An Emeryville-based startup hopes to help people find content on the web relevant to their personal interests. Recommendation engine Persai launched its private beta tonight. You're not hallucinating if the name sounds familiar. Persai is the company created by Matt Kent, Ted Dziuba, and Kyle Shank, who are perhaps better known as the guys behind Uncov, the recently shuttered blog known for its harsh, and profanity laced, criticisms of Silicon Valley companies.
I got a sneak peek of the site in action. (Screenshots are below). Once you sign up, Persai asks you to specify an "interest" using a few keywords. It then starts combing the web to find content which their algorithm suggests might fit your interest.
According to the company founders, they've only raised $35,000 in funding so far.
Want to test the service out? We have 20 invite codes to give away. Just send an email to megan_mccarthy@wired.com with the subject "In after Persai" if you're interested.
Persai recommendation refined over time.
An interest is created using keywords.
Based on the keywords I entered, Persai returned these two results, based on content published on the internet in the 24 hours, or so, prior to the time I created the "Red Sox" interest.
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