Apoorv Sharma focuses on positioning brands directly inside AI engines, pioneering a category many are just beginning to recognize.
Apoorv Sharma
In a digital world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, Apoorv Sharma is a name rapidly gaining recognition. As the founder of Derivate X, an innovative SEO agency based in Bengaluru, India, Apoorv is one of the earliest pioneers to specialize in LLM SEO-a revolutionary approach to brand visibility focused on large language models like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini.
With search behavior evolving faster than ever, Apoorv Sharma is helping businesses position themselves not just on Google, but directly inside the AI platforms that will define the next decade of discovery.
The Birth of Derivate X
Founded in May 2024, Derivate X was born out of Apoorv's personal realization that the way users discover information was fundamentally shifting. "Like everyone, I noticed my own reliance on Google dropping and my use of ChatGPT skyrocketing," Apoorv shares. "But the real wake-up call came when my mom-a native Hindi speaker who once hesitated to use Google voice search-mentioned how comfortable and excited she was using the ChatGPT voice assistant."
This deeply personal moment inspired Apoorv Sharma to dive headfirst into understanding how brands could optimize their presence for AI-driven search, long before the rest of the market even recognized the shift.
What is LLM SEO?
LLM SEO, or Large Language Model Search Engine Optimization, is the emerging science of ensuring brands show up when AI engines like ChatGPT are queried. Unlike traditional SEO, which focuses on ranking for keywords on Google, LLM SEO requires brands to structure their information and digital presence to be cited, recommended, and referenced by AI models.
Apoorv Sharma and his agency “Derivate X” are among the very first to crack this evolving playbook, offering businesses a way to future-proof their organic visibility.
Building the Future of Search
Under Apoorv's leadership, Derivate X has already delivered impressive wins:
- Derivate X itself ranked inside ChatGPT for "best martech SEO agency."
- Two clients (under NDA) now dominate "best {competitor} alternative" keywords inside AI search platforms-one of the highest intent categories possible.
- A client who started working with Derivate X just two months ago closed a $15,000 deal directly sourced through ChatGPT driven discovery.
These successes prove that LLM SEO is not just a theory, it's a working reality.
Derivate X's Unique Approach
Under Apoorv's leadership, Derivate X’s LLM SEO services has helped brands position themselves inside ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude. But rather than retrofitting traditional SEO tactics, Apoorv Sharma and his team at Derivate X have developed frameworks specifically for AI discovery:
- Structuring content for LLM indexing
- Optimizing brand prompts for AI engines
- Leveraging branded queries and topical authority for enhanced recommendation likelihood
Focused initially on SaaS companies, Derivate X is now steadily expanding its expertise into Web3, PaaS, and AI-driven industries.
The Vision Ahead
"Our mission," Apoorv Sharma states, "is simple: to become the go-to SEO and LLM SEO agency for businesses globally."
With the rapid rise of AI platforms influencing how products and services are discovered, Apoorv envisions a future where brands that optimize for AI search will enjoy a decade-long head start over competitors still obsessed with traditional Google rankings.
At a time when many are still questioning what's next, Apoorv Sharma is already building it.
Stay updated with Apoorv Sharma on Twitter (@apoorvshrm) where he shares ongoing insights about LLM SEO and the future of search.
FAQs
Q1. Who is Apoorv Sharma?
Apoorv Sharma is the founder of Derivate X, a pioneering SEO agency specializing in AI search optimization and LLM SEO for brands worldwide.
Q2. What is Derivate X?
Derivate X is an SEO agency for SaaS businesses focused exclusively on helping brands rank inside AI search platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, etc. rather than traditional search engines like Google.
Q3. What is LLM SEO?
LLM SEO, or Large Language Model Search Engine Optimization, involves optimizing brand presence so that AI engines cite, recommend, and surface the brand in user queries.
Q4. How is Apoorv Sharma different from other SEO specialists?
Unlike traditional SEO specialists, Apoorv Sharma focuses on positioning brands directly inside AI engines, pioneering a category many are just beginning to recognize.
Q5. Why is AI search optimization important for brands?
As AI platforms reshape how users discover products, services, and information, brands optimizing for AI search gain a significant competitive edge-one that could define market leadership for years to come.
