A New York-based AI search visibility start-up co-founded by Maltese entrepreneur Zack Xuereb has been acquired by UK-founded Searchable in a seven-figure deal.

Meridian Tech was co-founded by Mr Xuereb and Alex Dees last year as an AI search visibility startup specialising in Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) and its clients include APL, MedCline, and VKTRY.

An emerging field focused on helping brands and their content get named and recommended in answers generated by AI platforms, AEO is similar in scope to Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).

However, rather than optimising content for visibility in traditional search engine results, AEO focuses on increasing its visibility within AI-generated answers.

Zack Xuereb (left) and Alex Dees - Photo: Searchable

Meridian Tech has now been acquired by UK-based AI search visibility platform Searchable in a seven-figure deal which will see Meridian’s product integrated into Searchable and its clients migrate to its platform.

It is one of the first deals between two dedicated AI search visibility startups and comes a few months after Searchable secured $14 million in funding led by global venture capital firm Headline.

"American brands are some of the furthest ahead in the AI visibility race," Searchable CEO and Co-Founder Chris Donnelly said. "Meridian brings us a strong base of businesses that want to push their AEO strategy even further.”

"We launched Meridian because it was clear just how little visibility businesses had over how people are finding them and what people are reading about them inside AI chatbots," Mr Dees said.

"Searchable's team and product will be vital in continuing to lead that mission for Meridian's customers."