Sensay, an AI- and chat bot- focused tech startup that connects humans to chat and transact across any messenger, announced today the launch of its Facebook Messenger integration, marking the startup's fourth platform launch this year. Sensay also announced a $4.5 million seed funding round led by Norwest Venture Partners with participation from Greycroft Partners, Sweet Capital, NHN, Draper Associates and other existing investors, bringing the total raised to date to $6 million. The funding will be used to fuel launches across additional messengers and expansion to international markets.

Sensay is the first peer-to-peer chat bot platform that facilitates instant conversations between two people across messaging platforms such as SMS, Slack, Kik, Telegram and Facebook Messenger. Unlike virtual assistants or staffed concierge services, Sensay allows users who need help to connect to a human with actual life experience. For example, a user may need information about a trip he or she is planning and would like to connect with someone who has been to that destination. Through Sensay's massive network of knowledgeable humans and artificial intelligence technology, users are instantly matched with someone who can help.

Businesses and professionals also benefit from Sensay by providing opportunities to leads that are looking for their services.

Key features of Sensay include:
Cross-platform chat bot network
Machine-learning routing and matching
Conversation marketplace with peer-to-peer chat transactions

Earlier this year Sensay announced a community of over 1 million users on the SMS platform and usage doubling month over month. 'We saw an opportunity to push global human connectedness far beyond social media,' said Ariel Jalali, Co-Founder and CEO of Sensay.

Sensay represents a growing evolution from the social graph, where experiences are dictated by social connections, to the 'stranger graph', where people are connected by their common interests, knowledge and life experience.

'The beauty of Sensay is in the virtuous loop it's creating,' said Conrad Shang of Norwest Venture Partners. 'As Sensay adds more users, the strength of the community and network increases exponentially - response times shorten, quality of conversations improve as there are more experts, and the opportunity to contribute back to the community grows as the topics grow broader.'

Sensay is a network founded on the principle that all humans are valuable, and that knowledge and life experience are the greatest assets a human will own. By allowing users to transact information, Sensay creates a unique conversational marketplace. As Sensay integrates with new messengers and markets, the 'stranger graph' becomes larger and the network of bots delivers users to each platform outside their existing user base.

'We are believers in the power of conversational interfaces and we are glad that Sensay is bringing some 'humanity' to these interfaces,' said Maarten 't Hooft from Quest Venture Partners. 'Since the beginning, the Sensay team has built a fun product around a strong community. People helping people will always be a growth opportunity.'

About Sensay
Sensay is a Los Angeles-based tech company that specializes in AI, chatbots, conversation analysis and messaging. The free platform is available in most popular messengers across all mobile devices and operating systems. For more information please visit: http://sensay.it