Richard Stevens, CEO of Zyft, has spent his first six months steering the AI-powered shopping assistant through a period of explosive growth. With over 650,000 downloads, 100,000+ daily searches, and $7.5 million in fresh funding, Zyft is reshaping how Australians shop, and how retailers compete.
In today’s episode, Richard shares why consumers are leaning harder into AI tools to make confident purchase decisions, how Zyft is levelling the playing field for retailers, and why everyday items like olive oil tell you more about consumer behaviour than you’d expect.
An empowered, confident consumer is a great thing. You’re shortening the decision funnel, and that means more transactions actually happen in the moment.
Today, we’re discussing…
- Zyft’s origins and growth: from Damien Waller’s vision in 2019 to 650,000 downloads and $7.5M raised in 2025.
- How the app works: Chrome and Safari extensions, mobile apps, barcode scanning, and live retailer feeds.
- The consumer mindset: why cost-of-living pressures have made shoppers more price-conscious and open to AI tools.
- Retailer opportunities: using Zyft’s data and transparency to boost discoverability, credibility, and conversion.
- The future of shopping: what AI-powered price comparison means for retailers heading into Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond.
00:02:16 Introduction to Zift and Richard Stevens
00:03:17 How Zift Works for Consumers and Retailers
00:05:37 Growth and Data Capabilities
00:11:27 Retailer Partnerships and Price Strategy
00:17:04 AI Shopping Assistants and Consumer Confidence
00:23:07 Black Friday Strategy and Consumer Behavior
00:35:49 Price Advice for Retailers in 2026
00:43:51 Looking Ahead: Zift’s Future Plans
00:48:51 Key Takeaways on Customer Price Sensitivity
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