• Shoes of Prey

  Participated · Equity · Dec 2015

  Shoes of Prey operates a web platform that allows users to design and order custom shoes by selecting shape, color and size. The company manufactures each pair to specification and ships globally in around four weeks. It was founded in Sydney, Australia in 2009 by Michael Fox, Mike Knapp and Jodie Fox and is headquartered in Los Angeles with operations remaining in Sydney. Production takes place in China, customer support is based in Makati, Philippines, and the company has affiliates in Japan and Russia. Retail presence includes one store in Australia and six in the United States, with plans to open additional locations in the coming years. The company recently completed a Series B funding round. Founded in 2009 and based in Sidney, Australia, Shoes of Prey lets women design bespoke shoes via a proprietary web-based 3D design platform. Products are designed entirely online—via computer, smartphone or tablet—and are handmade from premium leathers. Customers receive shoes anywhere in the world in around two weeks. The company intends to use the new capital to innovate social shopping functionalities, broaden retail presence, expand its product array with new options each month, and drive in-person experiences. The article reports Shoes of Prey secured $3M in its first funding. Backers named include CrunchFund, Bill Tai and Mike Cannon-Brookes.

• SoleSociety

  Participated · Series B · Jul 2015

  Sole Society is a lifestyle brand selling women's shoes, bags and accessories. Launched in 2011 and based in Los Angeles, it sells through its website, Nordstrom's site and select Nordstrom stores, QVC, and select boutiques. The company is led by newly appointed CEO Andy Solomon, CFO Louisa Chen and Vice President of Marketing Marly Dreis. In February 2015 Sole Society raised $8M in Series B funding. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and distribution.

• Bonobos

  Participated · Series D · Jul 2014

  Bonobos began as an online-only clothing retailer and has gradually added physical "Guideshops" to let customers try on clothes before they buy. The company's core product is clothing sold through its website and these in-person showrooms, which provide a personalized shopping experience. It currently operates 10 Guideshops following a recent Los Angeles opening and plans to open 30 more nationwide to expand its offline presence. Bonobos reports that in-store transactions have double the average order value of online shoppers and that visitors often buy more than traditional online users. To fuel that expansion the company raised a $55 million Series D led by Coppel Capital, with participation from Accel Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Nordstrom, Mousse Partners, Glynn Capital Management, Forerunner Ventures, and Felicis Ventures. Since being founded in 2007, Bonobos has raised a total of $127 million. Bonobos launched in 2007 and built its business around signature better-fitting pants before expanding into a full menswear line including dress shirts, suits, shorts and sweaters. The company was founded by Brian Spaly and Andy Dunn; Spaly has since left to lead Trunk Club. Bonobos operates primarily through its direct-to-consumer website and a New York City headquarters showroom store. The brand is now moving beyond its web-only roots by partnering with Nordstrom to sell products in stores and on Nordstrom.com beginning in April. Nordstrom will carry Bonobos’s top two product lines—the Washed Chinos and the Bonobos Weekday Warriors—as well as some seasonal pants and shorts at select stores. Financially, the company has raised a new $16.4M round that increases its total funding to nearly $40M. Bonobos makes better-fitting men's pants and has built a burgeoning brand around improved fit and press-driven customer acquisition. The article reports the company raised $18.5 million in funding, described as a large round backed by two prominent venture capital firms. Founder and CEO Andy Dunn conducted interviews about the company, while co-founder Brian Spaly was later credited as the designer who originated the pants and fit ideas. The pair had a falling out after the early days, and Spaly went on to found a new company called Trunk Club. TechCrunch updated its coverage to reflect Spaly's role and the piece emphasizes the need for founders to formalize co-founder relationships. No operating metrics, valuation, or other financial details were disclosed in the article.

No current team members are available.