Participated · Series A · Feb 2023

Superplastic creates and develops 'synthetic' influencer characters such as Janky, Guggimon and Dayzee that operate as social-media celebrities with millions of followers on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The company combines a creative studio of humans who design characters with a built-from-the-ground-up technology platform to rapidly produce videos and interactive experiences where its characters interact with brands, other influencers and audiences. Superplastic licenses and partners its IP across brands, music acts, games and other social networks, and it pursues product and retail integrations. It is hosted on AWS and plans to deepen technology capabilities with strategic partners. The company is led by founder and CEO Paul Budnitz, who previously founded Kidrobot and was involved with the social effort Ello. Financially, Superplastic has raised $58 million to date, including the newly announced $20 million round led by Amazon’s Alexa Fund. Superplastic builds 3D-animated virtual characters (notably Janky & Guggimon) and monetizes them via NFT drops, collectible toys, social media, gaming integrations, and retail. The company has sold over $7 million in NFTs in 2021 and has amassed more than 8 million followers across social platforms. Its offerings span authenticated NFT art, interactive virtual ecosystems, animated films, and real-world retail experiences and collaborations (including Fortnite and fashion brands). Future plans in the articles include an animated hip hop group, two movies (one funded), production on an animated feature film, retail store launches in Miami and NYC in early 2022, and expansion into the Asian market. Superplastic says it will use new capital to expand its virtual ecosystem, develop token initiatives (e.g., Jankykoin), hire staff, and accelerate product and content production. The company positions its characters as both fictional animated figures and interactive virtual beings that engage fans across media and commerce. Superplastic is a Burlington, Vt.-based cult designer toy brand and character-based product and animated entertainment company founded in 2018 by CEO Paul Budnitz and art director Huck Gee. The company creates character-driven products and has launched an animated entertainment division to bring its popular characters to life. It debuted two synthetic celebrities, Janky and Guggimon, on Instagram; the characters earn fees like real-life influencers. Superplastic is in talks with global fashion brands about partnerships to commercialize those characters. The company is collaborating with artists on a Janky art show in NYC in late 2019, and Guggimon is slated to participate in the Montreal Mural Festival in 2020. Financially, Superplastic raised $10M in a Series A round to support its product and entertainment efforts.

Participated · Series A · May 2022

VitroLabs is a biotech company developing a scalable tissue‑engineering platform to produce leather from only a few animal cells using advanced tissue engineering and proprietary process design. The company, led by CEO Ingvar Helgason and stem cell scientist Dr. Dusko Ilic, has been pioneering this material since 2016. It reports progress on product quality, optimization of cell expansion processes, and the proprietary design of a novel large‑scale tissue cultivator. Last fall VitroLabs moved into a new 45,000 square foot facility designed for pilot production and laboratory space as it advances toward commercialization. The company plans to use the new funding to fast‑track commercialization and expand its scientific, manufacturing, and business development teams. Kering continues a partnership supporting product quality testing, tanning, and finishing.

Participated · Series C · Nov 2021

Otrium operates a managed marketplace and proprietary technology that lets fashion brands set up their own online outlet stores, retaining control over pricing, merchandising, visibility and placement. The platform automates many onboarding and merchandising processes, saving brands people-hours and providing analytics to predict future best-sellers. Otrium positions itself as a sustainability solution by enabling brands to sell excess stock rather than sell to stock buyers or send items to landfill. The company reports 3M registered members, more than 300 fashion brands on its app, service to over 20 markets across Europe and the US, and revenues that more than doubled in 2021. It runs from three logistics hubs, typically holds hundreds of millions of dollars of stock on its platform at any time, and offers members average discounts of 67% (up to 75%). Otrium employs over 270 people across hubs in London, New York and Amsterdam and has registered headquarters in the Netherlands. Otrium runs an online channel designed for fashion brands to sell end-of-season and excess inventory while preserving brand scarcity. The platform lets brands manage their own outlets, access in-depth analytics, and use a dynamic pricing engine to maximize revenue on outdated items. The model addresses excess stock driven by fast fashion and recent lockdown-related inventory surges. Two hundred brands partner with Otrium, including Joseph, Reiss, G-Star, Asics, Puma, Vans, Pepe Jeans, Alexachung and Scotch & Soda. The site reports one million registered customers and is live in the Netherlands, France and Germany, with a recent launch in the U.K. With fresh funding, the company expects to pursue further international expansion. Otrium operates a marketplace for brands to sell excess inventory using its own resale model. The company partners with both up-and-coming designers and global names to list their surplus stock. It has over 100 brand partnerships, including G-Star, Puma, Vans, Pepe Jeans and Scotch & Soda. More than 600,000 shoppers are subscribed to buy on the platform. Otrium intends to use funding to grow its international presence and expand brand partnerships. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Amsterdam. Otrium is an Amsterdam-based online fashion platform that gives fashion lovers access to deals from designer brands needing to sell excess stock. Co-founded by Milan Daniels and Max Klijnstra, the marketplace aggregates surplus inventory and signs new brands weekly. The company reported month-over-month growth of over 10,000 members. It is currently only operating in the Netherlands. Otrium raised €600k in a seed round led by Keadyn and had previously raised €200k earlier the same year. The new funds will be used to expand the company’s reach domestically and abroad.

Led · Equity · Sep 2021

NTWRK operates a livestream video shopping platform that mixes commerce with entertainment, enabling creators to interact with viewers and sell products in real time. The app offers tools for live chat, product drops, and exclusive live events, and it has featured hosts and collaborators such as Billie Eilish, DJ Khaled, Odell Beckham Jr., Jonah Hill and Doja Cat. NTWRK has expanded into virtual festivals and events (TRANSFER, BEYOND THE STREETS, Unboxed and others) and launched NTWRK NFT, a curated shop for crypto art. Its business model emphasizes timed drops and live virtual events to build anticipation and drive sales, alongside creator partnerships and occasional strategic investments. The company said it will use new funding to further growth and establish a more global footprint. NTWRK had previously raised a $10 million Series A, according to Crunchbase data. NTWRK is a youth culture e-commerce and content platform that combines episodic programming, original content, and exclusive product launches. Launched in the fall of 2018 and headquartered in Los Angeles, the company brands its approach as "Shopping at the Speed of Culture" and focuses on demand creation through content-driven commerce. Its format enables brands and artists to tell stories behind products via shopping content, experiential activations, and exclusive launches. NTWRK has partnered with brands such as Nike, Jordan, adidas, Puma, Champion and New Balance and was initially backed by Warner Brothers Entertainment. Aaron Levant, the CEO, previously founded The Agenda Show and helped launch ComplexCon, and leads the company's efforts to commercialize hype and deliver one-of-a-kind consumer experiences. Financially, the company completed a $10 million Series A led by Live Nation and Foot Locker, which included a $3 million strategic investment from Foot Locker.

Led · Equity · Mar 2021

Vestiaire Collective is a social-commerce platform founded in 2009 that curates and connects buyers and sellers of luxury pre-owned fashion, with an inventory of about 3 million items and offices in Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and a tech hub in Berlin. The company is a Certified B Corporation focused on promoting circular fashion and sustainability and launched a "Brand Approved" buy-back service in collaboration with Kering’s house Alexander McQueen. Over the past 12 months Vestiaire grew orders by more than 90% globally, 100% in the US (now its largest market), and 150% in Asia. It recently raised €178M in a fresh funding round that values the company at $1.7B (approx €1.44B). Proceeds will be used to accelerate strategic objectives including educating consumers and brands, improving proprietary technology and services, entering new markets and expanding existing ones, and promoting local transactions to lower carbon footprints. The company aims to become carbon neutral by 2026 and has initiatives such as a local-to-local shipping scheme, increasing direct shipping (now over 50% of orders) which has saved over 1,150 tonnes of CO2, and 100% reduced/recycled/recyclable "less is more" packaging. Vestiaire Collective operates an online marketplace for pre-owned luxury and fashion items. The company authenticates some items before they reach buyers and offers reimbursement for direct-shipping purchases that are wrong. Transaction volume doubled in 2020 versus 2019, and the platform receives about 140,000 new listings every week. It has been expanding rapidly in the U.S. and Asia, with local sellers in those regions selling more than 250% more items year‑over‑year as of January 2021. With the new funding, Vestiaire plans to develop brand partnerships for buy-back circular solutions, encourage selling alongside purchases, pursue B Corp certification and target carbon neutrality by 2026. The company also intends to hire 155 people in its technology team to support growth. Vestiaire Collective is a marketplace for pre-owned fashion where users buy and sell clothes and accessories. The platform has 9 million members across 90 countries and reports that 80% of transactions are cross-border. The company raised $64.2M (€59M) in its latest round and has raised more than €209M in total, per Crunchbase. Vestiaire has shifted from requiring sellers to send items to warehouses to enabling direct shipping from seller to buyer; direct shipping launched in Europe in September 2019 and now accounts for over 50% of orders there. The company will use the new capital to expand to more countries, with plans to enter South Korea and Japan this year. Vestiaire plans to introduce direct shipping in the U.S. in the summer and in Asia by the end of 2020. Vestiaire Collective operates a curated marketplace for luxury and premium pre-owned fashion with a catalogue of around 1,000,000 items that are checked for quality and authenticity once sold. The platform has over 8 million members across 50 countries and maintains offices in Paris, London, New York, Milan, Berlin and Hong Kong. Launched in Paris in October 2009, the company emphasizes sustainable fashion and peer-to-peer resale. Vestiaire positions technology and curation at the core of its product offering to ensure authenticity and quality control. The company reported strong Asian momentum, citing 140% GMV growth in Q2 2019. It plans to expand internationally and to accelerate hiring as part of its growth strategy. Vestiaire Collective is a French online marketplace for pre-owned fashion and accessories that emphasizes a premium, curated shopping experience by checking every item before listing. The company aims to turn local success into a global business, already leading in the U.K., Germany, Spain and Italy. France remains its largest market, accounting for 35% of sales. Vestiaire has an office in the U.S. and plans to grow sales there, with further expansion to Asia planned for 2017. The company is investing in logistics, including an upcoming facility in France to expand its inventory across Europe. To date it has raised significant capital to support this expansion and scale its operations.