Amex Backs AI-Powered Small Business Growth Platform Pie

Pie, an AI-powered growth platform for small businesses, has secured a new investment from Amex Ventures. This corporate venture capital arm of American Express aims to accelerate Pie's expansion and further develop its product suite.

Funded with $19.5 million in Series A led by Lightspeed Venture Partners last year, Pie now plans to use the additional capital to grow its team and establish partnerships with software platforms serving small businesses.

The company was founded by CEO Syed Ali and CTO Akhil Mantripragada in 2025, after they developed AI-powered products for restaurant operators while working at Toast. They aimed to address a pressing need among small business owners: acquiring new customers rather than managing multiple tools.