Personal shopping:
Stitch Fix looks for perfect market fit
A San Francisco company claims it takes the stress out of personal shopping by sending customers boxes of clothing and accessories based on their style, size and price preferences. Stitch Fix charges a $20 fee for styling, which is credited against the items they purchase; anything they don’t want, they can return.
Started in 2011 by CEO Katrina Lake, the company has raised $42 million to date and employs more than 5,500 people nationwide, the company said. Forbes estimated its 2016 revenue at $375 million. (The privately held company doesn’t disclose its financial information.)
In September, the company expanded to menswear, and in February, the company started Stitch
Fix Plus to extend its range of sizes for women. Stitch Fix is part of a cohort of fashion-tech services that have popped up over the past few years, which attempt to make personal styling easier and more accessible.
One reason why Crunchbase users may have been assiduously researching the company: Bloomberg reported the company was considering an initial public offering. A company spokeswoman declined to comment.
PAX Labs
A vaporizers and e-cigarettes manufacturer.
What happened: Pax Labs has been relatively quiet lately — but a company spokeswoman said a recent article by TechCrunch about the field of smoking and vaporizer startups could be driving increased interest. Why it matters: With the legalization of marijuana in California, the smoking and vaporizer startup niche may become more relevant. Pax Labs claims they are “redefining” the future of smoking. Headquarters: San Francisco Funding: $46.7 million Employees: 150
UpGuard
A cybersecurity company that scores companies on how secure their systems are.
What happened: According to a company spokesman, UpGuard has seen 300 percent growth in revenue in the past 12 months and recently expanded in Asia. Why it matters: As hackers become more sophisticated, cybersecurity tactics must keep up. With an increase in highprofile security breaches of companies like Yahoo, there’s more attention paid to cybersecurity. Headquarters: Mountain View Funding: $27 million Employees: 50-99
MTailor
A men’s clothing app that provides custom-fitted shirts based on measurements taken via an iPad. What happened: The company, which appeared on reality show Shark Tank in February, recently beta launched their custom-fit jeans line. Why it matters: MTailor is yet another app in the fashion-tech space, and claims that it can replace the expensive and cumbersome tailoring process. Headquarters: San Francisco Funding: $2.12 million Employees: 10-30
Zozi
An online marketplace for events and activities like flight lessons, vineyard tours and wine tastings.
What happened: Negative attention is still attention; Zozi said it laid off 30 percent of its staff last week. Why it matters: Zozi is in a crowded space. Big names like Airbnb and Expedia want to sell experiences, too. Headquarters: San Francisco Funding: $44.3 million Employees: 51-100