- Shopify has acquired Vantage Discovery, a startup building AI search for retailers.
- Vantage Discovery was founded by two former Pinterest engineering leaders.
- Shopify has been acquiring startups in an effort to bring on more AI talent.
Shopify has acquired Vantage Discovery, a startup that builds AI-powered search functions for retailers.
Cofounders Lance Riedel and Nigel Daley both previously worked in engineering at Pinterest. Riedel built out Pinterest Shopping, while Daley worked in engineering infrastructure.
They started Vantage Discovery in early 2023 to bring a "Pinterest-like capability to any retailer" using generative AI, Daley said in an interview with Business Insider in February.
Vantage Discovery uses LLMs to enhance retailers' search functions, allowing shoppers to see more personalized, relevant results when searching through a store's product catalog.
"In the past, machine learning and AI had been held by some of the much bigger companies," he said. "Now with Gen AI and technology like Vantage Discovery, we can bring that same power to any retailer, from the smallest mom-and-pop shop to massive enterprises."
Riedel said in a LinkedIn post that Vantage Discovery would integrate its "revolutionary technology with Shopify's commerce platform." Daley confirmed the news in an email but declined to comment further on the deal to BI. Representatives for Shopify did not immediately return a request for comment from BI.
Shopify has been on an acquisition spree. It acquihired six startups in 2024 with the goal of bringing on AI talent.
"These have been very tactical, thoughtful AI hires and we want to continually be thoughtful, proactive, and judicious on thinking about the cash," CFO Jeff Hoffmeister said during the company's earnings call in February.
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