Berlin-based startup Zelara has raised €3 million to reinvent customer relationship management with artificial intelligence. Founded in 2025 by Nikolas Schriefer and Björn Heckel, the company positions itself as an AI-powered system for personalised communication. Investors NAP (formerly Cavalry Ventures), Heartfelt, and Angel Invest backed the venture before it had a product or customers. Zelara operates as a B2B software that integrates with existing CRM systems, charging usage-based licensing fees. The platform focuses on individual customer decisions rather than traditional campaign-based marketing. At a leading European neobank, Zelara increased customer reactivation by 66% without replacing existing systems. The company currently works with brands across fintech, e-commerce, digital marketplaces, travel, and subscription services. Founder Heckel emphasises that Zelara couples itself to measurable business outcomes including activation, customer retention, and lifetime value.

Zelara, a Berlin-based startup developing an AI-native learning system for lifecycle marketing, has raised €3 million in a pre-seed round led by NAP, with participation from Heartfelt and Angel Invest. Founded by Nikolas Schriefer and Björn Heckel, Zelara operates on top of existing CRM and customer engagement platforms, continuously determining the most effective message, channel and timing for each individual customer. The platform uses customer interactions as feedback to improve future engagement, moving beyond static campaigns and broad segmentation. The company has demonstrated early results with a European neobank, increasing customer reactivation by 66% without requiring changes to existing CRM infrastructure. The funding will support product development, expand capabilities across additional customer touchpoints and accelerate commercial growth through partnerships and team expansion.