Peec AI, one of Berlin's rising early-stage startups, has crossed $10 million in annualized revenue, according to internal dashboard data seen and verified by TechCrunch. This marks a more-than-doubling of its revenue trajectory in just months - a pace that would make even a former esports pro proud.

The company raised its $21 million Series A six months ago. CEO Marius Meiners previously declined to disclose valuation (only revealing it was above $100 million), but did note that Peec had grown revenue to over $4 million in its first 10 months since launch. Now it's sprinting past $10M, because apparently that's what happens when you actually watch the numbers.

Peec helps brands track and improve their visibility in AI searches - think SEO, but for generative engines like ChatGPT. Based in Berlin, it recently opened a New York office, because why limit your headquarters to just one expensive city?

"Founders these days track revenue much more closely," Antler partner Christoph Klink said from a hotel lobby bar during an event-laden week for Berlin's tech ecosystem. He offhandedly mentioned Peec AI as one of the most successful companies in his portfolio, alongside Lovable and others.

Klink explained that success is now defined by growth, not valuation - a lesson learned from 2021's frothiness and subsequent painful return to reality. Startups now keep running dashboards on revenue progress, sometimes visible to all employees, as is the case at Peec. For some founders, this requires adjusting; for Meiners, a former top-100 League of Legends player, it's just how you build a winning team.

Peec also took an innovative approach to hiring in Berlin's competitive market: it invested in billboards - not just for clients, but for applicants. Strategically placed in front of other tech companies across the city, these billboards signal that Peec is worth jumping ship for. According to Klink, this signaling is particularly important in the current AI cycle, where companies piggyback on emerging trends like AI search.

This bet on undercurrents explains why portfolio companies like Peec AI and Lovable not only closely track ARR, but sometimes publicly disclose revenue milestones despite having absolutely no obligation to do so. "That's a way to show it's working," Klink said. "It also shows a focus on growth that sets the culture." Or, as the rest of us call it, a good reason to celebrate.