15 Early-Stage Fashion Startups Capturing Investors’ Attention
The fashion industry has undergone significant technological changes in recent years, driven by social media, AI design tools, and novel materials improving sustainability. A surge of startups has emerged, offering solutions from circular economy to sneakers linked to NFTs. Here are 15 early-stage startups that investors should be keeping an eye on.
Raspberry.AI
New York, US | Founded: 2022 | Funding to date: $28.5m Raspberry AI offers an AI-powered design assistant to help fashion creatives bring their visions to life. The platform provides tools like sketch-to-render conversion, easy print generation, and AI-driven lifestyle photography, reducing the need for physical samples and accelerating the design process.
Treet
San Francisco, US | Founded: 2021 | Funding to date: $16.4m Treet is a branded resale platform that helps fashion brands launch their own resale marketplaces, extending product lifecycles, reducing waste, and promoting circular fashion.
Laws of Motion
New York, US | Founded: 2017 | Funding to date: $10.2m Laws of Motion uses AI-driven technology to recommend sizes based on customer data, minimizing returns and enhancing customer satisfaction, especially for shape-inclusive options.
Daydream
San Francisco, US | Founded: 2023 | Funding to date: $50m Daydream is an AI-powered fashion search platform that leverages generative AI, machine learning, and computer vision to help users discover fashion items through natural language prompts.
Endstate
West Roxbury, US | Founded: 2021 | Funding to date: $5.5m Endstate combines physical products with digital assets by linking sneakers to NFTs, allowing for authenticated ownership and exclusive digital experiences.
Space Runners
Houston, US | Founded: 2021 | Funding to date: $10m Space Runners collaborates with artists and brands to create digital wearables, integrating blockchain technology to ensure authenticity and ownership.
Faircraft
Paris, France | Founded: 2021 | Funding to date: $20.1m Faircraft pioneers lab-grown leather using cellular agriculture, producing sustainable and customizable materials with a lower environmental footprint.
Uncaged Innovation
White Plains, US | Founded: 2020 | Funding to date: $7.9m Uncaged Innovations develops sustainable materials to replace traditional animal-derived products in fashion using plant-based and bioengineered components.
Ambercycle
Los Angeles, US | Founded: 2015 | Funding to date: $38.1m Ambercycle converts garments at the end of their lives into regenerated polyester through molecular regeneration technology, offering a sustainable alternative to virgin polyester.
BioFluff
Paris, France | Founded: 2022 | Funding to date: $3.2m BioFluff has developed a plant-based fur alternative using natural fibers like nettle, hemp, and flax, offering a luxurious texture without the environmental and ethical concerns of traditional fur.
Veeton
Paris, France | Founded: 2023 | Funding to date: €2m Veeton offers virtual try-on solutions using augmented reality and AI, allowing brands to generate high-quality, on-model images from simple flat garment photos.
Ayna
Bengaluru, India | Founded: 2023 | Funding to date: $1.5m Ayna provides AI-generated photoshoots for fashion brands, creating high-quality product images without traditional photography.
Iambic
New York, US | Founded: 2020 | Funding to date: $1.3m Iambic offers AI-tailored, custom-fit shoes using smartphone-based foot scanning, addressing the issue of ill-fitting footwear.
Retraced
Düsseldorf, Germany | Founded: 2019 | Funding to date: €22.7M Retraced digitizes and traces fashion supply chain data to aid brands in ESG management, enabling real-time collaboration with suppliers and ensuring compliance with sustainability standards.
MUD Jeans
Laren, The Netherlands | Founded: 2012 | Funding to date: Undisclosed MUD Jeans offers a leasing model for jeans, allowing customers to rent and return them for recycling, promoting circular denim fashion.
These startups are redefining the fashion industry with innovative technologies and sustainable practices, capturing the attention of investors and shaping the future of fashion.
