About Us - Otterly.AI
The Founding Story of OtterlyAI
Founded by Thomas Peham, Josef Trauner and Klaus-M. Schremser, OtterlyAI quickly became one of the first AI Search Monitoring Solutions for marketing teams. Everything started with their own need to understand brand and website performance on AI Search Engines.
Why OtterlyAI? Otters are intelligent, humble and agile. They are great at mastering difficult environments while having great eyesight. This is all you need to master the disruptions in marketing. And obviously, otters are cute, aren't they?
Our Founders
Meet the passionate founders of OtterlyAI.
Thomas Peham
CEO & Co-Founder
SaaS Marketing Expert | ex-VP Marketing | Went from Zero to Series C in 4 years
Josef Trauner
CPO & Co-Founder
Product & Tech Expert | ex-CEO & CPO | Exit to SaaS group in 2023
Klaus-M. Schremser
CRO & Co-Founder
Serial Entrepreneur | SaaS Enthusiast | Exits to Atlassian, APA & saas.group
We're Hiring - Open Positions
Check out all open positions here
The original idea
The initial idea appeared sometime in 2024 when Thomas, Josef, and Klaus-M. realized the need for analytics and optimization of AI search. Having led marketing and GTM teams in the past, they recognized that search channels would become more diversified and that marketing toward those channels would change. Google introduced AI Overviews in 2024, ChatGPT launched web search at the end of 2024, and after interviewing 50+ marketing leaders, it became clear: this was more than just an idea or a need they had as individuals. This was a new emerging market.
OtterlyAI Product Launch
OtterlyAI initial product - as an AI Search Monitoring tool - launched in October 2024. Until December more than 1,000 marketers started using OtterlyAI to monitor AI Overviews, ChatGPT and Perplexity.
In December 2024, OtterlyAI got covered on Techrunch and other media. lots of milestones followed in 2025.
Growing from 1,000 to 10,000 marketers using OtterlyAI
Product Launch in June 2025
Cool Vendor
OtterlyAI was recognized as a 2025 Gartner® Cool Vendor™ for AI in Marketing
OtterlyAI Named High Performer for Answer Engine Optimization Tools by G2
OtterlyAI as the Leader in AI Search Analytics & Optimization
OtterlyAI helps marketing teams analyze + optimize for higher brand visibility and more website citations on ChatGPT, AIO, AI Mode, Gemini, Perplexity, and Copilot.
Combining our deep marketing expertise with the customer feedback we receive daily, OtterlyAI is the Leader in AI Search Analytics & Optimization helping marketing teams analyze and optimize for AI Search. In 2026, OtterlyAI helps brands win AI Search.
marketing professionals using OtterlyAI, as of beginning of 2026
OtterlyAI empowering marketing teams to win GEO in 2026.