Rocket Internet-backed GoButler closes $8 million round for its free 'SMS concierge service'

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Rocket Internet-incubated GoButler, the German-born but currently NYC-headquartered startup behind an epynomous virtual assistant, has raised $8 million in a Series A round led by General Catalyst Partners with participation from Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary’s Sound Ventures, Rocket Internet’s Global Founders Capital, Lakestar, Slow Ventures, BoxGroup and Cherry Ventures.

GoButler provides a free, text message-based personal concierge service, making it possible for users to connect to 120+ trained operators for requests on a 24/7 basis. The company claims the service is completely free of charge, sans service costs, markups or hidden fees, and that any request can be made over SMS (as long as it's legal). It's quite unclear how the company will eventually make money.

Judging from its website, most people currently use GoButler for ordering gifts or take-away food, making restaurant reservations, or to book travel.

After launching in February 2015, GoButler is now fully operational across the United States, Canada, the UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. To date, the service has 100,000+ beta users and has received over 1 million requests across six countries, the startup claims.

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