Former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer is stepping back into the tech spotlight with her new venture, Dazzle, which recently secured $8 million in seed funding from Forerunner’s Kirsten Green, valuing the company at $35 million. This latest development indicates Mayer’s ambition to leverage generative AI technology to create advanced personal assistants, following the closure of her previous startup, Sunshine.
Although Dazzle’s specific offerings remain under wraps, the notable backing from accomplished investors such as Kleiner Perkins, Greycroft, Offline Ventures, Slow Ventures, and Bling Capital adds significant credibility to the enterprise. Mayer has expressed her personal investment in Dazzle while emphasizing Green’s keen insight into emerging consumer trends, citing her previous successes with brands like Warby Parker and Dollar Shave Club.
Mayer’s transition from Sunshine—which struggled with user traction due to privacy concerns and design criticisms—has led her to focus on Dazzle. She acknowledged her previous company’s shortcomings, describing the challenges it faced as “mundane” and expressed her commitment to creating a more robust and impactful solution.
Originally established as Lumi Labs in 2018, Sunshine aimed to innovate contact management but fell short of expectations. With a total of $20 million raised from various investors during its operation, the company was deemed unsuccessful, prompting Mayer to pivot her strategy.
Dazzle is set to emerge from stealth mode in early 2024, currently accessible only through a password-protected website at dazzle.ai. Mayer is hopeful that the insights gained from her earlier venture will guide Dazzle toward a more successful trajectory in the evolving landscape of AI technology.
Key Points:
– Marissa Mayer’s new startup, Dazzle, raises $8 million in seed funding.
– Led by Forerunner’s Kirsten Green, the funding values Dazzle at $35 million.
– Dazzle aims to develop next-gen AI personal assistants.
– Mayer highlights lessons learned from her previous startup, Sunshine.
– Dazzle is expected to publicly launch in early 2024.
