Key Points
- Calgary‑based Cashee Research uses AI to design custom market‑research surveys.
- Surveys are sent to real respondents, and AI summarizes the findings.
- Founded by Addy Graves (CEO) and Rose Wong (COO) to address slow, costly research timelines.
- Selected for TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield 2025 and won the Enterprise Stage pitch at TechCrunch Disrupt.
- Raised C$1.5 million in pre‑seed funding; preparing a seed round up to $5 million.
- Targets small and medium‑size brands with lower‑cost, faster research solutions.
- Initial focus on consumer packaged goods, especially food and beverage.
- Plans to expand U.S. presence and grow B2B business.
AI‑Powered Survey Design and Real‑World Data Collection
Cashee Research, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, has built a platform that uses large‑language models to create market‑research plans and surveys tailored to a client’s specific questions, such as brand recognition among a target population or the resonance of a new tagline. After the AI generates the survey, Cashee distributes it to actual respondents, gathering fresh human data. The responses are then processed by AI, which summarizes and distills the findings into actionable insights for the client.
Founders and Vision
The company was founded by Addy Graves, who brings more than a decade of market‑research experience, and Rose Wong, who serves as chief operating officer. Graves identified a persistent industry pain point: clients needed full research projects with real‑world data delivered within days, a timeline that traditional firms could not meet. The emergence of generative AI provided the technical foundation to automate research methodologies, best‑practice workflows, and report formatting, enabling Cashee to deliver high‑quality results at unprecedented speed.
Industry Recognition
Cashee’s innovative approach earned it a spot among the 200 startups selected for TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield in 2025. The company subsequently won the Enterprise Stage pitch competition at TechCrunch Disrupt, highlighting its potential to reshape the $90 billion market‑research industry.
Business Model and Market Impact
Unlike fully automated AI tools, Cashee combines automation with fresh human data, positioning itself as a middle ground between expensive traditional research firms and low‑cost, recycled AI‑only solutions. This hybrid model lowers costs, making professional research accessible to small and medium‑size brands that previously could not afford it. The platform initially focused on consumer packaged goods, particularly food and beverage, but aims to broaden its reach across other sectors.
Funding and Growth Plans
Cashee has secured C$1.5 million in pre‑seed funding and is preparing a seed round with a target of up to $5 million. The forthcoming capital will fund continued technology development, expansion of the U.S. market, and scaling of its B2B operations. By anonymizing and aggregating the data collected from client projects, Cashee also builds a proprietary database that can enhance future research initiatives.
Future Outlook
Graves and Wong envision Cashee creating a new category of affordable, rapid market research, unlocking insights for brands that have been constrained by cost or timeline limitations. Their strategy focuses on increasing brand presence in the United States and strengthening relationships with business customers, positioning Cashee as a pivotal player in the evolving landscape of AI‑driven market intelligence.
Source: techcrunch.com