Artificial intelligence has made it easier than ever for brands to produce polished content—but that efficiency may be creating a new challenge: consumers increasingly assume that what they see was generated by AI. New research from Calgary-based consumer research platform Cashew found that 87% of consumers believe brands use at least some AI-generated content, even […]
Cashew
Cashew Raises New Funding To Double Down On Human Insight In The Age Of AI
Calgary-based Cashew has raised new funding to support the next phase of its growth as the AI-powered market research startup builds what it calls “the future of research-led strategy and content.” Calgary.tech named Cashew one of 10 homegrown Calgary startups to watch in 2026. The company did not disclose the size of the raise or […]
Return Policy a Critical Strategy for Online Retail, Calgary’s Cashew Concludes
Brands are losing revenue in online sales, often without realizing why, due to outdated return policies. This is the major takeaway from “The Returns Revolt,” a recently released report. The digital report, published by Calgary-based market research solution upstart Cashew, finds that ill-rendered return policies are “suppressing demand, eroding trust, and stopping shoppers from buying […]
Calgary Startups Earn National CIX Recognition
CIX has announced the recipients of its 2026 Startup Awards, recognizing 14 Canadian companies selected from more than 370 applicants and vetted by 94 leading North American investors. Spanning Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary, the cohort reflects the breadth of Canada’s innovation economy, with startups tackling challenges across healthtech, climate, defence, fintech, and martech. More […]
10 Homegrown Calgary Startups to Watch in 2026
Calgary’s startup ecosystem is entering 2026 with growing confidence—and growing ambition. Once defined largely by energy, the city is now producing globally relevant companies across AI, fintech, health, food, defence, agtech, and regulatory technology. The 10 startups featured here reflect that evolution: founders solving hard, real-world problems with export-ready technology, often from deeply local insight. […]
Calgary’s Cashew Wins Best Enterprise Company at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Calgary-based market research startup Cashew has been named Best Enterprise Company at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, one of the world’s most influential startup conferences. Co-founded by Addy Graves and Rose Wong, Cashew is reimagining how brands gather consumer insights — building a faster, more inclusive, and more accessible model for market research. The company’s platform enables […]
Calgary’s Cashew Secures Top Investment at Women Innovation Summit
Calgary-based Cashew emerged as the top-funded startup at DMZ’s Women Innovation Summit, securing $190,000 in investments from DMZ Ventures ($150,000) and The Firehood ($40,000). The AI-driven market research platform was one of four women-led startups awarded funding at the Toronto event, which saw a total of $535,000 invested in promising female entrepreneurs. Now in its […]
Calgary AI Startup Cashew to Compete for $150K in Prizes at Nationwide DMZ Pitch Event in March
Cashew is a startup based in Calgary with an aim to simplify market research for businesses through a human-supported, automated platform. The Alberta firm, launched in 2018 by chief executive officer Addy Graves and Rose Wong, leverages artificial intelligence among other technologies to improve the end-to-end process of conducting market research. Compared to traditional market […]