Encore is an AI-powered search engine for your thrifting needs

Nov 11, 2024

Encore is an AI-driven tool enhancing thrift shopping by integrating resources like eBay, boosting discovery with innovative search functions.

Encore is an AI-powered search engine for your thrifting needs

: Encore, launched by Alex Ruber and Parth Chopra, is an AI-powered search engine focused on secondhand shopping. It aggregates listings from platforms such as eBay and Depop, making it easier for users to find unique items using natural language and image searches. Originating from Y Combinator, Encore is seeing substantial growth in user engagement, monetized through affiliate shares and a potential subscription model.

Encore is an innovative AI-powered search engine aimed at simplifying the process of thrift shopping. Created by former engineers Alex Ruber and Parth Chopra, it consolidates a variety of secondhand platforms, including eBay and Depop, into one searchable interface, using advanced language models to help users easily find items like clothes seen in TV shows.

The idea emerged from the duo's personal experiences and challenges in navigating the fragmented secondhand market. Ruber, inspired by his time spent thrifting and a specific search for a jacket from 'The Bear', joined hands with Chopra, who shares a passion for fashion and thrift discoveries, to build a tool that eliminates the complexity of finding specific items online.

Encore processes more than 50,000 searches monthly with a significant growth trajectory, monetizing primarily through affiliate links and experimenting with a $3 monthly subscription for advanced features. With the secondhand market expected to reach substantial growth figures by 2028, Encore is positioned as a key player, facilitating ease of access and discovery in this expanding market.