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Ten startups presented technologies designed to improve customer experiences and prepare brands for agentic commerce. Solutions ranged from AI product discovery, automated content creation and social commerce to autonomous delivery infrastructure. Deborah Weinswig, CEO and Founder of Coresight Research, emphasized that companies can “use AI to pay for AI” by reducing existing costs and friction.
A second group focused on operational efficiency through continuous website optimization, associate coaching, product catalog management, shipping-cost recovery and demand forecasting. Coframe won the Judges’ Choice award, including an optional $100,000 investment from Commerce Ventures, while Flock AI received the Audience Choice award and $100,000 in Coresight Research services.
Startups showed how AI can reduce costs while improving customer and employee experiences.
Brands need structured product data and optimized content to remain visible across AI platforms.
Coframe won the Judges’ Choice award, while Flock AI received the Audience Choice award.
The Startup Pitch returns to Shoptalk Spring 2026, spotlighting early-stage technologies redefining customer experience across retail and commerce. Each curated session will feature five high-growth startups competing across two categories: Technologies Driving Operational Efficiencies and Technologies Reinventing Customer Experience.
Deborah Weinswig, CEO and Founder of Coresight Research, will serve as emcee, leading a dynamic format where Founder-CEOs deliver rapid-fire, three-minute pitches followed by direct, high-impact questioning from an expert panel of judges. Each presentation will showcase how the solution drives measurable innovation and impact across the retail value chain.
Attendees won’t just watch—they’ll participate. Audience members will rate each startup live to determine the Audience Choice Award winner, creating an interactive forum to discover and evaluate the technologies shaping retail’s future.
Learn more and register to attend here
This Shark Reef Startup Pitch session features five outstanding, early-stage tech solutions that focus on customer experience. Each Founder/CEO will present for three minutes, and answer tough questions about their business from our panel of fierce judges.
Moderators:
Deborah Weinswig | Founder & CEO, Coresight Research
Danielle Lay | Partner, NEA
Kamanasish Kundu | SVP, Head of Digital and Ecommerce, Kendra Scott
Speakers:
Ben Seidl | Co-Founder & CEO, Autolane
Rajan Balasundaram | CEO, Bayezon AI
Evan Smith | Co-Founder & CEO, Ethosphere
Bijan Vaez | Founder & CEO, Merchkit
CEO and Founder
Coresight Research Emcee & Judge
Partner
M13 Judge
SVP, Head of Digital and Ecommerce
Kendra Scott Judge
General Partner
Commerce Ventures Judge
Founder & CEO
Azoma
Co-Founder & CEO
Autolane
CEO
Bayezon AI
Flock AI
SocialQ AI
Coframe
Ethosphere
Merchkit
Co-Founder & President
RateRunners
ShopSight
