By Riley Kaminer
During his time at Kaufman Rossin, a Miami-based accounting firm, Timothy Keith gained a profound understanding of the complex nature of professional services while leading the implementation of the company’s CRM platform.
In a conversation with Refresh Miami, Keith shared his intrigue with the professional services sector, emphasizing its seemingly straightforward yet intricate dynamics. Despite the apparent focus on core services like accounting, Keith uncovered a diverse range of specialized offerings within the industry.
He pointed out the operational challenge arising from the specialization of tasks within these firms, remarking, “Each team member in these organizations specializes in a specific area, resulting in isolated operations.” This segregation poses obstacles to cross-selling opportunities, which are crucial for maximizing revenue in professional services.
In early 2023, Keith, along with CTO Nnamdi Anyanwu and operations/finance head Alexander Diaz, established Propense.ai. This platform leverages artificial intelligence to help professional service firms optimize their cross-selling efforts. Through the analysis of historical and market data, Propense.ai identifies hidden revenue streams, thereby boosting overall revenue generation.
Recently, Propense.ai secured \(3 million in a seed funding round led by Harlem Capital, with contributions from Operator Collective, NEA Angel Fund, Florida Opportunity Fund, Glass Family Office, and various angel investors. This funding round follows a \)650,000 pre-seed investment conducted the previous year.
The company intends to use the new capital to enhance its AI algorithms and user-centric functionalities, focusing particularly on the legal sector for research and development. CEO Keith announced a planned public launch in 2025. Currently, Propense.ai is running a beta program with nine clients and has a team of 10 full-time employees, three of whom are based in South Florida.
Henri Pierre-Jacques, the managing partner at Harlem Capital, first met Keith at the Black Men in Tech conference in 2022. Expressing his confidence in Keith and Propense.ai, Pierre-Jacques highlighted the vast potential in the professional services industry for customer cross-selling software.
Propense.ai aims to meet the industry’s need for tools that facilitate the alignment of service expertise with sales opportunities. By enabling professionals to recommend services tailored to their clients’ requirements, the platform aims to streamline the cross-selling process.
CTO Anyanwu stressed that Propense.ai goes beyond conventional recommendation systems, serving as a comprehensive cross-selling platform that prioritizes human behavior and psychology. Through data-driven suggestions, the platform encourages professionals to make well-informed sales efforts, ultimately increasing their success rates in acquiring new business.
Anyanwu emphasized the platform’s role in supporting professionals across various sectors, including accounting, legal, and financial services, by fostering confidence in proposing additional services to clients. The integration of AI automation further enhances trust in the cross-selling process among professionals.
At the top of the post: A photo featuring Propense.ai’s founders, depicted from left to right: Nnamdi Anyanwu, CTO; Timothy Keith, CEO; and Alexander Diaz, Head of Operations & Finance. These founders initially met on a basketball court.
I am a technology researcher and writer based in Miami, passionate about showcasing the narratives of the South Florida tech ecosystem. My focus areas include GovTech startups, innovative AI applications, and technology-driven societal shifts. For pitches, you can connect with me on Twitter @rileywk or contact me.
