Zoovu, an AI-driven product discovery platform, has announced the acquisition of XGEN AI, a company recognized for its expertise in search, merchandising, and recommendation solutions for leading global consumer brands. By joining forces, the companies aim to create a unified, AI-powered ecommerce product discovery platform designed to support every customer interaction, product catalog, and shopping journey.

Many enterprise retailers currently depend on multiple disconnected vendors to manage product discovery, often leading to fragmented shopping experiences and reduced conversion rates. The integration of Zoovu and XGEN AI addresses this challenge by combining search, guided selling, product bundling, recommendations, and conversational AI into a single ecosystem powered by one data model, unified merchandising rules, centralized personalization, and consolidated analytics.

Jonathan Taylor, CEO of Zoovu, explained that the future of product discovery lies in a fully integrated AI engine rather than isolated tools layered together. He noted that the platform continuously learns from customer interactions across channels such as search, email, and recommendations, applying those insights instantly to improve experiences for both luxury retail shoppers and industrial buyers alike.

The merged organization will help ecommerce businesses create more personalized and engaging shopping experiences that can increase conversion rates, average order values, and customer engagement across both B2C and B2B markets.

Mark Steele, CEO of XGEN AI, stated that both companies share the belief that ecommerce AI should benefit both businesses and customers without relying on opaque systems. He added that the partnership enables the delivery of conversational AI search, guided purchasing, bundling, and AI assistants through a single revenue-focused ecommerce platform capable of scaling alongside customer needs.

Alex Malvone, partner at FTV Capital, highlighted Zoovu’s position as one of the most distinctive AI-native ecommerce platforms in the enterprise market. He emphasized that the acquisition strengthens Zoovu’s leadership in a rapidly evolving industry increasingly centered around AI-driven solutions.

The combined technologies are already being used by major global brands such as Valentino, Ferragamo, and Microsoft. Reported results include notable gains in search conversion rates, improved recommendation performance, and a 25% increase in add-to-cart activity for Microsoft.

The acquisition is supported by FTV Capital, Zoovu’s lead investor and a growth equity firm focused on sector-specific investments. Financial details of the agreement were not made public.

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Camtek Ltd, a prominent provider of inspection and metrology solutions for the semiconductor sector, announced that it has entered into a final agreement to acquire Visual Layer, an AI-focused firm based in Tel Aviv known for its expertise in visual analytics.

Visual Layer was established by Danny Bickson and Amir Alush and is supported by top Silicon Valley venture capital investors. The company contributes advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, including proprietary technologies and a talented team of AI specialists and software engineers with strong expertise in visual AI. Over the past year, Camtek has collaborated closely with Visual Layer, incorporating its solutions into its own products and working together extensively in research and development, gaining deep familiarity with the company’s technology, personnel, and execution.

Rafi Amit, Camtek’s Chief Executive Officer, stated that AI has been a key strategic focus for the company, and acquiring Visual Layer represents a major advancement in both the scope and speed of its development efforts. He noted that Visual Layer’s technology and team complement Camtek’s ongoing initiatives, and expressed confidence that the acquisition will strengthen the company’s ability to meet the evolving demands of the market. He also highlighted the strong cultural alignment between the two organizations, particularly their shared emphasis on innovation and customer-centricity, reinforced by their year-long collaboration.

Lior Aviram, Executive Chairman of Camtek, added that the semiconductor industry is clearly moving toward AI-powered inspection and metrology solutions, which will shape future competition. He emphasized that Camtek aims to be at the forefront of this shift and expects near-term benefits such as enhanced product performance and efficiency. Additionally, he pointed to opportunities beyond the company’s core business, including the development of AI-driven software and analytics solutions that could generate recurring revenue streams over time.

Danny Bickson, CEO, and Amir Alush, CTO of Visual Layer, commented that semiconductor manufacturing is one of the most complex and strategically significant industries globally, with Camtek playing a central role. They explained that Visual Layer was designed specifically to tackle challenges in industrial visual intelligence, and their collaboration with Camtek over the past year demonstrated how AI can significantly improve production capabilities. Joining Camtek, they said, provides access to broader resources, customers, and scale, enabling greater impact. They also expressed their goal of expanding Camtek’s AI division into a leading center of excellence capable of attracting top-tier talent.

The acquisition is subject to standard closing conditions and is anticipated to be finalized within the coming weeks. Financial details were not disclosed.

Further updates are expected alongside Camtek’s first-quarter 2026 financial results, scheduled for release in May 2026.

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