Former Apple engineer Alex Ruber and ex-Twitter and Asana engineer Parth Chopra teamed up to create Encore, a search engine for secondhand items. They met through Y Combinator’s founder match platform and bonded over their love for thrifting. Many shoppers waste time searching through various platforms like eBay or Depop. Encore aims to simplify this by consolidating results into one place, allowing users to find specific items faster. The platform uses AI technology to match queries with listings from multiple sources. With the secondhand Market rapidly growing, Encore is already processing over 50,000 searches each month and exploring subscription options for users seeking more features.
In a creative twist on thrift shopping, former Apple engineer Alex Ruber and former engineers from Twitter and Asana, Parth Chopra have launched a new search engine called Encore, designed to make finding secondhand items much easier. The two first connected on Y Combinator’s founder match platform and quickly bonded over their love of thrifting.
Many shoppers often find themselves scrolling endlessly through social media like Instagram, trying to locate the perfect item. Encore aims to solve this by allowing users to search for secondhand finds across various platforms, including Depop, Mercari, and eBay. Ruber emphasized that the secondhand shopping Market is quite scattered, which can overwhelm buyers. With Encore, they hope to streamline the process, saving time and reducing frustration.
Both Ruber and Chopra share a background of enjoying flea markets and thrift stores, making them the perfect team for this venture. Ruber found inspiration for Encore while searching for a specific jacket from a popular TV show and realized that a better search tool was needed to assist thrift shoppers.
Encore employs advanced AI technology, allowing users to enter simple queries or detailed descriptions to find exactly what they want. For example, you can ask for an outfit worn by a character in a show or general items like jeans, and the platform will gather results from multiple sources.
With the resurgence of interest in secondhand shopping, the Market is projected to grow significantly, with estimates suggesting it will reach $73 billion in the U.S. by 2028. Encore is already making waves with over 50,000 searches per month and a steady growth in user engagement.
Looking to the future, Encore plans to introduce a subscription service that would offer unlimited searches and additional features, ensuring that thrift lovers can discover those hidden gems more easily in the ever-expanding world of secondhand shopping.
Tags: Encore, thrift shopping, secondhand items, AI search engine, Y Combinator, retail industry, sustainable fashion, online shopping.
What is Encore?
Encore is a smart search engine that helps you find thrifting items like clothing, accessories, and more easily.
How does Encore work?
Encore uses AI technology to search through many thrift store listings so you can find what you’re looking for quickly.
Do I need to pay to use Encore?
No, Encore is free to use. You can search for items without any cost.
Can I find items from different stores on Encore?
Yes, Encore collects items from various thrift stores, so you can see a variety of options in one place.
Is Encore available on my phone?
Yes, Encore can be used on smartphones and computers, making it easy to find thrifting items anytime and anywhere.
