When Machines Become the Gatekeepers: The Emergence of Answer Engine Optimization
For more than two decades, brands fought for position on search engine results pages. Rankings were everything. Visibility meant appearing among blue links and hoping a user would click. That era is now shifting. Artificial intelligence-powered search systems and conversational models increasingly provide direct answers rather than lists of websites. In this new environment, a brand is either included in the answer or it is invisible.
This transformation has given rise to Answer Engine Optimization, widely known as AEO. It is a discipline focused not on links, but on presence within AI-generated responses. As large language models become everyday tools for consumers, professionals, and enterprises, the ability to measure and influence how these systems describe brands has become a strategic priority.
It is within this rapidly expanding frontier that Searchable, also known as Searchable Limited, has positioned itself. Founded in London in 2025, the company builds artificial intelligence software designed to help organizations monitor and improve how they appear across large language model platforms and AI-driven search systems. In a market still defining itself, Searchable is not simply participating in the category. It is actively shaping it.
Building at the Speed of the Algorithm
Searchable was established in 2025 by Chris Donnelly, Arya Nagabhyru, and Sam Hogan. Chris Donnelly is a serial entrepreneur with prior exits in marketing and health technology. He has been associated with the digital marketing agency Verb Brands and the care marketplace platform Lottie. His background in brand growth and digital positioning provided a commercial lens for what AI search could mean for businesses.
Arya Nagabhyru and Sam Hogan contributed deep expertise in artificial intelligence systems and agent-driven technologies. Nagabhyru has been associated with ventures connected to Y Combinator, while both founders have worked on AI agent startups and optimization tools. Their combined technical experience enabled the company to move quickly from concept to execution.
The founders secured the premium domain searchable.com and built the core platform within weeks. In November 2025, the company launched an invite-only beta version of its product. Within 90 days, Searchable had surpassed $1 million in annual recurring revenue and reported onboarding several global brands. Early customers cited significant improvements in AI search visibility and reductions in manual optimization efforts.
Inside the Engine Room: A Platform Built for AI Growth
At the heart of Searchable’s offering is an AI search optimization platform dedicated to Answer Engine Optimization. The software does not attempt to replicate traditional search analytics. Instead, it addresses a different and more complex question: how are brands described, cited, and recommended inside AI-generated answers?
Large language models synthesize information from vast datasets and present it as a single response. This process often obscures the underlying sources and makes it difficult for organizations to understand why they are included or excluded. Searchable’s platform is designed to illuminate that process.
The system analyzes how brands and websites are referenced across AI search tools and conversational models. It transforms opaque outputs into measurable insights, giving marketing and digital teams structured visibility into their AI presence. Furthermore, it provides a coherent and end-to-end strategic roadmap, giving brands the playbook to cement their growth in AI search.
From Guesswork to Governance: Monitoring the Invisible Layer
One of the platform’s central capabilities is AI visibility monitoring. Searchable tracks how brands appear across large language model systems and AI search engines. It identifies mentions, recommendations, and patterns in generated responses, allowing companies to see whether their positioning aligns with their strategy.
Citation tracking forms another key component of the product. Because AI systems often rely on aggregated data and referenced sources, understanding which citations contribute to a brand’s inclusion is essential. Searchable enables users to trace these references and evaluate their influence on AI outputs.
The platform also includes change alerts. As AI systems evolve, brand visibility can fluctuate. Searchable notifies users when there are shifts in representation, enabling faster response and strategic adjustment. This function moves AI search management from reactive observation to proactive governance.
Complementing these features is an integrated query interface. Users can analyze how their brand performs across AI answer engines by testing relevant queries. This hands-on capability allows organizations to simulate real user interactions and better understand how they are positioned in conversational search environments.
Optimization recommendations round out the product suite. Based on observed data, the platform offers guidance intended to improve AI visibility. Rather than leaving teams to interpret raw metrics, Searchable translates insights into strategic direction.
Capital Meets Conviction: Backing an Emerging Category
Shortly after its public launch, Searchable announced a seed funding round in December 2025. The company raised approximately £3.4 in funding, with a reported valuation of around £40 million. The round was led by UK-based venture capital firm Freestyle VC.
The funding was intended to accelerate product development, expand engineering and marketing teams, and support customer acquisition. Investors described Answer Engine Optimization and AI search visibility tooling as an emerging segment within marketing technology. The round signaled growing institutional confidence in the idea that AI search will require dedicated analytics and optimization infrastructure.
A Market Taking Notice
Searchable’s launch and funding announcement attracted attention from technology and startup media. Coverage appeared in UKTN, EU-Startups, Startups Magazine, Startup Magazine, and Retail Technology Innovation Hub. Reporting focused on the company’s role in defining AI search optimization and highlighted the rapid commercial traction following its beta launch.
Writing the Rules of a New Visibility Economy
Searchable’s trajectory reflects a broader shift in digital strategy. As conversational models become central to how information is consumed, the rules of visibility are being rewritten. The battleground is no longer limited to search rankings. It now includes the answers themselves.
By developing tools that monitor, analyze, and optimize brand presence within AI-generated responses, Searchable has placed itself at the center of this transformation. Its platform is designed not merely to observe AI systems, but to help organizations adapt to them with clarity and control.
In an environment where machines increasingly mediate discovery, the question for brands is simple: are you present in the answer? Searchable’s growth and product focus suggest that for many organizations, the path to that answer now runs through Answer Engine Optimization.
