In a bid to revolutionize consumer insights and market research, startup Cafeteria is launching an iOS app that connects teenagers with brands they love, providing real-time, authentic feedback on strategy and product development. The app, which has been in beta testing for three months across 60 U.S. cities, allows teens to select brands they're interested in and participate in surveys called Tables, earning rewards of $5 to $20 for their insights.

Cafeteria's unique approach focuses on zero-party data collection, customizable analytics, and strong leadership under CEO Rishi Malhotra, a veteran of the music industry. The company has raised $3 million in funding from investors including Collaborative Fund, Imaginary Ventures, and Bertelsmann.

The app's features include a lifestyle Table, where teens answer 20-25 questions about retail, shoes, food, music, and more, and can select eight brands they love. Cafeteria limits surveys to three to five per month, aiming to make the experience more rewarding than scrolling social media.

Brands benefit from Cafeteria's insights, which are collated into a dashboard called Albums, organized by category. The startup offers a basic $5,000-a-month plan for brands to access lifestyle Album insights and cohort competitor insights, with additional features available for higher-tier plans.

With its innovative approach, Cafeteria is poised to disrupt the consumer insights market, providing brands with actionable and timely insights directly from teenagers.