SaaS Firm Salesforce Acquires UK AI Startup Convergence

Convergence was started by Marvin Purtorab and Andy Toulis, both of whom previously worked at Shopify and AI company Cohere.

According to the press release, Convergence’s UK team brings expertise in AI agent design and automating complex tasks. This will help Salesforce develop next-generation AI agents for more advanced workflows.

Salesforce also said the deal will be the starting point for its AI research and development center in London.

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AI agents are a fast-growing trend, and Salesforce sees Convergence as a strong addition to its own AI platform, Agentforce.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff told TechCrunch that by 2025, he expects their customers to use one billion AI agents, calling them the key to building an unlimited digital workforce.

Convergence was backed by Balderton Capital, which led its $12 million pre-seed round, along with Salesforce Ventures and Shopify Ventures.

The team includes talent from top tech firms like Google DeepMind, Meta, and PolyAI.

James Wise, partner, Balderton Capital, Convergence has hired “some of the best AI talent in Europe” but he said “joining Salesforce wasn’t in the plan”.

Adam Evans, EVP & GM, Salesforce AI platform, said: "We're looking towards a future where Agentforce can empower our customers with AI agents that don't just follow instructions, but truly perceive, reason, and adapt to the complexities of modern digital workflows.

"Imagine AI assistants that can intuitively navigate ever-changing interfaces and intelligently manage intricate tasks with a new level of resilience and human-like ingenuity – that’s the kind of step-change we're eager to explore.”

Jayesh Govindarajan, EVP AI/ML engineering, said: “London is a global leader in AI innovation, and this acquisition will lay the foundation for a growing centre of AI R&D here—one where Convergence will form the nucleus of a world-class AI lab that expands over time.

“With the city’s concentration of pioneering scientists and engineers, we are confident this investment will accelerate our AI strategy and bring the next wave of innovation to life.”

About Convergence

Convergence is a London-based AI startup founded in April 2024 by Marvin Purtorab and Andy Toulis. The company was recently acquired by Salesforce. It develops AI agents that can perform complex tasks like managing emails, scheduling meetings, and booking holidays.