What does it do?
Queen One says it is building a technology platform that connects how customers are interacting with a brand’s product pages and marketing content, updating them in real-time to reflect what people are saying on socials and buying online.
Why Queen One?
“CEO Ryan Urban, who previously founded and scaled Wunderkind to a $200 million-plus marketing platform, founded Queen One to reimagine how brands tell their stories,” says Wu Martin. “In a world where products are often reduced to stock keeping units [SKUs] on static websites, Queen One is building dynamic, personalised living website experiences consumers are more used to seeing from social media, and programmatic ways to target prospective customers for brands’ owned channels.”
Giftd
Launched: 2021
HQ: Berlin
Latest round: N/A
What does it do?
Giftd has designed an app for users to connect with brands like a social platform, and reduce overall fashion consumption by releasing exclusive giveaways of archive and sample pieces via the app.
Why Giftd?
“Giftd is bringing AI-powered personalisation to the gifting experience,” Tim Rehder, general partner at Earlybird VC, says. “They’ve recently explored collaborations with brands like Fabletics, engaging active social media followings, and expanded their operational capabilities with external logistics partners.”
Circular fashion
AirRobe
Launched: 2018
HQ: San Francisco
Latest round: Undisclosed seed round from the Alice Anderson Fund.
What does it do?
AirRobe has built a proprietary “circular wardrobe technology” platform for consumers to buy, sell, rent or recycle pre-owned clothes and footwear from global brands.
Why AirRobe?
“AirRobe is quietly embedding circular fashion into e-commerce infrastructure, turning every purchase into a potential resale or rental with zero friction,” Dame says.
Robes Rental
Launched: 2022
HQ: Helsinki, Finland
Latest round: Seed round in April 2023 led by Lifeline Ventures.
What does it do?
Robes Rental is a fashion rental platform that focuses on higher end brands.
Why Robes Rental?
“Robes Rental is redefining access to fashion through its rental-based model,” says Rehder. “The Finnish company aims to make ‘luxury fashion more accessible than fast fashion’, with special outfits for events and parties available when people don’t want to buy a one-off look for the occasion.”
Faircado
Launched: 2022
HQ: Berlin
Latest round: €3 million seed in May 2024 led by World Fund, joined by Accel, General Catalyst, Lightspeed Venture Partners, NEA, Northzone, Backbone Ventures, Earlybird and Minc.
What does it do?
Faircado has built a browser extension that’s dedicated to enabling consumers to discover secondhand goods. It uses AI to match up text and images from what users are searching with pre-loved goods — what it’s calling a “sustainable shopping assistant”.
Why Faircado?
“Berlin-based Faircado is extending circular shopping to everyday categories through smart browser integrations,” Rehder says. “They won the [coveted startup] competition at Slush 100, make secondhand shopping easy and use clever marketing on social media.”
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