AI Agentic Search Statistics: USA 2026

AI agentic search is changing how B2B startups are found, compared, and considered, making visibility in AI search increasingly important. Instead of relying solely on search rankings, website visits, or direct outreach, founders now have to consider how AI agents interpret their business, select sources, and decide which companies to recommend.

To find out what 238,292 opinions of B2B startup founders in the US were about AI agentic search, we utilized AI-driven audience profiling to synthesize insights from online discussions over 12 months, ending on the 30th June, 2026, to a high statistical confidence level. Collectively, these perspectives show a market beginning to take agentic search seriously, with founders weighing the promise of better discovery against the practical challenge of being understood, trusted, and selected by AI systems.

Index

Data and methodology
43% of B2B startup founders have heard the term agentic search, but are unsure of what it actually means, 21% have some understanding of what agentic search means, 8% have never heard of it, 8%have no idea what it is, and 8% have some full understanding of it, 6% are a bit confused, and 7% lack any understanding overall
33% of B2B startup founders are threatened by the shift in search, 22% are concerned about disruption following agentic search’s rise, 20% are neutral and will wait and see, 3% are cautiously optimistic, and 22% are excited and see agentic search as an opportunity
69% of B2B startup founders say that their buyers never use agentic search to find their business, 11%agree they do so rarely, 10% think buyers use it to find them occasionally, and 2% are not sure, while 8% know their buyers use agentic search to find them frequently
For 20% of B2B startup founders, agentic search has significantly reduced SEO traffic, 20% have had a slight reduction, and 20%’s traffic has stayed the same; however, 20% have seen a slight increase in SEO traffic, and the remaining 20% have enjoyed a significant increase
Becoming invisible to buyers is a major concern for 34% of B2B startup founders; this is some concern to 3%, yet 3% don’t share this concern at all, 16% are concerned that not understanding how agentic search will have a major impact on them, but 43% have no concerns about agentic AI at all
26% of B2B startup founders may be somewhat confident in their agentic search rank, but 26% are somewhat worried about their rankings, another 26% are very worried, and 23% are neutral; likely as they are unsure of what this means
40% of B2B startup founders are planning to regularly test their agentic search visibility, but this isn’t a focus for 11%, 35% are not yet checking their visibility but plan to, 3% are not sure how to check, 3% have checked once or twice, and checking isn’t a priority for 8%
31% of B2B startup founders’ content is partially optimized for agentic search, and 31% are just starting to get their content ready for this type of search; however, 31% have not optimized their content for agentic search at all, 5% don’t know what this even means, and0% are fully optimized
37% of B2B startup founders have fully implemented Agent2Agent agentic search protocols, 15% have done so partially, and 4% are considering implementation, but 3% have not implemented these protocols at all, 11% have fully implemented Agentic Commerce Protocol, 10% Agentic Resource Discovery, and 3% Model Context Protocol, followed by another 3% fully implementing schema.org structured data, yet 14% have no protocols in place at all
83% of B2B startup founders have not implemented any agentic search technical techniques, and this isn’t a priority for 14%, while just 2% have implemented Open Knowledge Formats, as it is absolutely essential for their business
48% of B2B startup founders are building credibility in agentic search through industry partnerships, 8% are using media coverage, and no one is relying on customer testimonials, while 44% are not actively building agentic search credibility at all
31% of B2B startup founders are finding prospects via agentic search by using paid ads, 31% are relying on community engagement, 17% on referrals or their networks, 12% on inbound content or SEO, and 9% are finding prospects using outbound prospecting
45% of B2B startup founders’ brands are never cited by agentic search, and 34% are rarely cited, but 11% are frequently cited, and 10% are cited by agentic search occasionally
ChatGPT is an absolutely essential agentic search engine for B2B startup founders, 12% agree it’s likely the best pick, and 11% don’t think it’s that important, while Claude is absolutely essential for 11%, and 16% agree it’s likely the best choice, Google AI overviews are crucial for 2%, 18% cite it as the best choice, and it’s not 2%’s top pick, and 2% think Perplexity is absolutely essential, and 4% the best choice
ChatGPT is the top choice for powering 8% of B2B startup founders’ agentic search visibility, and a good option for 43%, but it’s not a preference for 13%, and 4% would not use ChatGPT for this purpose, 10% name Claude as their top choice, 14% as a good option, and 3% as not their preference, while Perplexity and Google Gemini are considered good options by 2% each
For 9% of B2B startup founders, ChatGPT is always on their radar when monitoring agentic search optimization tools brands, 16% agree it’s worth keeping an eye on, but for 13% it’s not a main focus, and 3% don’t monitor ChatGPT at all, Geminin is always on 12% radar, and 6% believe it’s worth keeping an eye on, 10% always watch Claude, and 6% keep an eye on it, while 23% don’t monitor any agentic search optimization tools brands at all
For 26% of B2B startup founders, their marketing lead is mostly responsible for agentic search strategy, 2% say this lead has some involvement, but 5% say they’re not responsible; for 9%, their CEO or founder is fully responsible, or 11% say they are partly responsible, but 4% that they’re not responsible at all, and 41% don’t have any one responsible for their agentic search strategy yet
Just 1% of B2B startup founders are dedicating over 50% of their budget to agentic search, another 1% are committing between 10 and 25%, and 42% are dedicating between 25 and 50%, while 26% are putting under 10% of their budget towards agentic search, and 27% are not allocating any budget whatsoever
Getting higher quality leads from agentic search is an important factor for 31% of B2B startup founders, but 16% feel this is a less important result, and it;s not a priority for 3%, 9% are prioritizing shorter sales cycles, but this is less important for 21%, and it’s not a priority for 4%, while an increased deal size is a less important result for 12%, but establishing brand authority is an important factor for 3%
Technical optimization is somewhat of an agentic search gap for 6% of B2B startup founders, and a minor gap for 24%, 2% are struggling with distribution or promotion, which is somewhat of a gap for 17%, but for 11%, it’s not a gap at all; content credibility is somewhat of an agentic search gap for 11% but not for another 11%, and measurement or attribution is causing somewhat of a gap for 7%, but it’s not a gap at all for 11%
For 19% of B2B startup founders, the timeline to prioritize agentic search is a top priority now for the next 3 months, 18% have it soon on the agenda during this timeframe, and 8% are not prioritizing it during this time, 19% see it as being over a year away, but 13% don’t think its urgent, nor do they have any plans for it, and 19% have no plans to prioritize agentic search currently
The next step in B2B search strategy

Data and methodology

Sourced using Artios from an independent sample of 238,292 opinions of B2B startup founders in the USA across X, Quora, Reddit, Bluesky, TikTok, and Threads. Responses are collected within a 95% confidence interval and 5% margin of error. Results are derived from what people describe online, from opinions expressed, not actual questions answered by people in the sample.

How do B2B startup founders understand what AI agentic search means?

43% of B2B startup founders have heard the term agentic search, but are unsure of what it actually means, 21% have some understanding of what agentic search means, 8% have never heard of it, 8%have no idea what it is, and 8% have some full understanding of it, 6% are a bit confused, and 7% lack any understanding overall

Not everyone understands the meaning:

While the concept of agentic AI emerged in the 1980s and 1990s, agentic search has only really become a buzzword in the last two years. But for our audience of B2B startup founders, it’s still not a word that is in everyone’s vocabulary.

30% are absolutely clear that they’ve heard the term before, but they’re unsure of its actual meaning, and 13% have heard the term and have some understanding of it. Another 21% are somewhat familiar with agentic search, while 8% are familiar with it to some degree, 8% are still a bit confused about it, and 7% have heard of it but have no understanding of it.

Even more alarmingly, 8%are absolutely clear that they have never heard of agentic search, 5% have absolutely no idea about it, and 3% have no understanding whatsoever. These patterns point to leaders who lack a clear understanding of how agentic search works and of its growing role in influencing business discovery. As AI assistants become a more common starting point for researching vendors and solutions, closing this knowledge gap will be increasingly important for startups that want to improve their visibility and remain competitive.

How do B2B startup founders feel about AI agentic search’s rise?

33% of B2B startup founders are threatened by the shift in search, 22% are concerned about disruption following agentic search’s rise, 20% are neutral and will wait and see, 3% are cautiously optimistic, and 22% are excited and see agentic search as an opportunity

Agentic search is raising the stakes for startups:

B2B startup founders have sharply different views on the rise of agentic search, but Gartner’s forecast that by 2030, 80% of product searches will be carried out through agentic AI makes it difficult to dismiss.

33% of our audience feels threatened by the shift. They may be worried that agents will reduce direct website visits, weaken brand visibility, or give more influence to the platforms deciding which products are recommended. Startups that rely heavily on search traffic or direct product discovery may feel especially exposed if AI agents begin controlling more of the path from query to purchase.

Another 22% are concerned about disruption, with more focus on how quickly customer acquisition, search strategy, and buying behavior could change. Their concern may center on the cost of adapting before the commercial rules are clear.

Founders recognizing the potential of AI-powered discovery

On the other hand, 22% are excited and see agentic search as an opportunity. It could help startups reach buyers through more relevant recommendations, shorten research cycles, and compete on product fit rather than brand size alone. Smaller companies may also benefit if agents give buyers a faster route to specialist products that would otherwise struggle for visibility.

Another 20% are neutral and taking a wait-and-see approach, likely looking for clearer evidence of how quickly adoption grows and which business models gain or lose. Only 3% are cautiously optimistic. They may see the upside but still want proof that the technology can deliver qualified demand without creating new dependence on large AI platforms or reducing control over the customer relationship.

How often do buyers use AI agentic search to find B2B startups?

69% of B2B startup founders say that their buyers never use agentic search to find their business, 11%agree they do so rarely, 10% think buyers use it to find them occasionally, and 2% are not sure, while 8% know their buyers use agentic search to find them frequently

Buyers are testing agents, not depending on them:

How often buyers use agentic search to find B2B startups is still limited, even as AI becomes more common in the wider research process. 51% of B2B buyers now use AI chatbots for research, but B2B founders in our audience see a much slower shift toward agent-led startup discovery.

69% say buyers never use agentic search to find B2B startups. Many buyers may still start with familiar routes like Google or referrals, then bring AI tools in later to research or compare companies already on the shortlist. In other words, agents may be helping buyers assess known options rather than leading them to new startups.

Buyer use is still on the lower side

Another 11% see agentic search used rarely. Buyers in this group may try it for a very specific search or use it alongside more established methods without feeling ready to rely on it throughout the full discovery process.

Occasional use stands at 10%. These buyers may be testing the waters with lower-stakes searches, seeing how well agents surface relevant providers before trusting them with more important vendor decisions. A further 8% see frequent use, showing that a smaller part of the market is already using agents to narrow the field, compare providers, or uncover specialist startups that are harder to find through conventional search.

The remaining 2% aren’t sure. Buyers may arrive without a clear referral source, making it difficult for founders to know whether an AI tool played a part in bringing them there.

Has AI agentic search reduced SEO traffic for B2B startups?

For 20% of B2B startup founders, agentic search has significantly reduced SEO traffic, 20% have had a slight reduction, and 20%’s traffic has stayed the same; however, 20% have seen a slight increase in SEO traffic, and the remaining 20% have enjoyed a significant increase

The traffic impact is split down the middle:

Even though recent research found that zero-click results have reduced organic web traffic by an estimated 15% to 25%, agentic search hasn’t reduced SEO traffic for every B2B startup.

A significant reduction in SEO traffic has had some effect on 15% of our audience, with minimal change for another 2% and no impact for 3%. A sharp drop in visits may not always lead to the same commercial outcome. Some startups may be losing low-intent traffic while keeping the visitors most likely to become leads.

A slight reduction has had a major impact on 12% and some effect on 8%. Even a smaller decline can create real pressure when organic search supplies a large share of leads or traffic is already limited.

SEO traffic has stayed the same with no impact for 20%. Agentic search may be changing how buyers reach these startups without changing how many ultimately visit. An agent might narrow the shortlist, but buyers may still click through to review pricing or product details before deciding.

A slight increase in SEO traffic has had a major impact on 8% and some effect on 12%. These startups may be reaching buyers outside their usual search audience as agents introduce relevant companies that conventional rankings might miss.

A significant increase in SEO traffic has had a major impact on 3% and some effect on 17%. Agents may be directing buyers straight to highly relevant pages when a startup closely matches their needs. The rise in visits can be substantial even when the commercial effect is less dramatic, especially when those visitors still need to become qualified leads.

What worries B2B startup founders most about AI agentic search?

Becoming invisible to buyers is a major concern for 34% of B2B startup founders; this is some concern to 3%, yet 3% don’t share this concern at all, 16% are concerned that not understanding how agentic search will have a major impact on them, but 43% have no concerns about agentic AI at all

Founders worry less about the technology than about being overlooked:

B2B startup founders may worry about agentic search because it introduces a new layer between their businesses and potential buyers. Instead of dealing only with search rankings or website visibility, they also have to think about how AI agents interpret their companies and decide whether to recommend them.

Becoming invisible to buyers is a major concern for 34%, while another 3% have some concern and 3% have no concern at all. The fear is understandable because agentic search could influence which companies buyers see, compare, and consider.

Startups may have fewer chances to attract attention through their own content if AI agents increasingly decide which providers make it onto the shortlist. A strong product could still be overlooked if the agent can’t easily understand what the company offers, who it serves, or why it stands out from similar options.

Not understanding how agentic search works is a major concern for 16%, while less than 1% have some concern. Founders may struggle to respond when they don’t know what information agents prioritize, how companies are compared, or why one provider is recommended over another. Without that clarity, it becomes harder to decide what to change in their content, product information, or search strategy.

At the same time, 41% have no concern at all about agentic search, while another 2% have only minor concerns. Some may not yet see it affecting how buyers discover or evaluate their businesses. Others may believe the technology will create new routes to visibility, especially for specialist startups that can explain their value clearly and give agents reliable information to work with.

How confident are B2B startup founders in their AI agentic search rank?

26% of B2B startup founders may be somewhat confident in their agentic search rank, but 26% are somewhat worried about their rankings, another 26% are very worried, and 23% are neutral; likely as they are unsure of what this means

Founders aren’t convinced they’re being seen:

B2B startup founders show limited confidence in their agentic search rank, with concern outweighing reassurance. 26% are somewhat confident in their agentic search rank. These founders may believe agents can understand what their company offers and include it in relevant searches.

The confidence is still measured, though, because it can be difficult to know how often the startup is being recommended or whether its position changes from one search to the next.

Another 26% are somewhat worried. They may feel their startup is showing up, but not strongly or regularly enough to feel secure. The uncertainty comes from not knowing whether agents are picking up the company for the searches where it should be a good fit.

A further 26% are very worried about their agentic search rank. Poor visibility could quietly remove them from consideration before a buyer ever reaches their website. A weak rank could mean fewer buyers ever see the startup as an option, even when its product would be a good fit.

The remaining 23% are neutral. Some may not yet see agentic search as an important source of demand, while others may not have enough evidence to judge their position. They may be waiting to see whether it begins influencing more buyer decisions before giving their rank greater attention.

Have B2B startup founders tested their AI agentic search visibility?

40% of B2B startup founders are planning to regularly test their agentic search visibility, but this isn’t a focus for 11%, 35% are not yet checking their visibility but plan to, 3% are not sure how to check, 3% have checked once or twice, and checking isn’t a priority for 8%

Founders are starting to check what agents actually see:

B2B startup founders are at very different stages when it comes to testing their agentic search visibility. Harvard Business Review explains that agentic readiness requires ongoing learning, testing, and adaptation as AI systems and buyer behavior change. A single check can show how a startup is being presented at one moment, but it can’t confirm that the company will continue to be found, understood, and selected over time.

40% of our audience are testing their agentic search visibility and plan to do so regularly, while another 11% have tested it but don’t see ongoing checks as a focus. Regular testing gives founders a chance to spot changes in how agents describe the company, identify gaps, and adjust the information those systems rely on.

Visibility checks need a boost

Another 35% haven’t tested their visibility yet but plan to. This group may recognize that they can’t keep assuming a strong website or clear product message will automatically translate into agentic search visibility. Their first checks will show whether AI systems are presenting the company accurately and including it for the right buyer needs.

A further 7% haven’t tested their agentic search visibility and don’t see it as a focus or priority, while 1% have no idea whether any testing has taken place. Without checks, these startups may have little insight into how their visibility changes or whether inaccurate information is affecting how they are presented.

Only 3% have tested their visibility once or twice and plan to continue. Those early checks provide a useful baseline, but continued testing is needed to see whether visibility improves, declines, or changes across different searches and AI systems.

How ready is B2B startup content for AI agentic search?

31% of B2B startup founders’ content is partially optimized for agentic search, and 31% are just starting to get their content ready for this type of search; however, 31% have not optimized their content for agentic search at all, 5% don’t know what this even means, and0% are fully optimized

Most startup content still has work to do:

B2B startup content is still a long way from being fully ready for agentic search. Industry advice explains that AI systems don’t judge a company through its website alone. They draw on content, product information, brand signals, and external sources, then decide whether the overall picture is strong, consistent, and authoritative enough to select. Readiness, therefore, depends on more than improving a few pages or adding new keywords.

31% of B2B startup founders are just starting. They may be reviewing whether their content clearly explains what the company offers, who it serves, and why an agent should include it in a recommendation.

Another 31% say their content is partially optimized. These startups have likely begun adapting, but gaps may remain across product pages, company information, or external references. Even small inconsistencies can make it harder for AI systems to build a clear picture of the business.

A further 31% haven’t optimized their content at all. Their existing material may still work well for traditional search or human readers, but it may not give agents the structured, consistent information they need to compare the startup with other options.

Another 5% don’t know what agentic search means. Their first step is understanding how AI agents find, assess, and present companies before they can judge whether their content is ready.

No founders in our audience consider their content fully optimized. Full readiness is a high bar when agents draw on an entire digital presence rather than a single website, and the systems themselves are still changing.

Which AI agentic search protocols have B2B startup founders implemented?

37% of B2B startup founders have fully implemented Agent2Agent agentic search protocols, 15% have done so partially, and 4% are considering implementation, but 3% have not implemented these protocols at all, 11% have fully implemented Agentic Commerce Protocol, 10% Agentic Resource Discovery, and 3% Model Context Protocol, followed by another 3% fully implementing schema.org structured data, yet 14% have no protocols in place at all

Founders are backing the protocols with the clearest payoff:

Implementing agentic search protocols gives B2B startups a way to help AI systems communicate, find information, and complete tasks more effectively.

Agent2Agent (A2A) is the most widely implemented protocol among B2B startup founders. It’s fully implemented by 37%, partially implemented by 15%, under consideration for 4%, and not implemented by 3%. A2A gives different AI agents a shared framework for communicating, handing off tasks, and working together securely. Its lead makes sense because coordination between agents is a basic requirement for more advanced agentic workflows.

The Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) is fully implemented by 11%, while less than 1% haven’t implemented it. Its adoption is likely strongest among startups preparing for agents to support product discovery, purchasing, or transactions.

Agentic Resource Discovery (ARD) is fully implemented by 10%. It helps agents locate and access relevant resources, which can make it useful for startups with large stores of product or technical information.

Most startups are still exploring AI standards

MCP and Schema.org structured data are each fully implemented by 3%. MCP requires a clear need to connect AI tools with company data or workflows, so startups without that kind of integration may have little reason to implement it yet. Schema.org helps machines understand webpage content, but its effect on whether an agent selects or recommends a startup is indirect and hard to measure, so founders may prioritize protocols designed more specifically for agentic use.

Less than 1% have fully implemented llms.txt. Founders may see limited value in adding a file aimed at guiding AI crawlers when its influence on how models access or use website content is still unclear.

The 14% who haven’t implemented any protocols yet may still be working out which standards fit their product, or waiting until customer demand makes the technical investment easier to justify.

Which AI agentic search technical techniques have B2B startup founders implemented?

83% of B2B startup founders have not implemented any agentic search technical techniques, and this isn’t a priority for 14%, while just 2% have implemented Open Knowledge Formats, as it is absolutely essential for their business

The technical groundwork is barely underway:

Implementation of technical techniques that make content easier for AI systems to interpret and use remains scarce. A full 83% of B2B startup founders haven’t used any of the listed techniques. Their websites may still be built mainly for conventional search and human readers, without extra steps to make the underlying information easier for AI systems to interpret and reuse.

Another 14% haven’t implemented any of these techniques because they don’t see them as a priority. They may be focusing on more immediate product, sales, or content needs while agentic search remains a lower technical concern.

Open Knowledge Formats are essential for 2%. These founders may already see the value of publishing information in a structured, machine-readable form that agents can access more reliably.

Clean Semantic HTML is not a priority for less than 1%. Founders may see it as standard website development rather than a separate agentic search technique, especially when their CMS or development team already handles the underlying page structure.

How do B2B startup founders build credibility in AI agentic search?

48% of B2B startup founders are building credibility in agentic search through industry partnerships, 8% are using media coverage, and no one is relying on customer testimonials, while 44% are not actively building agentic search credibility at all

Startups need others to vouch for them:

B2B startup founders build credibility in agentic search by giving AI systems external reasons to trust and recommend their companies. Industry guidance from Microsoft Advertising explains that agents increasingly look beyond what a business says about itself, drawing on third-party endorsements, expert mentions, certifications, and detailed reviews when assessing credibility.

48% of our audience uses industry partnerships. Partnerships can place a startup alongside recognized companies or organizations in its field, giving agents outside confirmation that the business is established, relevant, and trusted by others.

Media coverage and PR account for 8%. Independent articles, interviews, and expert mentions can reinforce a startup’s authority beyond its own channels, but securing coverage takes time and doesn’t always offer an immediate or easily measured return.

Customer testimonials receive no visible priority online. Founders may see them mainly as tools for convincing human buyers after they reach the website. However, detailed first-hand accounts can also give agents evidence of how a product performs, who it helps, and whether customer claims support the company’s wider positioning.

The remaining 44% aren’t actively building credibility in agentic search. This leaves a large group relying mainly on their own website and marketing claims, without strengthening the independent signals that help agents verify what the company does and why it deserves consideration.

How do B2B startup founders find prospects via AI agentic search?

31% of B2B startup founders are finding prospects via agentic search by using paid ads, 31% are relying on community engagement, 17% on referrals or their networks, 12% on inbound content or SEO, and 9% are finding prospects using outbound prospecting

Being found now takes more than traditional outreach:

Finding prospects through agentic search depends on reaching buyers inside the channels and information sources that AI systems increasingly use to guide discovery and comparison.

31% of our audience uses paid ads. McKinsey reports that more than 50% of advertisers are already investing in ads embedded in AI-generated answers, as spending starts to move away from traditional search and toward AI-driven platforms. Paid visibility may therefore give startups a more direct route into the places where prospects are increasingly researching and comparing providers.

Another 31% use community engagement. Active participation in industry groups and online discussions can create the kind of third-party mentions and practical context that help agents understand where a startup fits. It also puts the company closer to real buyer questions instead of relying only on polished brand content.

Referrals and networks account for 17%. Personal introductions carry trust before the search even begins, and they can help a startup enter the buyer’s consideration set with outside validation already attached.

Inbound content and SEO serve 12%. Strong content can attract prospects when it answers specific questions clearly enough for agents to surface it, but founders may be finding that traditional rankings alone no longer guarantee visibility.

Outbound prospecting sits at 9%. Direct outreach can still open doors, but it is less closely tied to agentic discovery because the startup is initiating contact rather than being found through an AI-led search.

How often does AI agentic search cite B2B startup brands?

45% of B2B startup founders’ brands are never cited by agentic search, and 34% are rarely cited, but 11% are frequently cited, and 10% are cited by agentic search occasionally

Most startups are contributing without getting credit:

B2B startup brands are still cited unevenly in agentic search, with most founders seeing little or no direct attribution.

45% of B2B startup founders never see agentic search citing their brand. Their content may still inform an answer, but the company name isn’t being carried through to the buyer. Without that attribution, the startup can contribute value while gaining none of the recognition.

Another 34% are cited rarely. These founders may surface for a narrow set of searches, but not often enough to build dependable visibility or make citations a reliable source of traffic and awareness.

11% see frequent citations. These startups may have clearer authority, stronger third-party validation, or content that agents can confidently connect to specific buyer questions. Regular citation can put the brand directly into the research process before the buyer visits its website.

A further 10% are cited occasionally. Their visibility may depend heavily on the wording of the search, the AI system being used, or how closely their offering fits the buyer’s immediate need.

No founders are unsure whether their brand is being cited. The lack of uncertainty indicates that citations are visible enough to track. The bigger issue is how rarely most startups receive them.

Which engine matters most for AI agentic search to B2B startup founders?

ChatGPT is an absolutely essential agentic search engine for B2B startup founders, 12% agree it’s likely the best pick, and 11% don’t think it’s that important, while Claude is absolutely essential for 11%, and 16% agree it’s likely the best choice, Google AI overviews are crucial for 2%, 18% cite it as the best choice, and it’s not 2%’s top pick, and 2% think Perplexity is absolutely essential, and 4% the best choice

The best tool depends on the job:

B2B startup founders haven’t settled on the one engine that matters most for agentic search, and wider research fits this divided picture. A 2026 study of AI chat users found that more than 80% use at least two platforms, with different tools preferred for different strengths rather than one engine dominating every need.

ChatGPT is absolutely essential for 14% of our audience, likely the best choice for 12%, not the top pick for 5%, and doesn’t matter much to 6%. Its familiar interface, broad range of use cases, and ability to search the web with cited sources may make it the most practical all-purpose option.

Claude is absolutely essential for 11%, likely the best choice for 16%, while less than 1% feel it’s not their top pick or doesn’t matter much. Founders may favor it for detailed analysis, long documents, and complex reasoning, especially when agentic search involves sorting through a large amount of company or market information.

Google AI Overviews is absolutely essential for 2%, likely the best choice for 18%, not the top pick for 2%, and doesn’t matter much to less than 1%. Its appeal is clear because it brings AI-generated answers directly into the search experience buyers already use, with links that can lead them to businesses and source material.

Perplexity is absolutely essential for 2% and likely the best choice for 4%, while less than 1% feel it doesn’t matter much. Its smaller following may still value a research-led experience built around direct answers and visible sourcing, but it doesn’t yet carry the same default reach as the larger engines.

Another 3% aren’t sure which engine matters most, even though they see the choice as absolutely essential. A further 3% believe the best option has yet to become clear. Less than 1% are unsure and don’t see that position as their preferred option, while 1% feel the choice of engine doesn’t matter much. Their hesitation makes sense when users move easily between platforms, and each engine offers a different advantage.

Which tool powers AI agentic search visibility for B2B startup founders?

ChatGPT is the top choice for powering 8% of B2B startup founders’ agentic search visibility, and a good option for 43%, but it’s not a preference for 13%, and 4% would not use ChatGPT for this purpose, 10% name Claude as their top choice, 14% as a good option, and 3% as not their preference, while Perplexity and Google Gemini are considered good options by 2% each

Broader reach carries more weight:

The tools that power agentic search visibility can determine where and how often a startup is surfaced. ChatGPT is the top choice for 8% of B2B startup founders and a good option for 43%, although it isn’t the preference for 13%, and 4% wouldn’t use it. Given that ChatGPT reached one billion monthly active users in May 2026, its scale gives startups the broadest potential exposure. More buyers using the platform creates more opportunities for a company to be surfaced during research, comparison, and discovery.

Claude is the top choice for 10% and a good option for 14%, while 3% say it isn’t their preference. It’s smaller but has a more committed following, which may value the depth of its analysis and the way it handles detailed company or market information.

Google Gemini is a good option for 2%, while less than 1% say it isn’t their preference. Its lower showing may mean founders haven’t yet connected its wider Google presence with a clear route to stronger agentic search visibility.

Perplexity is the top choice for less than 1% and a good option for 2%, while less than 1% say it isn’t their preference. Its research-led format and visible sourcing may appeal to a niche group, but its smaller audience limits its reach.

Less than 1% see none of the listed tools as a good option, showing that nearly all founders can identify at least one platform with some visibility value.

Which AI agentic search optimization tool brands do B2B startup founders monitor?

For 9% of B2B startup founders, ChatGPT is always on their radar when monitoring agentic search optimization tools brands, 16% agree it’s worth keeping an eye on, but for 13% it’s not a main focus, and 3% don’t monitor ChatGPT at all, Geminin is always on 12% radar, and 6% believe it’s worth keeping an eye on, 10% always watch Claude, and 6% keep an eye on it, while 23% don’t monitor any agentic search optimization tools brands at all

Attention follows influence:

B2B startup founders monitor agentic search optimization brands to understand which tools are gaining influence and where their attention may need to shift.

ChatGPT attracts the broadest spread of interest, being always on the radar for 9% of our audience, worth keeping an eye on for 16%, not a main focus for 13%, and not monitored at all by 3%. Its enormous reach gives founders a practical reason to watch how it describes, cites, and recommends their companies.

Gemini is always on the radar for 12% and worth watching for 6%, while less than 1% don’t monitor it at all. Its connection to Google may make changes especially important for founders already watching how AI is altering conventional search behavior.

Claude is always on the radar for 10% and worth keeping an eye on for 6%, while less than 1% say it isn’t a main focus. Founders may be watching how quickly it expands its reach and becomes more relevant to business research and recommendations.

Perplexity receives very little attention. Less than 1% always monitor it, while less than 1% don’t monitor it at all. Founders may see it as a more specialized research channel, so changes to the platform may feel less urgent than developments affecting the tools they rely on across a broader range of search activity.

Interestingly, 22% don’t monitor any brands at all, while less than 1% know it’s worth keeping an eye on, and it isn’t a main focus for 1%. These founders may be waiting for clearer signs that regular monitoring will influence their search visibility or customer acquisition.

Who owns AI agentic search strategy at B2B startups?

For 26% of B2B startup founders, their marketing lead is mostly responsible for agentic search strategy, 2% say this lead has some involvement, but 5% say they’re not responsible; for 9%, their CEO or founder is fully responsible, or 11% say they are partly responsible, but 4% that they’re not responsible at all, and 41% don’t have any one responsible for their agentic search strategy yet

Strategy ownership is still being worked out:

Agentic search strategy doesn’t yet have a clear owner at many B2B startups. No one owns the role yet for 41% of our audience, likely because the startup hasn’t developed a clear strategy in the first place. Without a defined plan, responsibility can easily fall between marketing, leadership, and technical teams.

Marketing leads are mostly responsible at 26%, have some involvement at 2%, and aren’t responsible at 5%. Marketing is a natural home for the work because agentic search affects content, brand positioning, and how the company is discovered.

Founders or CEOs are fully responsible at 9% and mostly responsible at 11%. Less than 1% have some involvement, while 4% aren’t responsible. Leadership is more likely to stay close to the strategy when agentic search is still new, commercially important, or tied to wider decisions about growth and positioning.

What % of budget do B2B startup founders allocate toward AI agentic search?

Just 1% of B2B startup founders are dedicating over 50% of their budget to agentic search, another 1% are committing between 10 and 25%, and 42% are dedicating between 25 and 50%, while 26% are putting under 10% of their budget towards agentic search, and 27% are not allocating any budget whatsoever

Budget determines current investment:

Investing in agentic search is a wise move, but some of our audience have different opinions about how much of their budget should be earmarked for this purpose. 1% of B2B startup founders say that over 50% of their budget is going toward this purpose, and another 1% are putting between 10 and 25% towards it. Both groups feel this is a significant part of their funds to dedicate to this purpose.

Another 10% are using 25 to 50% of their budget for agentic search, which they say is a significant portion, 14% agree this is a significant part of their budget, and 13% concur it’s a minor share. Just 5% think this is almost nothing.

Conversely, those who are putting under 10% of their budget toward agentic search number 6% who feel this is a major portion to dedicate to this purpose, and 14% who feel this amount is a significant part of their budget. On the other hand, 2% think the amount is a minor share, and 6% that it is almost nothing. This indicates that there is a recognition of how important this line item is, and perhaps more should be put towards it.

Yet, 27% are not putting any of their budget towards agentic search, emphasizing that many startups are still in the observation stage. Some may be waiting for clearer evidence of return on investment before committing funds, while others may not yet see agentic search as a priority.

What result matters most from AI agentic search to B2B startup founders?

Getting higher quality leads from agentic search is an important factor for 31% of B2B startup founders, but 16% feel this is a less important result, and it;s not a priority for 3%, 9% are prioritizing shorter sales cycles, but this is less important for 21%, and it’s not a priority for 4%, while an increased deal size is a less important result for 12%, but establishing brand authority is an important factor for 3%

Fit outranks speed or scale:

The result that matters most from agentic search is the commercial value of the prospects it brings into a B2B startup’s sales pipeline. Higher quality leads are an important factor for 31% of B2B founders, less important for 16%, and not a priority for 3%. Agents can qualify large groups of incoming prospects, identify the strongest opportunities, and gather context about their needs before a seller makes contact. Startups can then spend more time with buyers who fit the offer and arrive better prepared for a focused conversation.

Shorter sales cycles are an important factor for 9%, less important for 21%, and not a priority for 4%. Faster progress is useful, but founders may see it as a result of stronger lead quality rather than the main goal. A well-matched prospect can move more quickly because less time is spent establishing basic fit.

Increased deal size is an important factor for less than 1%, less important for 12%, and not a priority for less than 1%. Founders may not expect agentic search to increase what a buyer can afford or how much they need. Its stronger role is getting the right buyer into the conversation.

Brand authority is an important factor for 3%. Stronger authority can support trust and discovery over time, but founders are clearly more focused on whether agentic search produces better sales opportunities now.

What is the biggest gap in AI agentic search for B2B startup founders?

Technical optimization is somewhat of an agentic search gap for 6% of B2B startup founders, and a minor gap for 24%, 2% are struggling with distribution or promotion, which is somewhat of a gap for 17%, but for 11%, it’s not a gap at all; content credibility is somewhat of an agentic search gap for 11% but not for another 11%, and measurement or attribution is causing somewhat of a gap for 7%, but it’s not a gap at all for 11%

Execution is the weak point:

The biggest gap in agentic search for B2B startup founders is technical, but the pattern points more to uneven execution than one severe weakness.

Technical optimization is somewhat of a gap for 6% and a minor gap for 24%. A 2026 empirical study of Google Search, AI Overviews, and Gemini found that generative search engines retrieve substantially different sources from traditional search and are less consistent across repeated searches and small query changes.

Although the study focuses on generative search rather than agentic search specifically, it points to the same practical challenge. Startups may need pages that are accessible, structured, and easy for AI systems to interpret, but technical optimization is no longer a simple checklist.

Promotion is the biggest blind spot

Distribution and promotion is the only area with any major gap, at 2%. Another 17% see it as somewhat of a gap, while 11% don’t see it as a gap at all. This points to the need for a stronger reach beyond a startup’s own website. Content may be in place, but agents also need external signals, mentions, links, and third-party validation to understand where the company fits.

Content credibility is somewhat of a gap for 8%, a minor gap for 3%, and not a gap at all for 11%. Founders may feel confident in their content, but credibility has to be clear enough for AI systems to assess as well as buyers.

Measurement and attribution are somewhat of a gap for 7%, while 11% don’t see any gap. This may be the easiest weakness to underestimate because agentic search can influence discovery without leaving a clean click path or simple source trail.

What is the timeline for B2B startup founders to prioritize AI agentic search?

For 19% of B2B startup founders, the timeline to prioritize agentic search is a top priority now for the next 3 months, 18% have it soon on the agenda during this timeframe, and 8% are not prioritizing it during this time, 19% see it as being over a year away, but 13% don’t think its urgent, nor do they have any plans for it, and 19% have no plans to prioritize agentic search currently

Urgency is outpacing planning:

The timeline for prioritizing agentic search shows how quickly B2B startup founders expect it to start creating value. The World Economic Forum argues that agentic AI should be measured by speed to value, with leaders focused on how quickly agents help deliver business outcomes. Some founders are already treating agentic search as an immediate commercial priority, while others still need a clearer plan before they act.

Within 3 months is the strongest near-term window. Agentic search is a top priority now within this timeframe for 19% of our audience and soon on the agenda for another 18%. A further 4% expect to act during this period, even though they don’t see it as urgent, while 4% have no plans for this timeframe at all. These founders may already be seeing buyer behavior shift, so waiting could mean losing ground in AI-assisted discovery.

Over a year away shows a longer planning horizon. Less than 1% see this timeframe as a top priority now, while 19% have it soon on the agenda. Another 9% expect to act over this longer period without treating it as urgent, and 4% have no plans for that timeframe. This group may recognize the trend but see other growth priorities as more immediate.

Although 10% call agentic search a top priority now, they don’t yet have a current plan. Less than 1% have it soon on the agenda, 1% don’t see it as urgent, and 8% have no plans at all. These founders may understand the commercial risk but lack ownership, budget, or a clear starting point.

Less than 1% see agentic search as a top priority now, but plan to prioritize it within 6 to 12 months, while another 2% have it soon on the agenda for the same period. Few founders are treating agentic search as a scheduled medium-term project. It is either moving into near-term action or being deferred until the business case becomes clearer.

The next step in B2B search strategy

This analysis of opinions of B2B startup founders shows that agentic search is moving from an abstract AI trend to a practical business concern. Founders are weighing its potential to improve discovery, lead quality, and buyer fit against the harder work of technical readiness, credibility, ownership, and measurement. The opportunity is real, but so is the need for startups to build a more deliberate agentic search strategy.

Share