Cashew Research Aims to Disrupt $90 Billion Market Research Industry with AI Innovations
Market research, a critical component of brand strategy, is a $90 billion industry that enables businesses to understand their customers better. However, traditional methods can often be time-consuming and expensive. Calgary-based Cashew Research is set to transform this landscape by leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline market research processes.
The company specializes in creating tailored market research strategies and surveys, helping brands gauge elements such as brand recognition within target demographics or the effectiveness of marketing messages. By utilizing AI, Cashew enables clients to receive insightful summaries and analyses derived from real-world survey data efficiently.
Co-founder and market research veteran, Graves, drew on over a decade of experience to address a common industry challenge: the demand for expedited research timelines without sacrificing quality. “We encountered requests for comprehensive research projects completed in just days,” she explained. Historical constraints limited such rapid turnarounds, but the emergence of AI technologies has opened new opportunities for automation in research methodologies.
With automation comes financial accessibility, positioning Cashew as a viable solution for small and medium-sized enterprises that previously found traditional market research services prohibitively expensive. Founded in 2023, alongside Chief Operating Officer Rose Wong, Cashew initially targets the consumer packaged goods sector, particularly food and beverage brands.
What sets Cashew apart from other AI marketing tools is its hybrid approach—not entirely automated, it combines AI efficiency with human market research expertise, ensuring clients receive personalized data insights for each project.
As Cashew grows, its advantage may strengthen thanks to its unique data approach. The company anonymizes and compiles real-world data from various client projects into a proprietary database, enriching future research initiatives.
Having secured C$1.5 million in pre-seed funding, Cashew is poised to launch its seed round in early 2026, with aspirations to raise up to $5 million to further enhance its technology. Looking ahead, Graves emphasized two key priorities: expanding their presence in the U.S. market and bolstering their B2B services.
“The existing demand for market research is vast, yet many potential clients remain underserved due to affordability and timeline constraints,” Graves noted. Cashew is dedicated to creating new opportunities for marketers to gain crucial insights, carving out a niche in the evolving landscape of market research.
