Is it possible for generative AI to replace the need for a social network? The California-based startup focused on discovering local activities, Bigfoot, believes integrating a conversational AI, referred to as Littlefoot into its weekend planning site will not only personalize the experience but also simplify the search for local happenings.
According to co-founder Alex Ward, the goal is to mimic the experience of getting advice from a “well-informed friend.”
By introducing this feature, Bigfoot allows users to easily navigate its carefully selected local events, places to visit, and nightlife options through simple text interactions. This affords users the convenience of tailoring AI responses to offer bespoke suggestions for an enjoyable weekend. Whether it’s a scenic hike followed by a nearby barbeque or a day spent experiencing modern art before participating in a wine tasting, Bigfoot aims to streamline the weekend planning process and encourage local exploration.
While companies like Airbnb have been providing similar experience discovery services for nearly ten years, Bigfoot’s team believes there’s room for a specialized tool that enhances weekend plans with a local leisure focus, differentiating from platforms that are primarily travel and professionally guided experience oriented.
Launched in late 2022 with some initial investment from angel investors and venture capital firms, Bigfoot has amassed a collection of over 120,000 events and activities spanning 160 cities, accessible via a categorically sorted search on its platform.
The latest enhancement incorporates an AI-powered chatbot, Littlefoot, utilizing advanced language models from tech entities like Anthropic, OpenAI, and Perplexity to facilitate interactions with its extensive local recommendations.
Ward, along with his fellow ex-Airbnb colleagues who founded Bigfoot, views the integration of the GenAI chatbot as a pivotal relaunch. He shared with TechCrunch that at one point, the platform attracted up to 30,000 monthly users, mainly due to their initial marketing efforts in New York.
To achieve their broader vision of becoming a local discovery and promotion platform for small businesses, the team is Eyeing seed investment. The success of Littlefoot is crucial for drawing individuals seeking novel weekend activities.
Ward noted significant growth at the height of their marketing efforts and acknowledged early feedback from users expressed a desire for a product like Littlefoot, where users could interact as though they were speaking with a friend well-versed in local offerings.
However, they face competition for consumer attention, not only from general-purpose chatbots and AI search engines but also from existing platforms that offer planners general, often tourist-focused, suggestions.
Bigfoot believes its unique combination of generative AI and over fifty curated data sources enable it to provide more nuanced and contextually relevant recommendations, enhancing the quality of local leisure discovery.
Despite using mainstream AI for conversational elements, Bigfoot’s diverse and trusted information sources and ongoing efforts to refine their offerings set them apart in crafting distinctive local experiences. Ward emphasizes the blend of major APIs and unique content sources like specialized blogs for a well-rounded recommendation portfolio.
To further personalize the experience, upcoming features may include the integration of user preferences via Google Maps and Spotify APIs, along with innovative ways to create and share plans based on preferred activities.
Bigfoot aims to deliver a visually engaging planning tool, featuring images and videos to illustrate suggestions, distinguishing itself from the more text-heavy outputs of generic AI tools.
Considering AI-generated weekend plans?
Comparative testing shows Littlefoot can unveil more unique and less known activities than typical AI assistants, providing options like lesser-known scenic hikes and cultural tours that diverge from the mainstream attractions often suggested by other services.
Yet, winning over users who value specialized and deeply local experiences remains a challenge, especially against the backdrop of widely-used, general search interfaces.
As Bigfoot continues to refine its offerings, overcoming initial missteps and improving the user experience will be key to carving out its niche in a crowded discovery platform market. This journey is made all the more challenging by the uphill battle of gaining traction in a market dominated by established habits and platforms.
Ward acknowledges the steep challenge ahead, emphasizing the need for precision and effort in curating appealing and unique experiences without over-relying on user-generated content.
The team of six behind Bigfoot remains committed to enhancing the platform and exploring novel functionalities, like extending Littlefoot’s capabilities to messaging apps for easy group planning. Success hinges on securing additional funding to realize these ambitions and further develop the platform’s vision.
Correction: An earlier version of this report inaccurately stated the total number of events and activities available on Bigfoot.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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