Daydream has secured $50 million in seed funding to launch its groundbreaking AI-powered search and discovery shopping platform. Co-founded by e-commerce and retail expert Julie Bornstein, along with Matt Fisher, Dan Cary, Lisa Green, and Richard Kim, Daydream promises to redefine how people shop online.
A New Era in E-Commerce: AI-Driven Personalization
Launching in beta this fall, Daydream will offer a highly personalized shopping experience, powered by advanced AI technology. The platform’s built-in superhuman search engine aims to revolutionize the search and discovery process, starting with women’s and men’s fashion. By leveraging the latest advancements in generative AI, machine learning, and computer vision, Daydream is set to provide an intuitive and engaging shopping journey.
“We can finally build an intelligent online shopping platform that will make it easy and fun for consumers to find products they love among the best selection of brands and retailers in the world,” said Julie Bornstein, co-founder and CEO of Daydream. With over 25 years of experience in transforming the e-commerce experience, Bornstein has assembled a world-class team of former leaders from Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Nordstrom, and Farfetch.
Unmatched Expertise and Vision
Daydream’s founding team brings together unparalleled expertise in online shopping, technology, and artificial intelligence. This unique combination positions Daydream to pioneer a new conversational commerce experience. “Our recommendation engine distills generalized learnings from millions of experiments and extensive UX research to deliver custom, contextual recommendations to our end users,” said Tyler Foster, President and CTO at Evolv AI.
Investor Confidence and Strategic Partnerships
The $50 million seed round was co-led by Forerunner Ventures and Index Ventures, with participation from GV (Google Ventures) and True Ventures. Kirsten Green, Founder and Managing Partner at Forerunner, highlighted the platform’s potential, saying, “We believe that search will transition to service, with the search giants dominating the space losing market share to new entrants providing personalized, AI-driven services.”
Danny Rimer, Partner at Index Ventures, echoed this sentiment: “The depth of experience across the founder team, combined with a rare understanding of the relevant technology, gives them a strong foundation to transform this enormous industry.”
Transforming the Shopping Experience
Daydream is set apart by its ability to seamlessly integrate business-specific information, such as brand guidelines and user interactions, into its AI-driven recommendations. This tailored approach ensures that users receive highly relevant and personalized product suggestions, enhancing both user experience and conversion rates.
“Daydream takes a new AI-driven approach to create a better shopping experience online with highly-curated product recommendations,” said Frédérique Dame, General Partner at GV. The platform’s ability to predict which UX improvements will yield the highest returns allows businesses to focus resources strategically.
Ready to Launch
With close to 2,000 brands already in its catalog, Daydream is poised to launch its private beta today, with a public launch scheduled for this fall. The platform aims to simplify and enhance the online shopping experience, making it easier for consumers to discover and purchase products they love.
For more information about Daydream or to sign up for the waitlist, visit https://daydream.ing/. Brands and retailers interested in joining Daydream can visit https://partners.daydream.ing/.
Daydream is an AI-powered digital experience optimization platform that enhances conversions, engagement, and retention by automating the discovery and personalization of winning customer experiences. Led by industry veterans, Daydream aims to transform the online shopping experience by leveraging cutting-edge technology and deep industry insights.
Julie Bornstein, the driving force behind Daydream, has an impressive track record in the e-commerce industry. Before Daydream, she held leadership roles at Stitch Fix, Sephora, Nordstrom, and Urban Outfitters. Most recently, she co-founded THE YES, an AI-powered shopping platform for women’s fashion, acquired by Pinterest in 2022.
Daydream’s innovative approach and robust team position it to lead the next wave of e-commerce transformation, making it a company to watch in the coming months.