Innovate UK Project 10172849 · Final Report

SampleExperience.AI

A new category of gamified, AI-driven product sampling — built, deployed, and commercially validated under Innovate UK 10172849.

Strange Thoughts Group Ltd.
May 2026

01 / 20

SampleExperience.AI

Traditional sampling is high-waste,
low-engagement, unmeasurable.

A platform — not a product —
for converting the sampling moment into measurable engagement.

One kiosk, many surfaces

Earn the reward

Connected fulfilment

A four-layer R&D platform —
interaction, hardware, backend, fulfilment.

AI avatars, EEG, gesture, voice

Custom kiosk, 8-product vend

Campaign & reward engine

360° journey via SoPost

Three architectural pivots,
each evidenced in deployment.

From off-the-shelf vending → custom build

From Yepic → Tavus for conversational avatars

From AI-controlled hardware → deterministic triggers

Custom electronics, custom firmware, custom fabrication.

One cabinet.
Eight dispense bays.
Infinite brand surfaces.

EEG-driven
gamified sampling.

Same platform.
Different brand.
Different game.

Two campaigns,
one CMS.
Built for fleets.

From kiosk tap to sample at the door.

Hypothesis evidenced.
Plus one finding we did not predict.

Earned beats free.

The spectatorship effect.

Pacing > tech.

Active engagement
across six named organisations.

"Tony" — an in-store
colleague avatar,
delivered as a kiosk.

From temporary activation
to permanent installed estate.

Branded activations,
per-event bookings.

Networked sampling
infrastructure.

The same chassis, configured
for every category.

Four priorities for the next funded phase.

Unattended-grade hardware

Bring unit cost down

Build the SoPost loop

Expand games & characters

Thank you.

SampleExperience.AI

One kiosk, many surfaces

Earn the reward

Connected fulfilment

AI avatars, EEG, gesture, voice

Custom kiosk, 8-product vend

Campaign & reward engine

360° journey via SoPost

From off-the-shelf vending → custom build

From Yepic → Tavus for conversational avatars

From AI-controlled hardware → deterministic triggers

Custom electronics, custom firmware, custom fabrication.

One cabinet.Eight dispense bays.Infinite brand surfaces.

EEG-drivengamified sampling.

Same platform.Different brand.Different game.

Two campaigns,one CMS.Built for fleets.

From kiosk tap to sample at the door.

Earned beats free.

The spectatorship effect.

Pacing > tech.

"Tony" — an in-storecolleague avatar,delivered as a kiosk.

Branded activations,per-event bookings.

Networked samplinginfrastructure.

Unattended-grade hardware

Bring unit cost down

Build the SoPost loop

Expand games & characters

SampleExperience.AI

One cabinet.
Eight dispense bays.
Infinite brand surfaces.

EEG-driven
gamified sampling.

Same platform.
Different brand.
Different game.

Two campaigns,
one CMS.
Built for fleets.

"Tony" — an in-store
colleague avatar,
delivered as a kiosk.

Branded activations,
per-event bookings.

Networked sampling
infrastructure.