Giftpack AI is an AI-powered business gifting SaaS platform that streamlines the process by helping customers create meaningful connections, retain employees, and curate VIP clients. And Giftpack AI’s audience includes HR managers, marketers, and executive assistants, with some clients in the brokering, business development and project management sectors. Pulse 2.0 Giftpack founder and CEO Archer Chiang to learn more.
Archer Chiang’s Background
Chiang is a four-time tech founder who has been starting new businesses since the age of 19. And Chiang said:
“My businesses have footprints in the US, Taiwan, China, Japan, and South Korea. Initially, I was born in South Africa and raised in Taiwan. I currently live in New York City. I love building products that bridge the gap between technology and humanity.”
Formation Of Giftpack
How did the idea for Giftpack come together? Chiang shared:
“The idea for Giftpack.ai emerged from recognizing the need for a more efficient and personalized approach to personal gifting, then extended the possibility to bridge the gap of corporate gifting.”
“I first built the product while in a long-distance relationship and was struggling to find gifts for my girlfriend that she found useful. Now, we’ve shifted focus from personalized gifting to streamlining the corporate gifting process, allowing managers and teams to send thoughtful gifts with a global, reliable supply chain and cutting-edge gifting technology, enhancing employee and client relationships.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Chiang reflected:
“One of our most cherished memories was when we received feedback from a client who saw a significant boost in employee morale and engagement after using our platform for corporate gifting. It’s immensely rewarding to know that our efforts positively impact people and their workplaces. One of the best quotes from a client has been, “You guys make my employees expect the unexpected!”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Chiang explained:
“The core product is a corporate gifting solution that allows users to find the best and most appropriate gift for any individual at scale with AI. The core features are global delivery, AI gift recommendations, a personality quiz, ease of use, and data-driven gifting results.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges has Chiang faced in building the company? Chiang acknowledged:
“Handling a huge supply chain network and integrating a significant number of third-party applications that can boost gifting efficiency is not always easy.”
“Most of the HR and Marketing/Sales professionals do not understand how a gifting platform can boost their company’s work product through improving morale. As a result, they treat gifting and employee engagement efforts with company-level applications instead of a department-level procurement.”
Evolution Of Giftpack’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Chiang acknowledged:
“From day one, we committed to building everything in-house. We’ve incorporated advanced AI algorithms for personalized gift recommendations, improved user interfaces, and enhanced automation capabilities to make the gifting process more efficient and tailored to individual preferences. Our AI is also incorporated into the visual engine that can be used a real-textured mockup to bridge the gap between client demands and manufacturing.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Chiang cited:
– June 2020: Giftpack.ai Launched
– August 2021: Global Marketplace Launched
– March 2022: Pre-Seed Round Completed
– June 2022: Global Swag Supply Chain and Visual Engine Launched
– March 2023: Seed Round Completed
Customer Success Stories
Upon asking Chiang about customer success stories, he replied:
“We can’t mention our clients’ name based on our privacy policy, but here are the common use cases:
1.) Employee Onboarding and Lifetime Engagement
1a.) We connect to our clients’ human resources information system (HRIS) to automate employee onboarding, birthday and anniversary gifts without diverting significant time and resources.
1b.) We provide a global, all-in-one branding platform for clients to shop for branded swag with a design engine.
2.) Marketing Gifting Campaign Automation
2a.) We connect to our clients’ CRM to trigger gifting activities with the designed condition, like hitting milestones, birthdays, or shopping with a certain amount. This allows marketers to run global campaigns without worrying about the gifting operation.
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Chiang assessed:
– $316+ billion for corporate gifting.
– $700+ billion for personalized gifting.
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Chiang affirmed:
“Our biggest competitive advantages include our global capabilities, AI-powered recommendations, and a seamless visual engine.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future company goals? Chiang pointed out:
“We are aiming for a world with no-distance gifting. We want to create a platform that can be the first one that comes to mind when someone wants to send a gift. There is a lot of work still in the industry and we will continue building the solutions that address these issues one by one. The most prescient examples:
– The industry lacks imagination about how gifting can be in 2023 to increase return and efficiency.
– The global supply chain is not well-developed for sourcing, packaging, and diversity for gifting.
– The software integrations and tools have more potential to be fast and easy.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics to discuss? Chiang concluded:
“We’re excited about the ongoing developments in the corporate gifting landscape. The intersection of AI, personalization, and seamless integration with various business processes presents a world of possibilities. We’re also keen on discussing how our solutions align with broader trends like remote work and direct mail strategies.”
