Events by Ellen Damaso, Ecosystem Builder and Community Architect.
Bridging Fashion & Beauty Innovators — Virtual Pitch Competition
Bridging Fashion & Beauty Innovators — Virtual Pitch Competition
From Concept to Catwalk: Empowering the Next Wave of Fashion & Beauty Tech
This online gathering is designed for founders, funders, technologists, and community builders in the fashion and beauty tech ecosystem. Our mission: foster collaboration, spotlight emerging startups, and unlock pathways for innovation and investment.
Agenda
2:00pm (Virtual Lobby Opens): Registration & Networking
2:10pm: Opening Remarks by Host & Partners
2:15pm: Live Startup Pitches--5 fashion and beauty tech founders present their companies to a panel and audience
Each founder: 5-minute pitch + 3-minute judge Q&A + 2-minute audience Q&A
3:10pm: Audience Voting & Judges Deliberation
3:20pm: Winner Announced & Closing Remarks
3:25pm: Post-event Networking Lounge
Event Summary & Goals
Fashion and beauty are undergoing rapid transformation through technology: AI-driven personalization, sustainable materials, virtual try-ons, and social commerce. This competition brings together trailblazing founders, investors, and collaborators to:
Celebrate innovation in fashion and beauty tech
Connect early-stage ventures with funding, mentorship, and strategic partnerships
Cultivate a vibrant, supportive community to scale new ideas and business models
Top startups will pitch for feedback, recognition, and potential investment. The audience will help choose a crowd favorite, while a panel of expert judges selects the grand prize winner.
Who Should Join
Fashion and beauty tech founders and business leaders
Early-stage entrepreneurs working on wearable tech, cosmetics innovation, ecommerce, digital fashion, AI, and retail platforms
Investors, angels, and industry mentors eager to support emerging companies
Creators, designers, and anyone passionate about the future of fashion and beauty
Why Attend
Discover cutting-edge innovations and new brand experiences
Network virtually with talent from across the global fashion and beauty tech ecosystem
Access partnership, investment, and mentorship opportunities
Shape the future of tech-enabled beauty and fashion—your vote and voice matter
Startups to pitch:
Alternew
Stage: Pre-seed
Summary: Alternew is an AI-powered platform connecting fashion brands and customers to trusted tailoring, repair, and customization services. The solution transforms after-sales care into a driver of loyalty, circularity, and profit.
Fundraising: Raising $1M pre-seed
Alignment: Offers circularity solutions in fashion and leverages AI for user experience and business impact.
True Beauty Lashes
Stage: Pre-seed
Summary: True Beauty Lashes delivers AI-powered eyelash recommendations. It enhances beauty routines by matching consumers to optimal lash products using data-driven personalization.
Fundraising: Raising $500K pre-seed
Alignment: Applies AI to personal beauty and elevates consumer product experiences.
Upcyclers / Upcyclers
Stage: Early revenue
Summary: Upcyclers is a marketplace empowering anyone to turn fashion waste into sustainable businesses or personal income. It unites circular fashion and entrepreneurship in an accessible digital shop.
Fundraising: Raising $500K SAFE @ $5M cap
Alignment: Addresses fashion sustainability, waste reduction, and digital marketplace innovation.
Klap
Stage: Pre-seed
Summary: Klap is an AI-native micro-drama and visual storytelling platform where fashion meets interactive creator experiences. It targets Gen-Z and diaspora audiences with short, style-driven series and commerce tie-ins.
Fundraising: Seeking $500K at $7M valuation
Alignment: Blends fashion, content, and social commerce trends for digital-native audiences.
lookingGLASS
Stage: Early stage/MVP, preseed
Summary: lookingGLASS is a personal styling platform that uses your closet, weather, location, and calendar to tell you what to wear daily. Retailers also benefit from privacy-safe insights for better merchandising.
Fundraising: Open pre-seed round, SAFE, $6M post-money valuation cap, asking $1M
Alignment: Uses AI and data to personalize style choices and improve retailer intelligence, with traction in press and partnerships.
Logistics & Attire
Platform: Zoom (link sent upon registration)
Dress Code: Business casual, creative flair, or everyday wear—bring your authentic self!
Admission: RSVP required—founders, investors, students, and community welcome
Judges & Moderator
Judge #1: Eric Valle, GP at Foundry1
Eric is a co-founder and General Partner at Foundry1, an AI venture studio focused on ideation of companies in frontier tech, bio-tech and enterprise SaaS. At Foundry1, Eric at manages strategic guidance to portfolio companies which includes fundraising, operational infrastructure and partnership/sales channels. Previously, Eric helped start and was a General Partner and COO at Next Play Capital, a venture fund of fund and co-investment firm that merged with long-time venture fund of funds Legacy Venture to become Next Legacy Partners.
Prior to Next Play, Eric was a founding member and COO at Binary Capital, an early stage consumer fund. He began his venture and private equity career in Investor Relations at HRJ Capital, a private equity and venture fund of funds before being acquired by Swiss-based Capital Dynamics where he led Global Client Relations. Eric is a Bay Area native and graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.
Judge #2: Serephina Ha, Managing Director at Founder Institute
Serephina is a VC-baked entrepreneur turned investor, and MIT alum on a mission to help founders turn bold ideas into impactful ventures.
She is a Managing Director at Founder Institute, which has incubated over 8100 tech startups with a combined portfolio valuation of $35B.
She also serves as a mentor at MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund, and an advisor at Loyal VC, a global venture fund with 400+ investments across 60+ countries. Also Angel Investor & LP.
Moderator: Jake Crowley, Managing Partner at Crowley Capital
Jake Crowley, the Managing Partner of Crowley Capital, a fund, angel, and advisory platform investing across deep tech, space tech, fintech, biotech, health tech, and CPG. Jake brings a unique edge as both a venture growth operator and fund advisor, often stepping in to support Fund II and Fund III raises while investing at Series A and beyond. He pairs structured capital with founder-first conviction, and will be able to pair portfolio companies with PE groups, FOs, and other angels.
Apply to Pitch
Founders: Want to showcase your startup? Submit your application with a brief overview, traction, and your ask.
Get Involved
For partnership, sponsorship, or judging opportunities: ellen.a.damaso@gmail.com.
Connect with us for event updates: Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and subscribe to our calendar.
Let’s build a more innovative, inclusive and beautiful tech-driven future—together.
Sponsored by
Plus Ultra Capital Partners, Ellen Damaso, Venture and Capital Partner
Foundry1, Eric Valle, Co-founder & General Partner
Founder Institute, Serephina Ha, Managing Partner
Crowley Capital, Jake Crowley, Managing Partner
Events by Ellen Damaso, Ecosystem Builder and Community Architect.