Participated · Equity · Jan 2026

The Realest develops technology that authenticates sports and entertainment merchandise, aiming to curb memorabilia fraud by having an independent third-party auditor onsite to collect evidence and verify items. The platform has garnered early traction with professional leagues, player associations, and teams, including projects with the MLBPA in Japan and a partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles. Beyond high-end collectibles, the company intends to build an e-commerce arm that offers a wider range of authenticated products for everyday fans. With fresh capital, management plans to deepen technology integrations and launch new partnerships across the broader sports and entertainment ecosystem. Founder & CEO Scott Keeney says the focus will be on scaling authentication capabilities and strengthening security features. Financially, the Realest has now raised a total of $16.6 million, comprising a $4.6 million seed round in 2024 and the latest $12 million growth round. No revenue or user figures were disclosed in the article.

Participated · Seed · Mar 2024

Gemist offers a white-labelled, full-stack SaaS platform with a proprietary 3D visualisation engine that renders photorealistic custom jewellery in real time. The product supports real-time 3D styling, dynamic pricing, and a fully brandable interface across web, tablet, and mobile that integrates with existing e-commerce stacks. The company plans to expand product development into dynamic pricing, advanced rendering, and omnichannel commerce integrations. Gemist reports customers design more than 14,000 custom pieces weekly and says partner brands can accelerate sales cycles by up to 400% and increase average order value by 300%. The company has raised $9M to date, including a $6M seed round led by Entrada Ventures with participation from The Artemis Fund and Collide Capital. Gemist was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in Los Angeles. Gemist is a vertical SaaS solution for the jewelry industry that licenses technology to allow jewelry brands to engage consumers in a more personal buying experience. Its Customize, Stack, and Try-On SaaS solutions have generated increased consumer engagement, higher conversion rates, larger average order values, and improved final-mile sales, and can be integrated into existing websites and branding. Founder Madeline Fraser built Gemist to make online jewelry shopping more visual, engaging, and fun while helping independent jewelers stay competitive. The company targets a large market: the global jewelry market was worth $300B in 2023 and is projected to reach $340B by 2025, with independent jewelers driving 70% of 2023 value and 85% of jewelers being SMBs. Consumer research cited in the articles shows 62% of consumers made online jewelry purchases in the past year, though many still prefer in-person purchases and often begin their journeys online. Gemist recently closed a $3M priced seed round to support its mission to disrupt the jewelry industry and help SMB jewelers access industry-specific digital solutions. Gemist is a U.S.-based fine jewelry brand and digital platform that combines design technology with a try-on-at-home model to let consumers customize and test jewelry before buying. The platform provides complimentary replicas for customers to evaluate fit and style prior to purchase. All pieces are handmade in Los Angeles using responsibly sourced materials and ethical practices. Gemist emphasizes personalization and aims to change consumer shopping behavior in the fine jewelry market. The company is led by Founder and CEO Madeline Fraser and has strategic partnerships with industry players such as De Beers Group Ventures. The recent financing will support scaling Gemist’s growth as an experiential digital jewelry platform.