A new app from a startup called Cherry aims to transform the online shopping experience with an AI assistant that allows users to discover products on the internet using just screenshots and images. Cherry helps you find products you've come across while scrolling through social media or have seen in person.
The startup was founded by Ryan Kim, a software engineer with 20 years of experience in the e-commerce ecosystem. Before founding the company, Kim helped build approximately 30 online stores for startups and large corporations.
“The motivation for creating Cherry stemmed from personal frustration with the time-consuming process of finding and comparing products online,” Kim told TechCrunch. “I wanted to use my expertise to develop a tool that simplifies product discovery and comparison and helps users find what they're looking for quickly and efficiently.”
Let's say you go to a physical store and find a dress you like, but you think it's too expensive. You can also try taking a photo and using Cherry to find something similar online that is cheaper. Or let's say you're scrolling through TikTok and see a gadget that looks interesting. You can take a screenshot and find it through Cherry.
Cherry's underlying AI technology leverages the power of both Google and Bing (powered by OpenAI) to scrape data directly on users' devices.
Image credit: Cherry
Although you can search for similar products on services like Google Lens, Cherry stands out from other services in that it allows users to sort results by price, bookmark products, view image search history, and return to products. Kim says it stands out even more. Additionally, users can also share their search results with friends and social media. Cherry is also currently developing his Reward Points system, which allows users to earn points when they search and redeem them for exclusive deals from brands.
“While Google Lens provides general image-based search functionality, Cherry is tailored specifically for the shopping experience,” Kim said. “Our app delivers results with the same speed and accuracy as Google, but now we're expanding our reach by incorporating additional lenses, including Bing Visual Search, to deliver a broader range of search results. .”
Cherry is still in the early stages of user acquisition and currently has around 5,000 users. The startup targets young users by helping them find the best products that fit their needs and budget.
In the future, Cherry is focused on expanding its user base, integrating with online retailers, and introducing personalized shopping recommendations to “curate” the best products for users. The company is also exploring opportunities to partner with brands for exclusive sales and promotions.
Cherry is available on iOS and Android.