John Davie, the founder and CEO of Buyers Edge Platform, sought to harness the power of AI for his hospitality procurement business. However, he found the existing solutions lacking.
This led to the creation of CollectivIQ, a Boston-based startup that emerged from Buyers Edge. The platform enhances AI query accuracy by aggregating responses from multiple models, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Grok, among others.
Initially enthusiastic about AI tools, Davie quickly realized their potential drawbacks. "We faced a wake-up call when we understood that using various AI tools could inadvertently train them on our proprietary information," he noted. This concern arose from the risk of unintentionally benefiting competitors.
Exploring more secure enterprise AI contracts, he discovered that many long-term agreements for large language models often resulted in inaccurate outputs and hallucinations. "It was frustrating to decide which employees deserved access to AI, especially when many were reporting biased or incorrect answers that made their way into presentations," Davie explained.
Determined to improve the situation, he tasked his chief technology officer with developing a superior solution.
The outcome was CollectivIQ, a tool designed to query several large language models simultaneously. By analyzing overlapping and divergent information, it generates a more reliable and cohesive answer compared to individual models.
To ensure privacy, all data processed through CollectivIQ is encrypted and deleted after use, maintaining enterprise-level security.
"As a technology enthusiast, I always aim for the best tools," said Davie. "I wanted to provide my team with top-tier AI solutions, but nothing available could integrate multiple models effectively."
In early 2026, CollectivIQ began its internal rollout, receiving positive feedback from employees. Recognizing that many of Buyers Edge Platform's clients shared similar hesitations about AI adoption, the company decided to make the software publicly available.
The platform operates on a pay-per-usage model, with CollectivIQ covering token costs for its clients. "I hope this offers a refreshing alternative for companies, allowing them to pay only for the value they receive," Davie stated.
Fully funded by Davie, CollectivIQ is poised to seek external capital later this year. Reflecting on the journey, he expressed excitement about returning to the startup world nearly three decades after launching his first company. "It's exhilarating to dive back into building a new venture, collaborating closely with software developers, and engaging deeply with the technology," he remarked.
