Californian start-up Cadi has raised over $600,000 as its combines big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to bring an autonomous shopping experience to golfers.

The company is using autonomous retail and ecommerce technologies to bring retail to any location, creating a local, safer and easier shopping experience for the pro shop and the player.

The company hopes to hit $1.07m in its crowd-funding round so it can provide golfers with a completely tailored shopping experience via its autonomous kiosks. 

The company uses big data and AI to develop its products, which result in a personalised shopping experience tailored to each individual.

Today, the vast majority of products are purchased by visiting a traditional retail store or buying online. But with Covid-19, there is an accelerated shift to ecommerce. This shift threatens sporting goods because many products, including golf clubs, are best tried before purchasing.

“With Cadi, I recognised there was an opportunity for autonomous technology to revolutionise the golf industry,” said David Felker, founding VP of R&D for Callaway Golf Ball Company. “There is an opportunity to advance AI and there is no better time than now for Cadi to spearhead the innovation.”

The traditional retail experience only offers short indoor trials or infrequent demo days. That is why 90% of golfers prefer to demo products on a golf course or driving range before buying equipment. The result is two-thirds of customers are unhappy with their purchase within 14 days with no option for money back.

Cadi’s kiosk enables golfers to engage in a try-before-you-buy model on the golf course, which creates a new retail experience. Furthermore, Cadi offers a success-based revenue share for the local pro-shop.

Carole McCluskey, former CTO of Outerwall, and operator of Coinstar, Redbox and EcoATM, which each leverages deep technology, added: “As the world becomes more digital, customers want to control their shopping experience. Automated retail is an enabler to a better user-controlled consumer-driven experience. I immediately saw Cadi as a way to create a data-centric value chain for sports manufacturers and curated golf retail.”

Cadi’s retail technology has proven to be a market fit and could lead the transition to autonomous retail in the $126bn sporting goods market. With over $1m in pilot testing sales in 2020, Cadi has partnerships with 63 golf courses, several sporting brands and dozens of golf course management groups. This unlocks revenue and access to at least 250,000 golfers nationwide.

At the same time, Cadi gives back a percentage of its sales to the golf course, which creates a positive relationship with the local golfing community, including the golf shops. Given the decline in traditional brick-and-mortar retail, Cadi’s model helps by pursuing a cyclical bottom line revenue stream for golf courses, pro shops and players.

“The golf pro shop has been hurt by the emergence of online sales and big-box retail,” said Tyler Gottstein, Cadi’s CEO. “Cadi’s mission is to empower the golfer and the PGA professional by bringing commerce back to the golf course. Cadi’s technology will 100% support the golf professional by implementing autonomous technology removing the burdens of the pro shop and levelling the playing field with other retailers.”

Cadi has sold products to more than 6000 customers and has surpassed $1m in gross sales over the past 18 months while doubling sales from 2019 to 2020.

Cadi kiosks give golfers the freedom to demo, compare and purchase products at their convenience. It uses big data and AI to curate product selection and create a personalised experience for each customer. The company’s platform can transform and support declining brick-and-mortar storefronts, public parks, amusement parks, sporting events or even a street corner into a revenue-producing destination.