KIVALUE co-founder Anton Pershin steps away from retail solutions company to build new AI centric venture Enstyle

Anton Pershin is leaving KIVALUE, the consultancy specialising in retail solutions that he co-founded almost seven years ago, to focus on growing his new venture, Enstyle, a trend navigation platform for fashion brands and retailers.

In a LinkedIn post, he said: "After nearly seven amazing years, I am stepping away from KIVALUE. Starting from scratch - just before Covid hit (could not be a better moment!) - and growing into a trusted consultancy partnering with global leaders in fashion retail has been quite the journey. It’s been filled with blood, sweat, and tears (those will not be remembered), but also with learning, fun, positive energy, and transformation (those will last forever).'

He added: "I am deeply grateful to our clients for their trust, to our partners for their support, and to my incredible team for sharing every up and down along the way. Now, it is time to take things to the next level. With a strong management team under Christoph Graeber's leadership, I truly believe the sky is the limit for KIVALUE."

"Why now? Because AI (and AI agents specifically) is not just advancing - it is fundamentally reshaping how we understand complexity. What once felt out of reach - behavioural modelling, data science, algorithmic retailing - is suddenly becoming intuitive and accessible in ways we could not have imagined. But technology alone is not enough.”

“As these tools evolve at lightning speed, the way we work with them - and how we design experiences around them - must evolve even faster. We are at a rare inflection point, filled with aha moments and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. For me, this feels like a unique 0 to 1 moment - a fresh beginning that sparks excitement and creativity."

Enstyle is pitched at the agentic space - where AI agents move beyond mere assistance to actively making decisions, driving transactions, and generating value, ultimately becoming an essential part of the labour force.

Pershin concluded: “Not long ago, the Enstyle project was just academic research. Today, the momentum looks real: first paying customers (hurray!), hands on feedback from early users, a board of industry advisors, contributors, ambassadors, and growing interest from the community. Together with Eric Prengel, Alina Veselaya, Milan Jose, Constantin Stipnieks, and the rest of our talented team, we are rethinking how creative work and fashion merchandising get done. Exciting times. I can’t wait to share more with the community soon."

RTIH AI in Retail Awards

RTIH, organiser of the industry leading RTIH Innovation Awards, proudly brings you the first edition of the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, which is now open for entries. 

As we witness a digital transformation revolution across all channels, AI tools are reshaping the omnichannel game, from personalising customer experiences to optimising inventory, uncovering insights into consumer behaviour, and enhancing the human element of retailers' businesses.

With 2025 set to be the year when AI and especially gen AI shake off the ‘heavily hyped’ tag and become embedded in retail business processes, our newly launched awards celebrate global technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and the resulting benefits for retailers, shoppers and employees.

Our 2025 winners will be those companies who not only recognise the potential of AI, but also make it usable in everyday work - resulting in more efficiency and innovation in all areas.

Winners will be announced at an evening event at The Barbican in Central London on Wednesday, 3rd September.

This will kick off with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a three course meal, and awards ceremony in the Garden Room.

Please email our Editor, Scott Thompson, if you have any questions or need further information: scott.thompson@retailtechinnovationhub.com

Key 2025 dates

Friday, 18th July: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 22nd July: 2025 finalists revealed

Wednesday, 23rd July - Friday, 8th August: Judging days

Wednesday, 3rd September: Winners announced at the 2025 RTIH AI in Retail Awards Ceremony, to be held at The Barbican in Central London.