Cached: Building a Smarter Connections Between Buyers and Sellers

Summary

Cached is redefining how people connect with the right products. Instead of forcing users to endlessly browse through generic marketplace listings, Cached enables them to upload details about the items they need and instantly get matched with verified sellers who can deliver.

The platform reduces friction for both sides: buyers find exactly what they’re looking for faster, and sellers reach qualified leads who are already interested. By prioritizing trust, transparency, and precision, Cached is building a marketplace that feels effortless, efficient, and reliable.

Goal

The goal was to design and develop a platform that provides:

A simplified buyer journey for product requests.

A seller dashboard that highlights relevant leads.

A seamless matching process built around trust and verification.

Outcome

Within the first month post-launch:

Buyer-to-seller matches increased by 45% compared to manual searching.

Verified seller engagement grew significantly, with 30% fewer drop-offs after initial contact.

Early adopters reported that Cached saved them “hours of wasted searching” when compared to traditional marketplaces.

My Role
Product designer
Team
6 cross-functional partners (Product, Engineering, Research, Marketing, Ops)
Duration
<3 months

My responsibilities

User Research
User Flows
Wireframing
High Fidelity Prototype
Visual Design
Interaction

Defining the problem

In traditional marketplaces, buyers are overloaded with irrelevant results, leading to frustration and wasted time. Sellers, on the other hand, compete for attention in an overcrowded space, often connecting with buyers who aren’t truly interested.

Problem Statement ✶︎ How might we help buyers find exactly what they need—and sellers reach the right customers—without requiring long searches or unreliable guesswork?

My process

Research & Insights

To understand the problem, we carried out interviews, competitor analysis, and journey mapping.

  • User Interviews: Buyers expressed frustration with filtering through irrelevant products; sellers wanted higher-quality leads rather than sheer volume.
  • Competitor Analysis: Existing platforms prioritize breadth, not precision—leaving a gap for smarter matching.
  • Journey Mapping: We mapped both buyer and seller flows, uncovering pain points around search fatigue, trust, and communication.
Key Insights
  • Buyers wanted a fast, request-driven experience rather than browsing.
  • Sellers valued verification and trust signals before committing to deals.
  • A simplified onboarding process would make or break adoption.

Solution Strategy

Armed with insights, we designed Cached to prioritize precision, trust, and simplicity.

For Buyers

  • Quick request upload (text + images).
  • Instant product matches from verified sellers.
  • Transparent communication and notifications.


For Sellers

  • Streamlined lead dashboard.
  • Smart filters for product requests.
  • Verification badges to build trust.


Final Prototype

  • Buyer flow: Upload → Match → Connect.
  • Seller flow: Verify → View Leads → Respond.
  • Notifications and messaging built-in.

Impact

  • Matches up 45% after launch.
  • Drop-offs reduced by 30% among sellers.
  • Positive adoption from both sides, with GTM teams using Cached in demos to showcase its unique precision-driven approach.