Search.io, a Sydney artificial intelligence-based search start-up, has been acquired by French unicorn company Algolia in a nine-figure deal, generating a healthy return for early investor Tidal Ventures, and making its Aussie founders multimillionaires.

Previously named Sajari, Search.io was founded in 2015 by Hamish Ogilvy and David Howden. It has created search engine technology for enterprises, which is used by the likes of Sennheiser, Catch, the New South Wales government and Lockheed Martin.