Daydream’s Julie Bornstein and Vlad Loktev on How AI is Transforming Shopping and Search

Over the past 25 years, Julie Bornstein has earned her reputation as an ecommerce powerhouse. She has shaped digital strategies at brands like Nordstrom, Sephora, Urban Outfitters, and Stitch Fix and founded THE YES (acquired by Pinterest in 2022). Now, she’s back with Daydream, an AI-powered shopping platform that uses natural language and real-time inventory from thousands of brands to create a smarter, more personal way to shop.

At the Startup Grind Conference, Julie sat down with Index partner Vlad Loktev to talk about her journey, which goes back to her days as a kid growing up in Syracuse, flipping through Seventeen magazine and hunting for the perfect outfit at her local mall. They discuss why traditional search for fashion is broken, how Daydream is changing how people discover and shop for clothes, and what it takes to earn trust from shoppers and brands. Julie also shares her thoughts on where ecommerce is headed, plus her advice for founders building teams in fast-moving, AI-driven spaces.