Two former Google executives have introduced Silvr, an app designed to enable instant shopping from TV screens using AI and computer vision. The startup, backed by investors from major media companies, launches today amid growing interest in visual search technologies. Silvr aims to overcome past challenges in making entertainment content directly shoppable.
Josh Lanzet and Jason Fahlstrom, who spent 13 and 11 years at Google respectively, have developed Silvr after two years of work. Lanzet led media and entertainment partnerships for streaming, while Fahlstrom focused on AI strategy. The app launches on February 24, 2026, following a family and friends funding round from angel investors at Netflix, Disney, Google, and LinkedIn. The founders are preparing to raise $3 million in pre-seed investment.
Silvr's consumer app lets users point their phone cameras at TV or laptop screens to identify and purchase items worn by characters. It also includes a B2B platform for streamers such as Netflix and HBO Max, allowing viewers to pause and shop directly. "For the longest time, the ‘where did you get that?’ problem has been a visual question answered with a text-based answer, but now our consumer app matches it with a visual answer," Lanzet says. "There’s been object recognition but no fashion recognition, and that’s what Silvr brings."
Ahead of launch, Silvr has partnered with more than 300 fashion brands, including Alexander McQueen, Isabel Marant, Etro, Alo Yoga, Nike, New Balance, and Ganni. Retailers like Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Amazon are involved, along with resale platforms The RealReal and 1stDibs, and affiliate networks Impact.com, CJ, and Rakuten. The company is in discussions with major streaming platforms for its B2B product, with one already signing a letter of intent.
The timing aligns with advances in AI and computer vision, enabling multimodal search on platforms like OpenAI, Google Lens, and Pinterest Lens. Younger users drive this trend, with 10% of Gen Z starting Google searches with images. Previous efforts, such as Netflix's 2024 partnership with Google Lens for Emily in Paris, Paramount's use of Shopsense AI for VMAs, and Amazon's 2021 experiments, faced accuracy and usability issues. Startups like Seek, TheTake, and Beamly shut down after similar attempts.
"We stand on the shoulders of a lot of people who have tried to do this before—in fact, two of those companies informally advise us as founders—but I think we’re beneficiaries of where consumer behavior and technology are at the moment," Lanzet says. Silvr's AI is trained specifically on fashion and accessories for precise identification. Users are directed to direct-to-consumer sites for purchases, with plans for future integrated checkout.
Revenue will come from B2B licensing fees, affiliate partnerships, data sales to brands, and optional priority placements. The focus is on scaling the consumer app to improve AI through user interactions. Long-term, Fahlstrom envisions expansion to social media and real-life scanning, potentially integrating with AI wearables to eliminate shopping friction.
