Bengaluru | Apoorv Sharma | Founder, Derivate X
While the rest of the world is still chasing Google rankings, one Bengaluru-based founder has taken a completely different route.
Apoorv Sharma, a digital pioneer, isn’t just tweaking SEO tactics — he’s fundamentally rewriting them for the AI-first future. His startup, Derivate X, is India’s first SEO agency built exclusively for large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini.
From Keywords to Chatbots: A Paradigm Shift in Search
As businesses stayed focused on backlinks, keyword density, and blog churn to please Google’s algorithms, Apoorv spotted a quiet but powerful revolution:
People weren’t just Googling anymore. They were asking ChatGPT.
And unlike Google, LLMs don’t show 10 blue links — they give one answer.
That’s where Derivate X comes in: It helps brands get cited in that answer.
“In the AI era, your brand needs to be found in ChatGPT responses, not through a browser,” says Apoorv.
What Is LLM SEO?
LLM SEO (Large Language Model Search Engine Optimization) is a new category altogether. Here’s how it differs:
- No backlinks or blog spam
- Optimized for prompts like “Best AI tools for startups”
- Brand mentions that show up in ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity answers
- Discovery through AI suggestions instead of traditional search results
It’s SEO reimagined — not for clicks, but for conversation engines.
Proof It Works: Real Citations, Real Revenue
Derivate X isn’t just a clever pitch.
- Clients are being cited in live ChatGPT responses
- Some are closing 5-figure deals thanks to AI visibility
- They’re outranking competitors inside Perplexity
- Not just experimenting — actively scaling results
While most brands are learning what “AI SEO” means, Apoorv is already monetizing it.
🇮🇳 Built in Bengaluru, Scaling Globally
Derivate X represents more than just a niche SEO agency — it’s a bold bet on India leading the future of AI-powered digital discovery.
“This isn’t the next iteration of SEO. It’s a whole new operating system for search,” Apoorv concludes.
Whether you’re a SaaS founder, D2C brand, or B2B startup — if you want to be found in AI, you may need to forget Google… and talk to Derivate X instead.
