Alex Ruber, a former Apple engineer, and Parth Chopra, a former Twitter and Asana engineer, came together to create a solution for the common struggle of finding the right secondhand items online. They met through Y Combinator’s founder match platform and bonded over their shared love for thrift store shopping. Recognizing the fragmentation in the secondhand shopping market, they decided to build Encore, a search engine that aggregates secondhand items from various sources to make the process easier for consumers.
The idea for Encore stemmed from Ruber’s personal experience of trying to find a specific jacket from a TV show. As immigrants who have spent time and money at thrift stores, both Ruber and Chopra understood the challenges of navigating multiple platforms like Depop, Mercari, and eBay to find the perfect item. With Encore, users can simply input their queries and get matches from different resources, including Poshmark, the RealReal, and Etsy.
What sets Encore apart is its AI-powered search capabilities. Users can enter detailed search queries like “Show me a dress that Emily wore in ‘Emily in Paris’ Season 3 Episode 4” and get relevant results. The search engine also provides partial prompts to guide users in formulating their queries effectively. This feature ensures that users can make the most out of Encore’s capabilities without feeling overwhelmed by the search process.
The secondhand retail market is experiencing rapid growth, with projections estimating it to reach $73 billion in the U.S. and $350 billion globally by 2028. Online thrift stores like ThredUp are expected to dominate the market, accounting for half of all secondhand sales by 2025. Encore, with over 50,000 searches per month and consistent month-on-month growth, is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend.
Currently, Encore generates revenue through affiliate shares but is exploring a subscription model priced at $3 per month. This subscription would offer users unlimited searches with advanced search models, image-based item finding, and customer support via email and chat. By providing additional value-added services, Encore aims to enhance the user experience and drive further growth for the platform.
As Ruber and Chopra continue to innovate and expand Encore’s capabilities, they remain committed to simplifying the secondhand shopping experience for consumers. With their unique backgrounds and shared passion for thrift store treasures, the duo is poised to make a significant impact in the burgeoning secondhand retail market.
