Expansion Funds for Ad Targeting Specialist Blueshift

San Francisco-based ad targeting specialist Blueshift has raised $15m in a Series B round of funding, for use in a planned expansion to North Carolina, the UK and India.

Blueshift uses a combination of artificial intelligence (AI), big data and machine learning for real-time segmentation and content personalization. Through this combination, the firm helps marketers send tailored messages across multiple channels including e-mail, push notifications, Facebook and SMS, based on shoppers' interests, purchases and browsing behavior. The firm's Interaction Graph stores data about each user's stream of interactions with products or content, along with additional attributes such as affinity scores and engagement data.

New funding has been led by SoftBank Ventures, adding to the $8m Series A round raised in 2016. In a statement, Blueshift commented: 'SoftBank deeply believes in AI's ability to transform how we live, work and play, and we're thrilled to partner with them. We have a long way to go in our mission to put AI in the hands of every marketer, but we have some concrete plans on how to get there, fueled by this new funding'.

The company, which is led by CEO and co-founder Vijay Chittoor, is online at: www.getblueshift.com .