Positive Group Makes Waves with Acquisition of AI SEO Pioneer Surfer – A Breaking Shift in Digital Visibility
Lille, France – [Date of Publication] – In a move that’s sending ripples through the digital marketing world, Positive Group, a leading European provider of integrated digital solutions, has announced the acquisition of Surfer, a Polish company at the forefront of artificial intelligence applied to search engine optimization (SEO). This isn’t just another acquisition; it’s a strategic bet on the future of how brands will be found online – a future increasingly shaped by AI.
Beyond Traditional SEO: The Rise of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
For years, SEO has been about climbing the ranks of Google’s traditional search results. But the game is changing. With the explosive growth of conversational AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity, users are increasingly getting their answers directly from these platforms. This shift demands a new approach, and that’s where Surfer excels. They specialize in what’s being called Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) – optimizing content not just for search engines, but for the answers generated by AI.
Founded in 2017, Surfer has quickly become a go-to platform for digital marketers, boasting over 150,000 active users and 12,000 professional customers, primarily in North America. The company has experienced impressive growth, averaging 25% annually between 2021 and 2025, fueled by this very transition in SEO strategy. Surfer’s AI-powered content generation platform helps users create content specifically designed to be featured in AI-generated responses, ensuring brands maintain visibility even as search habits evolve.
Positive Group: Building a Sovereign European Tech Powerhouse
This acquisition isn’t happening in a vacuum. Positive Group, majority-owned by its management and European funds, is building a comprehensive suite of digital tools with a distinctly European ethos. They already include Blowgun and Rapidmail for digital communications, User and NoCRM for marketing and CRM, and Signitic for email signature management. Adding Surfer creates a powerful, integrated offering covering the entire customer journey – from data to search engines and, crucially, to AI responses.
“Artificial intelligence is at the heart of our value proposition,” explains Matthew Tarnus, CEO and founder of Positive Group. “With Surfer, our clients move from traditional SEO optimization to optimizing their visibility in the answers given by AI assistants.” This isn’t just about staying ahead of the curve; it’s about controlling the narrative and ensuring brands have a voice in the AI-driven future of information.
Positive Group’s commitment to a “sovereign and sustainable approach to technology” is also noteworthy. With approximately 400 employees across Europe (Lille, Lyon, Warsaw, Hamburg, and Milan) and data hosted in France and Germany, the company is positioning itself as a viable alternative to US-dominated tech giants. Their revenue, already multiplied by five in five years, is projected to reach 70 million euros in 2025, demonstrating strong growth and a clear vision.
What This Means for Marketers – And What You Should Do Now
The acquisition of Surfer by Positive Group is a clear signal: the future of SEO is inextricably linked to AI. Marketers need to start thinking beyond keywords and backlinks and focus on creating content that directly answers the questions users are asking AI assistants. This means understanding how these AI models work, optimizing for natural language, and focusing on providing concise, accurate, and valuable information.
The era of simply “ranking” is fading. The new challenge is to be featured – to be the source of truth that AI assistants rely on. This acquisition provides Positive Group with a significant advantage in this emerging landscape, and it’s a development that all digital marketers should be watching closely. Staying informed and adapting your strategies now will be crucial for maintaining visibility and relevance in the years to come.
Stay tuned to archyde.com for ongoing coverage of the evolving AI landscape and its impact on digital marketing. We’ll continue to bring you breaking news and insightful analysis to help you navigate this exciting new era.
