Trevor Sumner is a NYC-based entrepreneur with multiple successful exits, an early-stage investor, and advisor. He is the CEO of i-Genie, which synthesizes hundreds of billions of Google searches, online reviews, social and video posts to provide next-generation consumer insights, brand equity tracking, market trends, and product R&D ideas for companies such as Unilever, Coca-Cola, Kenvue, Clorox, and more. He previously served as Head of AI and Data Platform Products at Raydiant and as CEO of Perch, whose interactive retail displays used computer vision to drive an average 87% sales lift. Perch won numerous Clio, Digi, Edison, and Fast Company awards and was named one of Forbes’ 15 tech companies to watch. Trevor has been named a Top 100 Retail Industry Influencer by Rethink Retail, a Top 50 Retail Technology Thought Leader by Retail Tech Innovation Hub, and Most Influential CEO in Visual Merchandising by Corporate Vision. He runs Summoner, a small early-stage investment and advisory firm with a portfolio of a couple dozen startups, and is a lead mentor in the ERA Accelerator in New York City.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevorsumner/
Host: Richard Lowe | Guest: Trevor Sumner
Summary
Richard Lowe interviews Trevor Sumner, CEO of i-Genie and a tech entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience. Trevor shares how his AI startup is transforming consumer insights for major brands like Coca-Cola, Bayer, and Unilever, replacing unreliable survey data with real-time analysis of billions of online signals across TikTok, Google, and Instagram.
From the AI hype cycle to the practical benefits of using tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, Trevor offers grounded perspective. He and Richard discuss how AI is not just streamlining operations but redefining what lean, high-impact teams can achieve, with real stories of AI shaving hours off content creation, reimagining competitive analysis, and improving personal health outcomes.
The episode also explores broader societal implications: the future of entry-level jobs, demographic collapse, and how automation could offset shrinking populations in countries like Japan and China. Trevor maintains a cautious optimism that AI will not replace people, but those who use it wisely will outperform those who don’t.
Find Richard Lowe at TheWritingKing.com.