Participated · Equity · Apr 2024

Kiki World is a community commerce company that enables companies to co-create products with their user audiences using custom engagement tools and blockchain infrastructure. Since May 2023 its community collaboration has led to product collections such as the Skin Development Kit and an NFC-enabled Pretty Nail Graffiti pen. The company leverages blockchain-powered profiles and collectibles to provide incentives for user engagement and to foster direct connections between brands, creators, and customer communities. Kiki plans to begin releasing a new set of platform tools and applications in April 2024, including discovery engines, community management tools designed to reward fans first, and platform APIs. Those tools will enable creators, brands, and fans to connect, launch community-driven campaigns, and accelerate Kiki’s own product lines. Financially, Kiki raised $7M in funding to expand operations and development efforts.

Participated · Equity · Oct 2021

FemTec Health is launching a unified platform that uses a patent-pending BiomeAI™ engine to translate consumer, genetic, microbiome, and biometric data into personalized healthcare and beauty offerings. The company says its platform can be applied across specialty care, wellness and prevention, reproductive care, sexual wellness, mental health, and chronic care. FemTec emerged from stealth with about 10 million members, two clinical trials in progress, and a team of over 150. The company has pursued growth via acquisitions, having acquired Birchbox, Mira Beauty, and Liquid Grids, and plans to relaunch Birchbox using the BiomeAI platform to deliver curated personalized products. FemTec was developed beginning in May 2020 and is led by Houston health-tech entrepreneur Dr. Kimon Angelides, who serves as chairman and interim CEO, alongside chief scientific officer Dr. Kimberly Capone and COO Dr. Laura Clapper. The company intends to announce additional strategic partnerships with health and wellness companies.

Led · Seed · Jun 2021

Faculty is a Toronto-based men's brand founded in 2019 that launched with three nail polish shades and a set of nail stickers. Founders Fenton Jagdeo and Umar ElBably position the limited SKUs as a wedge product and say the company has "mastered the drop model"—their initial products have sold out. Faculty plans to expand into merchandise, men's foundation, eye shadow and potentially hair dye, aiming to blur the line between streetwear and cosmetics and to promote a "new wave of masculinity." Jagdeo concedes the polish is not chemically different from existing products and emphasizes storytelling and community-building as the competitive advantage. The five-person outfit raised a $3 million seed round led by Estée Lauder to support marketing, R&D and operations. Estée Lauder's involvement is framed as valuable for mentorship and industry access amid large addressable markets in men's personal care and streetwear.