven platform that automates the first sales conversation for software companies. Engaging prospects in real-time across inbound, outbound, and ABM channels, Meaku qualifies leads, answers questions, and demos products—completely unassisted, in a human-like way.

The Problem: The Broken First Sales Conversation

In today’s software sales landscape, the first conversation with a potential buyer is a huge bottleneck. Companies spend millions hiring SDRs (Sales Development Representatives) to qualify leads, schedule demos, and answer the same repetitive questions. Yet, the process remains inefficient—SDRs can only work so many hours, and buyers don’t want to wait days to get a response.

While chatbots exist, they fall short. They can answer basic queries but fail when it comes to handling real sales conversations—ones that involve product demos, dynamic questioning, and true prospect qualification.

The Breakout Breakthrough: An AI SDR That Actually Sells

Breakout is not just another chatbot. It is a fully autonomous sales agent capable of handling inbound conversations, answering product questions, running demos, and even scheduling follow-ups—all in a human-like, real-time manner. Think of it as an AI-powered SDR that works 24/7, never gets tired, and improves with every interaction.

At its core, Breakout is leveraging AI in a way that most sales tech solutions haven’t. It uses:

Specialized Language Models: Utilizing small language models fine-tuned for nuanced sales conversations.
Dynamic Video Processing: Implementing AI-driven video capabilities to deliver personalized product demonstrations.
Real-Time Intent Analysis: Employing behavioral analytics to assess buyer intent and tailor responses accordingly.
Automated Scheduling and CRM Integration: Streamlining meeting setups and ensuring seamless updates to customer relationship management systems.

This isn’t just about automation—it’s about intelligence. Breakout is designed to interact as a true sales representative, guiding prospects down the funnel while personalizing conversations at scale.

The Team: The Right People for a Hard Problem

Building a product like this is incredibly difficult. It requires deep AI expertise, sales process understanding, and the ability to execute at the highest level. That’s why the Breakout team stood out.

Sachin Gupta, co-founder of HackerEarth, has spent over a decade building a software business. His firsthand experience as an early customer of Breakout before joining as a co-founder speaks volumes about his conviction in the product.
Hitesh Aggarwal, formerly at Google Ads AI, brings deep expertise in AI-driven optimization and automation. His experience building large-scale AI systems makes him the perfect technical leader for a venture like Breakout.

Low Conversion Rates on B2B Websites

B2B websites often struggle with converting visitors into leads or customers. Data indicates that the average conversion rate for B2B SaaS companies is approximately 1.1%.This low rate suggests that a significant portion of potential leads are not being effectively engaged or nurtured through traditional means.

Complexity in Software Sales Due to Technical Nature

Selling software products, especially those with advanced technical features, involves navigating lengthy sales cycles and addressing multifaceted customer requirements. Several factors contribute to this complexity:

Extended Sales Cycles: The intricate nature of software solutions often necessitates prolonged evaluation periods. On average, B2B sales cycles have increased from 6.4 months to 7.4 months in recent years. This extension can be attributed to the need for thorough assessments by potential buyers to ensure the solution aligns with their specific needs.
Multiple Stakeholders: Purchasing decisions in the software sector typically involve various stakeholders, each with distinct concerns and requirements. Coordinating and addressing the diverse interests of these decision-makers can complicate and lengthen the sales process.
Resistance to Change: Introducing new software solutions often requires customers to alter existing workflows or systems. This transition can lead to hesitation or resistance, as organizations weigh the benefits against the challenges of change.

Breakout’s Strategic Position

Breakout is uniquely positioned to address these challenges by:

Enhancing Engagement: Through real-time, AI-driven interactions, Breakout can provide immediate, personalized responses to website visitors, potentially increasing conversion rates by effectively capturing and nurturing leads.
Simplifying Complex Sales: By automating initial sales conversations and product demonstrations, Breakout reduces the burden on human SDRs, streamlines the sales process, and accelerates the journey from interest to decision.
Building Trust with Stakeholders: Breakout’s ability to deliver consistent, accurate information helps in building confidence among diverse stakeholders, facilitating smoother consensus and decision-making.

Our Investment: A Bet on the Future of Sales

At Z21 Ventures, we believe Breakout has the potential to reshape how software companies sell.

We’re backing Breakout because we believe in their vision: a world where sales teams no longer waste time on repetitive conversations, and buyers get instant, intelligent responses—leading to faster conversions, lower costs, and higher efficiency.

The future of sales is autonomous. And Breakout is leading the charge.