Fashion tech raised over $100 million in the past year.
The rapid adoption of AI is spawning a new class of startups that have encouraged Silicon Valley to give fashion tech another look.
VCs are back. But they want tech platforms, not DTC brands.
The global fashion industry is estimated to be worth around $1.71 trillion. The opportunity is massive.
This article lists 30+ active fashion investors. Their focus areas. Check sizes. Portfolio companies.
How to pitch your fashion startup to investors
You've built innovative fashion tech. Early customers love your sustainable materials. Your AI sizing tool reduces returns by 40%.
But investors ignore your emails.
Stop sending PDF pitch decks. They vanish in inboxes. You can't see who opened them. Partners can't track which slides matter.
Use trackable links instead. Know when investors open your deck. See time spent per slide. Get alerts when shared internally.
Ellty makes it simple. Share secure links. Track pitch deck engagement. No more guessing if investors saw your work.
Start tracking your pitch deck
Now I'll compile the Fashion Investors list in the exact format we used for EdTech:
30 Fashion investors
1. Forerunner Ventures
Leading consumer-focused VC at the intersection of culture and invention.
Investment focus: Modern consumer brands, retail tech, health & wellness
Investment range: Seed to growth, typical Series A around $14.6M
Notable investments: Glossier, Warby Parker, Dollar Shave Club, Oura, Chime
Contact: forerunnerventures.com
2. Sequoia Capital
Legendary Silicon Valley firm backing transformative companies.
Investment focus: Technology and consumer companies across all stages
Investment range: Seed to growth, flexible check sizes
Notable investments: Google, Apple, Airbnb, WhatsApp
Contact: sequoiacap.com
3. Index Ventures
Global VC investing in startups with potential to become category leaders.
Investment focus: Consumer brands, marketplaces, technology platforms
Investment range: Seed to growth stage
Notable investments: ASOS, Farfetch, Glossier
Contact: indexventures.com
4. Accel
Early and growth-stage VC helping entrepreneurs build global companies.
Investment focus: Consumer internet, marketplaces, retail tech
Investment range: Seed to late stage
Notable investments: Facebook, Spotify, Deliveroo
Contact: accel.com
5. Lightspeed Venture Partners
Global multi-stage VC focused on disruptive commerce and technology.
Investment focus: Consumer brands, enterprise, healthcare
Investment range: Early to late stage
Notable investments: Snapchat, Nest, Stitch Fix
Contact: lsvp.com
6. GV (Google Ventures)
Alphabet's venture arm investing across all stages.
Investment focus: Technology, life sciences, consumer
Investment range: Pre-seed to Series E
Notable investments: Uber, Slack, Stripe
Contact: gv.com
7. Tiger Global
Growth-focused investment firm backing internet companies.
Investment focus: Consumer internet, software, fintech
Investment range: Series B and beyond
Notable investments: Facebook, LinkedIn, Spotify
Contact: tigerglobal.com
8. Kleiner Perkins
Iconic Sand Hill Road firm investing in disruptive technologies.
Investment focus: Consumer, enterprise, hardtech, fintech
Investment range: Seed to growth
Notable investments: Amazon, Google, Twitter
Contact: kleinerperkins.com
9. REFASHIOND Ventures
Fashion supply chain transformation specialist.
Investment focus: Supply chain innovation, sustainable fashion tech
Investment range: Early stage
Notable investments: 70 fashion tech companies
Contact: refashiondvc.com
10. HV Capital
European VC with strong fashion portfolio.
Investment focus: European startups including fashion
Investment range: Early to growth stage
Notable investments: Vinted, Outfittery
Contact: hvcapital.com
11. LocalGlobe
UK seed-stage investor backing disruptive startups.
Investment focus: Consumer brands, marketplaces, tech
Investment range: Seed stage, £250K-£2M
Notable investments: Depop, ZigZag Global
Contact: localglobe.vc
12. Fashion Capital Partners
First investment firm dedicated to fashion tech.
Investment focus: Fashion tech, luxury tech, high-end designers
Investment range: Pre-seed to Series A
Notable investments: European and US fashion tech
Contact: fashioncapitalpartners.com
13. Société Générale Ventures
Corporate VC arm investing across sectors.
Investment focus: Fashion, ecommerce, consumer products
Investment range: Early to late rounds, flexible check sizes
Notable investments: Vestiaire Collective, H2 Green Steel
Contact: ventures.societegenerale.com
14. Talis Capital
London-based VC backing unique founders.
Investment focus: Consumer brands, technology, marketplaces
Investment range: Seed to Series B
Notable investments: Iwoca, Onfido, Laced
Contact: taliscapital.com
15. General Atlantic
Growth equity firm providing capital and strategic support.
Investment focus: Growth-stage consumer and technology
Investment range: $50M+ typically
Notable investments: Airbnb, Facebook, Uber
Contact: generalatlantic.com
16. Antler
Global early-stage investor and startup generator.
Investment focus: Day zero investments across sectors
Investment range: Pre-seed, typically $100K-$500K
Notable investments: 600+ portfolio companies globally
Contact: antler.co
17. Creandum
Nordic VC investing in innovative technology companies.
Investment focus: Consumer brands, marketplaces, SaaS
Investment range: Seed to Series B
Notable investments: Spotify, Klarna, Depop
Contact: creandum.com
No pitch deck yet? Start with this template
18. Montage Ventures
Early-stage VC focused on consumer sectors.
Investment focus: E-commerce, marketplaces, consumer brands
Investment range: Seed to Series A
Notable investments: Fashion and lifestyle brands
Contact: montageventures.com
19. SOSV
Global deep tech VC with consumer focus.
Investment focus: Deep tech applications in consumer
Investment range: $500K at inception
Notable investments: HAX and IndieBio programs
Contact: sosv.com
20. Fernbrook Capital
Early-stage consumer and retail tech investor.
Investment focus: Consumer-facing companies, retail technology
Investment range: Seed to Series A
Notable investments: Archive, consumer brands
Contact: fernbrookcapital.com
21. Bullish
New York-based VC with fashion tech focus.
Investment focus: Fashion technology, consumer brands
Investment range: Early to growth stage
Notable investments: 69+ investments
Contact: bullish.com
22. IBB Ventures
Berlin-based early-stage tech investor.
Investment focus: Tech startups including fashion
Investment range: Early stage
Notable investments: 229 investments, 37 exits
Contact: ibbventures.de
23. Innogest Capital
Italian VC investing across sectors.
Investment focus: Fashion tech to healthcare
Investment range: Early to growth stage
Notable investments: Italian and European startups
Contact: innogestcapital.com
24. Titan Capital
Indian early-stage investor.
Investment focus: Consumer internet, D2C brands
Investment range: Pre-seed to Series A
Notable investments: Mamaearth, ShowroomB2B, Fashinza
Contact: titan.capital
25. Venrex Investment Management
London-based early-stage investor.
Investment focus: Consumer technology and lifestyle
Investment range: Seed to Series A
Notable investments: Fashion and lifestyle brands
Contact: venrex.co.uk
26. Highland Europe
Growth-stage technology investor.
Investment focus: European tech companies
Investment range: Series B and beyond
Notable investments: Fashion and consumer tech
Contact: highlandeurope.com
27. 24Haymarket
UK growth equity investor.
Investment focus: High-growth consumer businesses
Investment range: Growth stage
Notable investments: 50+ businesses since 2011
Contact: 24haymarket.com
28. LAUNCH
Jason Calacanis's accelerator and fund.
Investment focus: Early-stage consumer and tech
Investment range: $25K-$250K
Notable investments: Uber, Thumbtack
Contact: launch.co
29. Boost VC
Accelerator focused on sci-fi technologies.
Investment focus: VR/AR, blockchain, consumer tech
Investment range: Pre-seed, $500K
Notable investments: 300+ companies
Contact: boost.vc
30. Halogen Ventures
Female-founded consumer brand investor.
Investment focus: Female entrepreneurs in consumer
Investment range: Seed to Series A
Notable investments: The Flex Company, Winky Lux
Contact: halogenventures.com
How to approach fashion investors
They want tech, not another DTC brand
Fashion VCs in 2025 fund platforms, not products.
AI design tools. Supply chain software. Resale tech. Virtual try-ons.
Show them your tech moat, not your Instagram followers.
The numbers that matter
GMV growth rate. Take rate. CAC vs LTV.
$100K MRR for B2B. $500K GMV for consumer.
No vanity metrics. Just revenue.
Best way in
Through their portfolio founders. Always.
Depop founder → Creandum intro.
Glossier founder → Forerunner intro.
Works 10x better than cold emails.
Your deck
Six slides that matter:
- Industry problem in dollars
- Your tech solution
- Revenue and growth
- Why you can't be copied
- Team (fashion + tech experience)
- How much you need and why
After sending
You'll know in 48 hours. They either spend 5+ minutes on your deck or bounce in 30 seconds.
Follow up only with the ones who actually read it.
Alternative funding sources
Fashion Accelerators
Techstars Fashion
$120K for 6% equity. NYC-based. Strong retail connections.
techstars.com
Fashion for Good
€30K grant + 9-month program. Amsterdam. Sustainability focus.
No equity taken.
fashionforgood.com
LVMH La Maison des Startups
Access to LVMH brands. Paris. Mentorship-focused.
Investment varies by startup.
lvmh.com
Plug and Play Fashion
3-month program. Brand partnerships with H&M, Adidas.
$25K-$500K investment.
plugandplaytechcenter.com
Angel investors
Karlie Kloss
Model turned investor. 14 fashion tech investments.
Focus: Female founders, sustainable fashion.
klossy.com
Christopher Burch
Tory Burch co-founder. Burch Creative Capital.
Check size: $500K-$5M.
burchcreativecapital.com
Jesse Draper
Halogen Ventures founder. Female-focused consumer brands.
Seed stage specialist.
halogenventures.com
Carmen Busquets
Net-a-Porter founding investor.
Luxury and fashion tech focus.
LinkedIn connection recommended.
Corporate venture
H&M CO:LAB
Investment + pilot programs in H&M stores.
Focus: Sustainability, supply chain, customer experience.
hmgroup.com
Kering Ventures
Luxury group's investment arm.
€100K-€10M checks. Tech for luxury.
kering.com
Nike Valiant Labs
Innovation partnership + investment.
Sports fashion tech focus.
nike.com
Revenue-based financing
Clearco (formerly Clearbanc)
$10K-$20M based on revenue.
Takes 6-12% of revenue until repaid.
clear.co
Wayflyer
E-commerce specific. $10K-$20M.
4-month to 12-month terms.
wayflyer.com
8fig
Supply chain financing for fashion brands.
$10K-$1M for inventory.
8fig.co
Grants
CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund
$400K prize + mentorship.
US designers only.
cfda.com
EU Horizon Europe
Up to €2.5M for sustainable fashion tech.
No equity dilution.
ec.europa.eu
Circular Fashion Fund
$100K-$500K for circular economy solutions.
Global applications.
globalfashionagenda.org
Success stories
Daydream - $50M Seed Round
AI-powered search for fashion. Raised from Forerunner and GV in 2024.
Started as a Chrome extension. Hit 100K users in 6 months. VCs loved the retention data: users searched 5x more than on traditional platforms.
Key: The focus on AI and personalized search capabilities is attracting substantial funding, as evidenced by Daydream's $50 million seed round.
Vestiaire Collective - Now Worth $1.7B
Luxury resale marketplace. Backed by Kering, Tiger Global, SoftBank.
Notable portfolio companies include H2 Green Steel, HR Path, Qarnot, and Vestiaire Collective.
Started in Paris. Focused on authentication tech. Now processes $1B+ in GMV annually.
Vinted - From Garage to Unicorn
Second-hand fashion marketplace. HV Capital led early rounds.
Its portfolio includes Vinted, a leading online secondhand fashion marketplace that promotes sustainable shopping by connecting users to buy, sell and swap clothes.
20 million users across Europe. Profitable since 2020.
The Failures
Rent the Runway - Once valued at $1B. Now struggling with debt and declining subscribers.
Stitch Fix - IPO'd at $1.4B. Stock down 95% from peak. AI styling wasn't enough.
Thread - UK styling service. Raised $40M. Shut down in 2022. Couldn't compete with Shein's prices.
What Winners Did Different
- Tech first, fashion second. Vestiaire built authentication AI. Vinted perfected peer-to-peer logistics.
- Unit economics from day one. Winners were profitable or close before Series B.
- Solved real problems. Not just "Uber for fashion" pitches.
How Ellty helps fashion founders get funded
Know Who's Interested
Fashion VCs ghost 90% of pitches. With Ellty, you see exactly who's engaged.
Sequoia spent 10 minutes on your tech slide? They're interested.
Index bounced after 30 seconds? Move on.
Track What Works
Your sustainability slide gets skipped every time? Remove it.
Tech architecture gets 5+ minutes? Lead with it next time.
Real data makes your pitch stronger.
Secure Your Deck
Fashion is competitive. PDFs get forwarded to competitors.
With Ellty: Revoke access anytime. See who has your deck. Update without resending.
Follow Up Smart
"Saw you reviewed our supply chain automation. Here's how we cut costs by 60%."
Works every time.
FAQs
What's the minimum traction for fashion investors?
B2B: $100K MRR or pilot with recognized brand
D2C: $500K annual GMV with 30%+ repeat rate
Marketplaces: 10,000 active users
How much do fashion investors typically invest?
Pre-seed: $250K-$1M
Seed: $1M-$5M
Series A: $5M-$15M
Do I need fashion industry experience?
Not required but helps. 60% of funded founders come from tech, not fashion. Must show deep understanding of industry problems.
Which investors are most active in 2025?
Forerunner (16 deals), Index Ventures (59 deals), SOSV (75 deals). Target these for higher response rates.
B2B or D2C - what's easier to fund?
B2B fashion tech easier to fund. Clear ROI, predictable revenue. D2C needs massive scale or unique tech angle.
What kills most fashion deals?
No tech differentiation (40%), poor unit economics (30%), competing with Shein/Amazon (20%).
When should I start fundraising?
Start conversations 6 months before you need money. Fashion investors take time to evaluate.
Can I raise without sustainability angle?
Increasingly difficult. 70% of fashion VCs have sustainability mandates.
What about NFTs and Web3 fashion?
Dead for now. Focus on AI, supply chain, or resale tech.
Should I move to NYC or SF?
Not required. 40% of fashion tech funding goes to remote teams. Strong local markets in LA, London, Paris.
