FashInvest is getting ready for its second annual Capital Conference.
David Freschman and Karen Griffith Gryga, the founders of FashInvest, have been using their knowledge of the early-stage investment world putting together networking events in the past two years. They recently selected a group of entrepreneurs to present at the Capital Conference on Wednesday held at Fashion Institute of Technology’s Katie Murphy Amphitheater and hosted by LIM College.
Marty Staff, the former chief business development officer at American Apparel, is the breakfast keynote speaker, and Kevin Ryan, founder and chief executive officer of Gilt Groupe, is the luncheon keynote speaker. There are two panel discussions planned with participants including: Mary Lee, co-founder of Q4 and business partner of Nicola Formichetti; Lawrence Lenihan, managing director of FirstMark Capital; Steven Alan, founder of his eponymous firm, and Julie Macklowe, founder of vBeauté. Daymond John, founder of Fubu and co-star of the ABC show “The Shark Tank” will again be the master of ceremonies.
Related Articles
Among the presenting firms are: Fitted Fashion, a custom-fit apparel platform; The NJC Group, a women’s chain of retail stores under the nameplates National Jean Co. and Denim Habit; Number Lab, a participant in CFDA’s Fashion Incubator Program that combines men’s tailored sportswear with performance gear; The RealReal, a luxury consignment platform of previously owned apparel and accessories, and wonderMode, a luxury e-commerce “department store style” platform for brands.
You May Also Like
Heikki Haldre, co-founder and ceo of virtual fitting room Fits.me, presented at last year’s conference, and said, “The biggest thing that happened after FashInvest’s conference was that we closed an investment round of 1.3 million euros, about $1.8 million. We started preparations for that through FashInvest, which became a catalyst for us. It was the network effect of contacts calling up our investors.”
Jessica DeLuca, co-founder and ceo of Cult Beauty, the U.K. beauty site, said after her presentation last year, she connected with venture capital firm DFJ Gotham, which introduced her to their London partner, whom she said she is still in contact with. “William Reeve [DFJ’s London partner] is giving us really good advice. We don’t need funding yet and want to keep more equity and control of the business. He said ‘Don’t take more money than you need to take,’ since the more we ask for, the more equity we’d have to sell to get it.”