Beside

Paris-based Beside offers an AI conversation platform that acts as a receptionist and assistant for small businesses, handling inbound calls, texts, bookings and follow-ups.

For small firms that can't staff a front desk around the clock, it captures and acts on customer communication automatically. The company reported a sizeable base of paying customers and rapid month-over-month growth.

It brings the kind of frontline automation once reserved for big enterprises to the long tail of small businesses.