Perplexity

Perplexity is an AI-powered research assistant founded by ex-researchers from OpenAI, DeepMind, and Meta that transforms how solo entrepreneurs gather market intelligence. Unlike ChatGPT which operates on static knowledge, Perplexity combines real-time web search with multiple AI models (GPT-4, Claude, Sonar) to deliver current, cited answers perfect for competitive analysis, industry trends, and customer insight gathering.

The platform's defining strength is automatic source attribution—every answer includes clickable citations allowing you to verify information independently. This eliminates the hallucination risk that makes generic AI assistants unreliable for business decisions. Focus modes (Academic, Writing, Reddit, YouTube) tailor search behavior to specific information sources, while Collections organize research by project or business area. The API access enables integration into your own workflows and products.

Perplexity's Pro plan at $20/month offers 300+ daily Pro searches—sufficient for continuous market research, competitor monitoring, and product validation. The free tier with 5 daily searches works for occasional research, though power users quickly upgrade. Valued at $20 billion with backing from Jeff Bezos and Nvidia, the platform represents the next generation of search beyond Google. For solo entrepreneurs building data-driven products or making strategic decisions, Perplexity's cited, real-time AI research outperforms traditional search engines and generic AI assistants.