Pogo announced the launch of what it describes as the world’s first AI research platform, enabling brands to engage directly with purchase-verified consumers at scale. The company also revealed that it has raised $32 million in funding to date from investors including Buckley Ventures, Mantis, 20VC, Village Global, Lenny Rachitsky, and the founders of Honey.
Founded in 2020, Pogo operates a consumer app with more than 3 million opted-in U.S. users and visibility into 1 in 150 shopping trips in the United States, representing more than $470 billion in transaction value. The platform allows brands to conduct AI-moderated interviews, quantitative surveys, and behavioral intelligence programs using verified consumer data.
Pogo said traditional consumer research has been hindered by survey fraud and unreliable respondents, leading brands to make decisions based on inaccurate information. The company said its platform solves these issues by verifying purchases through SKU-level transaction data, allowing brands to target actual buyers of specific products and categories.
Using the platform, brands can specify the audience they want to reach, after which Pogo’s AI identifies relevant consumers, generates discussion guides, launches AI-moderated video interviews, and delivers transcripts and insights within hours. The platform also supports quantitative surveys and always-on behavioral triggers that engage consumers when their purchasing behavior changes.
The company said dozens of major consumer brands, consulting firms, and investment funds are already using the platform. Example use cases include helping a consumer packaged goods company identify packaging issues with a new product, enabling a technology company to understand customer retention among robotaxi users, and providing a food manufacturer with insights into how GLP-1 medications are influencing purchasing patterns.
Pogo’s consumer app has been recognized by Newsweek as the top loyalty app in the United States for two consecutive years. Users earn money by sharing data such as card transactions, receipts, app usage, and location visits, and receive savings through fee refunds, class-action settlements, and insurance discounts.
KEY QUOTES:
“Prior to Pogo, the platform we were using had a couple of limitations. We really didn’t have confidence in the output of those surveys because people could tell you whatever they wanted in order to qualify. With Pogo’s receipt verification, we felt so much more confident in the data. We presented the information internally and immediately made a business decision. That doesn’t usually happen. Ultimately, that’s going to lead to a multi-million dollar business impact for us.”
Shannon Clayton, Head Of Private Label Marketing, OFI
“If we do our job right, Pogo becomes the world’s most trusted source of human truth. The facts of what people bought, when, and how often, but also the story behind it: the emotion, the context, what drove them. The result is a better system for all sides: smarter decisions for businesses, better products and services for consumers, and a new way for people to earn by sharing their lived experiences.”
Dom Wong, Co-Founder And CEO, Pogo
