Taste

By connecting users with similar interests, Taste is able to deliver personalized reviews and recommendations.

Its mobile app uses predictive algorithms to recommend things like movies, televisions shows, restaurants, and books. Users receive a personalized “Match%” each time they like or dislike a product. This percentage is computed from ratings of people with similar tastes, which are discovered through users’ “taste profiles.”

Currently, Taste offers users to chance to rate movies and TV shows. Soon, it will include categories such as music, books, podcasts, travel, concerts, and fashion. Its goal is to replace all review platforms and become the new standard for discovery.

More than 1 billion people rely on review platforms like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Rotten Tomatoes. At the same time, large e-commerce companies place great value on recommendation websites and services.

For example, eBay acquired Hunch, a recommendation platform that made product decisions based on people’s interests, for $80 million. And in 2017, Spotify acquired MightyTV, an app that enables users to swipe through lists of movies and TV shows and receive recommendations on new content.

The problem is that most recommendation platforms don’t offer a truly personalized experience. Why should two people with dramatically different tastes see the same ratings and reviews?

Taste differs from these platforms by offering personalized recommendations created by like-minded users. To do this, its algorithm focuses on peer-to-peer connections, rather than item-to-item.

Here’s how it works:

First, users create a taste profile that shows their interests and preferences.

Next, Taste’s algorithm offers personalized recommendations based on the opinions of similar users. This Match% is 2.5x more accurate in predicting user preference compared to generic rating systems.

Finally, the platform encourages users to rate and review more products and services through a "gamified" experience.

Because Taste uses the same algorithm across all product categories, it can effectively scale its business.

Taste offers a free, basic version, or a paid version with additional recommendations and advanced features.

In addition, the company generates revenue through advertisements. More specifically, users receive targeted ads for products that they rate highly on the app.

Taste has secured contracts with advertisers and expects to start generating ad revenue in Q2 2019.

The company has 300,000 registered users, and 1,700 paid users. Its cost to acquire each customer is $0.23, and 50% of users retain the app for at least 90 days. This rate is more than double the industry average.

With its two sources of revenue, Taste projects to surpass $100 million in annual revenue within five years.

In addition to adding new product categories to its platform, Taste will increase its marketing budget and hire full-time staff members.

Team Background

Justin Messina - Co-Founder & CTO

Justin worked alongside John at Square Tomato, serving as the company’s Head of Technology.

He has a technical background, including experience as a full stack software developer and consultant.

In addition to Square Tomato, he worked with John at MadeClose as Lead Frontend Engineer.

Justin earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer and Information Sciences from University of Oregon.

John Lin - Co-Founder & CEO

Prior to starting Taste, John spent nine years at Square Tomato, a digital advertising agency.

He worked as a digital strategist and as Head of Digital, managing brands including Xbox, Starbucks, and Essentia Water.

While serving as Head of Digital, he ran acquisition campaigns and oversaw analytics that covered more than 10 million customers.

He was former Head of Product Design for MadeClose, a company focused on creating opportunities for small businesses.

John earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington.

David Shilane - Chief Data Scientist

David is the Founder of Lambency, a data science consulting firm that specializes in social media and educational technology.

In addition, he spent time as a medical researcher at Stanford University, where he developed a platform to customize educational content.

Philippe Modard - Back End Developer

Philippe has more than 10 years of experience as a software architect. He was a senior developer at Google and was an engineer at Techspace Aero, a management consulting company focused on the aerospace industry.

He earned a Master’s degree in Aeronautics from Universidad Politecnica de Madrid.

Co-Investors