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AI Automation Startup UnifyApps Raises $50 Million, Names Sprinklr Founder as Co-CEO

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UnifyApps, an AI automation startup that integrates enterprise systems to streamline routine business processes, has raised $50 million in a Series B funding round led by WestBridge Capital and appointed Sprinklr founder Ragy Thomas as its new chairman and co-CEO.

The fresh funding values the company at around $250 million, according to a source familiar with the matter. Investors including ICONIQ Capital also joined the round, bringing UnifyApps’ total funding to about $81 million since its launch in 2023.

Positioning itself as an “enterprise operating system for AI,” UnifyApps connects corporate software platforms such as Salesforce and Workday to large language models, helping businesses automate repetitive tasks like HR workflows, claims processing, and supply chain management.

Clients include Lowe’s, HDFC Bank, and Deutsche Telekom, which use UnifyApps’ technology to boost efficiency across departments. The company reported a sevenfold increase in annual revenue, though it did not disclose figures.

Thomas, who built Sprinklr into a billion-dollar customer experience firm, said UnifyApps’ edge lies in being purpose-built for AI—unlike older automation players such as UiPath and Automation Anywhere, which are retrofitting legacy platforms to include AI features. “We’re not layering AI on top of old systems—we’re rethinking the operating model around it,” he told Reuters.

Co-founder Pavitar Singh will continue to serve as co-CEO. The company plans to use the new funds to expand its 400-person workforce by over 100 employees, enhance its AI platform, and strengthen its presence in Europe.

The surge of investment reflects growing demand for enterprise AI integration tools, even as research from MIT shows that 95% of corporate AI projects have yet to deliver meaningful returns—underscoring the difficulty of translating hype into productivity.

Salesforce faces lawsuit from authors over AI model training data

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Salesforce (CRM) is facing a proposed class action lawsuit accusing it of using copyrighted books without permission to train its xGen artificial intelligence models. The complaint, filed Wednesday in a U.S. court, was brought by authors Molly Tanzer and Jennifer Gilmore, who allege that the cloud-computing firm infringed their copyrights by using their works to develop language-processing AI.

The lawsuit claims Salesforce used “thousands of pirated books” written by the plaintiffs and other authors to train its AI systems, echoing similar suits filed against other tech giants like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Meta over the use of copyrighted material in AI training datasets.

“It’s important that companies that use copyrighted material for AI products are transparent,” said Joseph Saveri, the authors’ attorney, who has led several high-profile copyright cases against AI companies. “Our clients deserve fair compensation when their creative work is used.”

Salesforce has declined to comment on the lawsuit.

In an ironic twist, the complaint notes that Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has previously criticized other AI firms for using “stolen” training data, arguing that compensating creators would be “very easy to do.” The lawsuit quotes that statement, suggesting Salesforce failed to follow its own advice.

The case adds to a growing list of legal battles testing how intellectual property laws apply in the age of AI model training, with potentially wide-ranging implications for the industry.

Salesforce shares jump as $60 billion forecast boosts investor confidence

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Salesforce shares jump as $60 billion forecast boosts investor confidence

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Salesforce shares rose more than 6% in premarket trading on Thursday after the company projected over $60 billion in revenue by 2030, easing investor concerns over slowing growth amid rising competition from AI-powered tools.

The optimistic forecast, announced at Salesforce’s Dreamforce event, signals a strong recovery for the Marc Benioff-led firm, which earlier this year reported its first revenue decline in nearly three years. The projection excludes the impact of Salesforce’s planned $8 billion acquisition of Informatica, expected to close in the first half of 2026.

The deal will strengthen Salesforce’s artificial intelligence capabilities, integrating Informatica’s data management and governance tools into its cloud ecosystem. Analysts said the improved outlook and a $7 billion share buyback plan reflect management’s “confidence in durable free cash flow and sustained bookings growth.”

J.P. Morgan analysts noted that the new forecast could “shift the narrative toward sustainable double-digit growth,” while Jefferies said Salesforce’s expanding margins could bring it in line with other large-cap peers by the end of the decade.

Salesforce has been rapidly embedding AI partnerships into its platform, expanding collaborations with OpenAI and Anthropic to enhance its Agentforce 360 system. The company has also pledged to invest $15 billion in San Francisco over the next five years to drive AI adoption across its services.