Canadian startup Cashew Research has taken bold steps into a space not often associated with affordability or speed: market research. The $90 billion market research industry has long been hindered by high costs and slow turnaround times. Cashew Research is flipping this narrative with its hybrid approach to AI-driven and human-collected data processes, promising fast, affordable, and relevant insights for brands.
The Cashew Research Concept
At its heart, Cashew Research operates to make comprehensive market research accessible for small- and mid-sized brands. Based in Calgary, its AI models create surveys targeting specific brand needs, whether gauging consumer sentiment about a new slogan or finding out how recognizable a brand is among its audience. The surveys aren’t filled by algorithms; real people’s responses are collected and condensed into actionable insights by AI.
This hybrid setup ensures data integrity while maintaining affordability. The startup’s CEO, Addy Graves, combines her industry knowledge with a hands-on operational model that brings trustworthy data at the speed tech startups demand.
Market Research: The Numbers
The global market research sector is valued at $90 billion, now experiencing shifts as startups like Cashew create newer methods to cater to previously untapped market segments. Reports suggest that large firms monopolize the majority share, pushing smaller players into the sidelines due to prohibitive costs. Cashew addresses exactly this gap with surveys that cut down weeks-long timelines to mere days.
Why Cashew Stands Out
What truly separates Cashew Research from other tools is its practical approach to data freshness. Many AI systems rely solely on pre-existing internet data, but Cashew’s blend of new survey responses and AI conclusions ensures relevancy. Startups, particularly in the consumer goods segment, gain a competitive advantage by accessing tailored insights instead of cookie-cutter solutions.
Additionally, being awarded top honors at TechCrunch Disrupt’s Startup Battlefield 200 in 2025 demonstrates the company’s industry validation. Recognition isn’t just symbolic, it acts as a signal to investors.
Milestones Worth Noticing
Cashew secured C$1.5 million in pre-seed funding and plans to expand into the U.S. market by raising $5 million early next year. Growth strategies target industries where changes happen fast, and decisions often need data support within hours, such as in the food and beverage sectors.
What Female Founders in Europe Could Learn
For female entrepreneurs, particularly in Europe, Cashew’s approach is inspiring. Not every startup needs to start big or appeal to large corporations right away. Cashew shows that targeting a niche, underserved audience with clear pain points can bring significant market potential.
Here’s how you can apply lessons from their success:
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Focus on Solving Real Problems: Take time to understand genuine gaps in your industry.
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Iterative Development with Users: Instead of creating a fully-fledged solution, test it early with real customers (Cashew launched surveys manually before scaling via AI).
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Validate Your Ideas Visibly: TechCrunch Disrupt recognition wasn’t merely a trophy but validation that other industry experts believed in Cashew steps. Enter competitions that match your sector.
Pitfalls to Avoid
Using AI isn’t a silver bullet for success. Here’s what founders should watch out for:
- Expecting AI to Replace Creativity: Cashew strikes a balance between automation and personalized effort.
- Ignoring Time Management: Early-stage startups often underestimate AI development timelines.
- Failing to Raise Funds Proactively: Visibility matters, especially for disruptive models like Cashew’s hybrid research methodology.
How To Proceed If You're Inspired
Start small. Many AI platforms exist that allow experimentation without heavy investment. If you’re a solo founder managing budgets, platforms like Shopify research library or forum results connected directly to research collection are low-barrier options compared with developing proprietary tools.
Conclusion
Cashew Research demonstrates what’s possible in industries often considered rigid and cost-driven. By focusing on underserved customers and combining fresh thinking with foundational tech setups, they show resourceful entrepreneurs, not necessarily those with the deepest pockets, can carve out new spaces for growth.
European female founders are uniquely positioned to benefit from similar approaches, given trends focused on accessibility-driven businesses.
FAQ
1. What is Cashew Research's main goal?
Cashew Research aims to transform the $90 billion market research industry by using AI-driven processes to make data collection faster, more affordable, and tailored for small and medium-sized brands. Learn more about Cashew Research on TechCrunch
2. How does Cashew Research combine AI with human input?
Cashew's AI algorithms design surveys targeting specific brand needs, but responses are collected from real people and analyzed by AI, ensuring both relevance and data integrity. Discover Cashew Research’s hybrid setup
3. Who are the founders of Cashew Research?
The startup was co-founded by Addy Graves, CEO, a veteran in the market research industry, alongside Rose Wong, COO.
4. What industries does Cashew Research primarily target?
Cashew Research focuses on fast-moving industries, such as consumer packaged goods and food and beverage sectors, where decisions require rapid and reliable data. Explore Cashew Research services in industries
5. How has Cashew Research been recognized for its innovation?
Cashew Research won the Enterprise Stage pitch competition at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, showcasing its potential as a transformative player in market research. Check out Cashew Research’s recognition at Startup Battlefield 200
6. What funding has Cashew Research secured so far?
The company raised C$1.5 million in pre-seed funding and plans to launch a $5 million seed round in 2026 for U.S. expansion and technology development. Learn about Cashew’s funding journey
7. How does Cashew Research address the high costs of traditional market research?
Cashew reduces costs by automating parts of the research process while retaining human input for data integrity, making comprehensive research accessible to smaller players in the industry. Discover Cashew’s strategy for cost reduction
8. What are Cashew Research's future growth plans?
The company is preparing for U.S. market entry with an emphasis on expanding its proprietary database and B2B capabilities. Learn about Cashew Research’s expansion plans
9. How does Cashew Research ensure tailored insights over generic AI solutions?
Cashew combines new survey responses with AI-generated conclusions, enhancing relevancy and avoiding the limitations of generic, pre-existing internet data analyses.
10. What lessons can startups learn from Cashew Research?
Startups can benefit from its approach of targeting underserved niches, combining early user feedback with iterative development, and gaining industry validation through visible achievements like competitions. Explore lessons from Cashew’s success
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
