Cornerstone Exits Retail Analytics Startup Intelligence Node

SUMMARY

Cornerstone Ventures has marked its second exit from Fund I following Intelligence Node's acquisition by IPG

The exit comes through a $100 Mn (INR 849.5 Cr) acquisition deal with global advertising giant Interpublic Group

Intelligence Node has previously raised $10.25 Mn across multiple rounds from investors including NEA, Orios Venture Partners, and BlackSoil Capital

SaaS-focused venture capital firm Cornerstone Ventures has announced its exit from retail analytics startup Intelligence Node, following the company’s acquisition by global advertising conglomerate Interpublic Group (IPG).

This also marks the second exit for Cornerstone Ventures’ Fund I, which first invested in Intelligence Node in 2019.

“We have always been excited about Intelligence Node’s focus on a well-defined global need. The company has been able to deliver tangible customer benefits enabling improved margins and competitiveness for its customers, over the years,” Nanika Kakkar, partner at Cornerstone Ventures said.

The acquisition was valued around $100 Mn (INR 849.5 Cr), including integration costs. The deal underscores Intelligence Node’s strategic importance in the evolving retail ecosystem, particularly as the company’s AI-powered platform currently analyses over 1.2 Bn products across 190K brands worldwide.

Founded in 2012, Intelligence Node has developed a suite of AI and machine learning-based tools to help businesses optimise their digital shelf presence and pricing strategies. The platform boasts a 99% product matching accuracy through its proprietary AI algorithms and contributes to over $600 Bn in global revenue.

“We have always focused on empowering our clients with data-driven insights that can drive real business value,” said Sanjeev Sularia, CEO of Intelligence Node. “Our partnership with Cornerstone Ventures played a significant role in accelerating our growth and bringing these innovative solutions to a broader market. This acquisition by IPG marks a key step in our journey, opening up new opportunities for our company and clients alike.”

By joining forces with IPG, Intelligence Node will leverage the advertising giant’s global network to expand its reach and deliver enhanced value to clients.

Intelligence Node has raised total funding of $10.25 Mn over multiple rounds. In August 2015, the startup raised $4 Mn from New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and Orios Venture Partners, followed by a $5.5 Mn Series B round in July 2019. The company also secured INR 5 Cr from BlackSoil Capital in January 2017. Prior investors in the company include MegaDelta Capital Advisors, Gaurav Sharma, Sunil Varrier, Arindam Das, Anupam Mittal and Gul Mukhey.

Cornerstone Ventures’ portfolio includes notable players in the Service SaaS space, such as ManageArtWorks, THB, EnParadigm, WatchYourHealth and Credit Nirvana, as well as SaaS + Marketplace models like Blubirch, Credilio, and Mystifly.