The sharing economy is making the concept of ownership obsolete for many categories. Rachelle Snyder and her cofounder had to go through the difficult process of deciding which of their belongings to take with them during a cross country move and their outdoor gear just couldn’t be accommodated. The experience of trying to obtain gear once in LA led to the foundation for launching Arrive Outdoors, the rental company for premium, outdoor equipment that can deliver an assortment of outdoor gear straight to a consumer’s door. Rachelle shares some insight about how the company makes the exploration of the outdoors more accessible and the company’s recent seed funding round from investors that include Freestyle Capital Science Inc., AVG Basecamp Fund, Corigin Ventures, Pine5 Ventures, and James Reinhart and John Voris.
E-Commerce
Scalefast Raises $22M to be the Shopify for Brands
The most common mistake brands make is believing that running an online store simply equals having an e-commerce platform. However, successful brands know that building, operating, and scaling a direct-to-consumer channel requires so much more than that. Multiple departments need to align with the right infrastructure, expertise, tools, and operations – something that, traditionally, retailers were bringing to the table, not brands. Scalefast is the all-in-one e-commerce solution that enables brands to launch, manage, and maintain their own direct-to-consumer platform. CEO Nicolas Stehle walks us through the company’s inspiration, traction, and funding round from investors that include FJ Labs, Xplorer Capital, Benhamou Global Ventures, Stereo Capital, and Adara Ventures
Outer Raises $4.3M to Bring Style and Sustainability to Outdoor Furniture
With COVID-19 spreading rapidly throughout the nation, summer travel plans have been halted and people are planning to spend more time at home and in their backyards. The demand for outdoor furniture, grills, and patio heaters is surging. Outer is an innovative direct-to-consumer outdoor furniture brand that’s meeting this demand. CEO and Cofounder Jiake Liu walks us through how the brand is adapting to the pandemic, the company’s plan to expand its line, and latest funding round from prominent LA investors and operators that include Mucker Capital, Wavemaker, George Ruan, Eddy Lu, Nick Green, Ariel Kaye, and Mark Geller.
Cake Raises $1.435M for Its All-Inclusive Sexual Wellness Brand
Cake, a direct-to-consumer startup, is taking on the sexual wellness product. Its first product, a line of lubricants, is available for delivery straight to your door, eliminating the awkwardness of visiting the drug store to get confusing, outdated, and intimidating products that in no way are designed for modern sexuality. CEO and Cofounder Hunter Morris shares more on the company’s inspiration, future plans, and recent funding round from investors that include Brand Foundry Ventures, Finn Capital, and several notable angels.
ettitude Raises $1.6M to for its Super Soft Line of Bedding Essentials Made with Bamboo
ettitude is a sustainable lifestyle brand offering home essentials that are soft on your skin and gentle on our planet using its proprietary CleanBamboo fabric. Cofounders Phoebe Yu and Kat Dey share their experience on raising capital in the midst of the pandemic, the company’s future plans, and direct-to-consumer offering.
Tapcart Raises Another $10M to Assist Shopify Retailers with the Move to Mobile Apps
In the midst of the pandemic, Tapcart is enabling Shopify merchants to have native, sophisticated mobile apps without writing code. CEO and Founder Eric Netsch shares more on how Tapcart is empowering retailers, the company’s growth, future plans, and recent funding from Greycroft, Amplify LA, and Signal Fire.
Jinx Raises $5.65M to be the Preferred Dog Food Brand for Millenials
Doting pet parents are increasingly becoming the norm and this year alone spending in the pet care industry is estimated to exceed $75B. Pet owners want the best for their pets and Jinx is the DTC pet wellness brand that wants your dog to be eating a balanced and wholesome diet. All of Jinx’s kibble is […]
Honey Acquired by PayPal for $4B in the Data Deal of the Year
That’s $235 per monthly active user (MAU)…
Buddy Nutrition Personalizes Your Vitamin and Nutrition Regiment Using AI
We’ve entered an era of mass customization when it comes to virtually everything but what happens when it comes to your nutrition. Enter Buddy Nutrition, the LA startup that offers a transparent and accessible option for personalized nutrition. The company’s first product is a daily wellness shot that is custom manufactured based on an AI-powered analysis of […]
Ordermark Raises Another $18M to Make Online Delivery Orders from Multiple Apps Seamless for Restaurants
Smartphone, delivery apps have drastically impacted the restaurant industry; according to a survey of 1,500 consumers, 44% of people ages 18-34 are ordering delivery. If restaurants want to maximize profits from delivery, they have to be accessible on every delivery app, which often translates to chaos in the kitchen. Ordermark is the online ordering management […]
This LA Startup Just Raised Another $25M for its Vitamin Subscription Service for Women
Despite a move towards personalization in almost everything in our lives, the vitamin industry has traditionally offered a few generic solutions that often do not address the needs of women. Operating in a highly competitive market, most vitamin companies are also unable to clearly distinguish themselves in the crowded pack with very little brand affinity. […]