SearchIntel
London
Website: SearchIntel
Type of agency: AI search
Founder: Paul Byrne
Year founded: October 2025
Headcount: 1 (+ a few AI agents)
Location: London
We are early in our journey but what we're trying to do is different and the way we're doing it is very forward-thinking.
Profile
SearchIntel is fresh out of the starting block, having launched only a few months ago. Set up by MediaCom’s former head of Google, Paul Byrne, SearchIntel is on a mission to become the go-to AI search agency and it is doing a good job.
With 20 years of experience in digital marketing, including client-side at Tripadvisor, Paul noticed a shift happening: more and more traffic was coming from the likes of ChatGPT, and it was creating a problem for brands.
To kickstart that mission, Paul has been developing proprietary measurement tools to help brands overcome visibility challenges posed by platforms like Chat GPT, Claude and Gemini. Ultimately it is about translating data into actionable insights – the "so what?”
Paul is a team of one on the books but he doesn't work alone. Instead, he has a number of AI agents helping him to do the job. While aiming to scale those agents to 10 to 15 by the end of the year, Paul will also look to make a handful of ‘proper hires’. Ideally he would like a “sparring partner” with human intelligence and more strategic expertise.
But Paul's model has attracted the attention of the wider industry, and he is having conversations with several larger agencies and groups. This may see SearchIntel also become a white label product for larger agencies, creating two revenue streams.
Paul had his first couple of client wins in January and there is a strong pipeline of leads, focused on the travel and wealth management sectors where Paul sees significant opportunities. SearchIntel has just launched the Travel AI visibility index, which ranks 51 travel brands across the five key AI platforms.
Providing faster, more flexible and cost-effective services compared to traditional agencies will no doubt be a big draw as SearchIntel looks to convert the pipeline and make a name for itself. And when a bit more revenue comes in, Paul would like to spend time mentoring young people to help the next generation of talent into this new and burgeoning world.