AI Market Research Startup Cashew Wins TechCrunch Disrupt Pitch Competition

A Calgary startup is using AI to transform a $90 billion industry. Cashew Research won the Enterprise Stage pitch competition at TechCrunch Disrupt.

The company provides fast, affordable market insights for brands. It uses AI to create surveys and analyze results from real people.

Bridging the Gap Between Slow Firms and Generic AI

Traditional market research is expensive and slow. According to founder Addy Graves, clients often want results in days, not months.

Generic AI tools only recycle existing internet data. Cashew generates fresh, custom data by surveying targeted human panels.

This approach creates a new middle ground. It offers the speed of AI with the authenticity of human responses.

Graves has over a decade of research experience. She co-founded Cashew in 2023 after identifying this persistent industry gap.

Democratizing Insights for Small and Medium Brands

Automation drastically reduces cost and time. This makes professional market research accessible to smaller companies.

Cashew’s initial focus is consumer packaged goods. It anonymizes all collected data to build a proprietary insights database.

This growing dataset becomes a long-term advantage. It allows for richer, more nuanced analysis for future clients.

The company has raised C$1.5 million in pre-seed funding. A seed round targeting up to $5 million is planned for early 2026.

Cashew’s victory highlights a growing shift toward AI-augmented business intelligence. The startup is now positioned to expand its U.S. presence and build its B2B division, aiming to serve a previously untapped market of cost-conscious brands.

A quick knowledge drop for you

What does Cashew Research actually do?

Cashew uses AI to design custom market research surveys for brands. It then sends these surveys to real people and uses AI to analyze and summarize the fresh data collected.

How is Cashew different from just asking an AI like ChatGPT?

Standard AI tools pull from existing, recycled online data. Cashew generates new, proprietary data by surveying specific human audiences, providing unique insights you can’t find elsewhere.

Why did Cashew win at TechCrunch Disrupt?

The startup impressed judges by solving a clear, expensive problem in a massive industry. It demonstrated a viable product that blends AI efficiency with essential human-driven data collection.

Who can afford to use Cashew’s services?

By automating key processes, Cashew lowers costs significantly. This opens the door for small and medium-sized businesses that couldn’t afford traditional research firms.

What is Cashew’s next goal?

The company plans to expand its operations in the United States. It also aims to grow its business-to-business segment with the new funding it seeks.