Funding & Deals

Whatnot acquires Shaped to power real-time live shopping recommendations

Livestream shopping platform Whatnot has acquired AI startup Shaped, a machine learning company focused on real-time recommendations and search. The deal will bolster Whatnot’s personalization and discovery features as it expands into new product categories.

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Whatnot, a livestream shopping app, acquired Shaped, a machine learning company specializing in real-time recommendation and search systems, to improve how shoppers find products on its platform. Live shopping presents a unique challenge for recommendations because inventory changes constantly, auctions end within minutes or last for hours, and buyer demand shifts throughout a show, making real-time personalization difficult. Whatnot has spent six years reducing how long recommendations take, moving from roughly a day down to minutes, and the acquisition is expected to push recommendations even closer to real time. The move reflects broader competition in resale platforms to integrate AI throughout their marketplaces.

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