Forerunner Ventures

Forerunner Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2010 and based in San Francisco, California. The firm specializes in investing in high-growth, privately-held branded consumer companies, particularly within sectors such as online commerce, social/mobile commerce, and internet marketplaces. Forerunner Ventures aims to understand the evolving mindset of modern consumers and supports entrepreneurs who are positioned to meet future consumer needs. By providing funding, strategic guidance, and consumer insights, the firm helps to transform industries and drive cultural advancements. With a focus on seed stage and Series A investments, Forerunner typically invests between $250,000 and $500,000 in initial funding, with the potential for additional investments in high-performing companies. The firm prefers to partner with companies in the Bay Area but also considers opportunities in New York and Los Angeles, often seeking collaboration with local investors when companies are outside its primary geographic focus.

Jason Bornstein

Principal

Nicole Johnson

Partner

Brian O’Malley

Managing Partner

KJ Sidberry

Principal

Priyanka Suri

Investor

Kirsten Green

Founder and Managing Partner

Past deals in Apparel

11 Honore

Series A in 2019
11 Honore, Inc. is an online retailer based in West Hollywood, California, specializing in plus-size designer clothing for women. Founded in 2017, the company aims to provide an inclusive shopping experience by offering a wide array of apparel, including dresses, tops, sweaters, denim, pants, skirts, jumpsuits, outerwear, swimwear, sportwear, and lingerie. By focusing on size inclusivity, 11 Honore allows women to access high-quality designer fashion that celebrates their bodies and personal style. The platform features curated collections and exclusive pieces, as well as personalized fit and styling advice, ensuring that luxury clothing is available at the same prices as traditional sizes. Through its commitment to redefining the fashion landscape, 11 Honore seeks to empower women and promote a positive body image within the luxury market.

Neighborhood Goods

Series A in 2019
Neighborhood Goods, Inc. operates a department store that features a diverse array of apparel, accessories, cosmetics, and groceries. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company provides an evolving selection of brands and products while also creating community spaces for social engagement. Neighborhood Goods offers both in-store and online shopping experiences, allowing customers to explore and purchase a variety of daily use items. The store also hosts events and activities, fostering connections among visitors through immersive content and live discussions.

Neighborhood Goods

Seed Round in 2019
Neighborhood Goods, Inc. operates a department store that features a diverse array of apparel, accessories, cosmetics, and groceries. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company provides an evolving selection of brands and products while also creating community spaces for social engagement. Neighborhood Goods offers both in-store and online shopping experiences, allowing customers to explore and purchase a variety of daily use items. The store also hosts events and activities, fostering connections among visitors through immersive content and live discussions.

Birdies

Series A in 2019
Birdies, Inc., also known as Birdies Slippers, Inc., is a footwear brand established in 2015 by Bianca Gates and Marisa Sharkey, headquartered in Sacramento, California. The company specializes in manufacturing stylish and comfortable footwear for women, designed primarily for indoor use but versatile enough for everyday occasions. Birdies offers a variety of signature styles that merge the support of a sneaker, the softness of a slipper, and the elegance of a designer flat. Each product incorporates the brand's exclusive 7-layer comfort technology, ensuring luxurious style and ultimate comfort for its customers.

Neighborhood Goods

Seed Round in 2018
Neighborhood Goods, Inc. operates a department store that features a diverse array of apparel, accessories, cosmetics, and groceries. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company provides an evolving selection of brands and products while also creating community spaces for social engagement. Neighborhood Goods offers both in-store and online shopping experiences, allowing customers to explore and purchase a variety of daily use items. The store also hosts events and activities, fostering connections among visitors through immersive content and live discussions.

Choosy

Seed Round in 2018
Choosy is an on-demand social shopping platform where users influence every collection to match their favorite style inspirations. Through social tagging and a team of Style Scouts, Choosy identifies and manufactures trend-driven fashion delivered to shoppers in as little as two weeks. It’s the modern-day equivalent of the ultimate window-shopping experience, creating a new generation of social commerce. All looks are designed and produced in-house, so women sizes 0-20 can get today’s most covetable looks without the ticket price of labels. You see it, you like it, we make it - it’s time to #GetChoosy with your wardrobe.

11 Honore

Series A in 2018
11 Honore, Inc. is an online retailer based in West Hollywood, California, specializing in plus-size designer clothing for women. Founded in 2017, the company aims to provide an inclusive shopping experience by offering a wide array of apparel, including dresses, tops, sweaters, denim, pants, skirts, jumpsuits, outerwear, swimwear, sportwear, and lingerie. By focusing on size inclusivity, 11 Honore allows women to access high-quality designer fashion that celebrates their bodies and personal style. The platform features curated collections and exclusive pieces, as well as personalized fit and styling advice, ensuring that luxury clothing is available at the same prices as traditional sizes. Through its commitment to redefining the fashion landscape, 11 Honore seeks to empower women and promote a positive body image within the luxury market.

Outdoor Voices

Series C in 2018
Outdoor Voices, Inc. is a company that designs, manufactures, and sells athletic apparel aimed at promoting an active lifestyle. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, the brand offers a variety of clothing items for both men and women, including sports bras, tops, sweatshirts, jackets, leggings, pants, and shorts. The company emphasizes the importance of recreation and social engagement, encouraging individuals to be active and enjoy outdoor activities with others. Outdoor Voices distributes its products through retail locations and online platforms, serving customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The brand is committed to redefining recreation as an integral part of daily life, making it accessible and enjoyable for all.

Birdies

Seed Round in 2017
Birdies, Inc., also known as Birdies Slippers, Inc., is a footwear brand established in 2015 by Bianca Gates and Marisa Sharkey, headquartered in Sacramento, California. The company specializes in manufacturing stylish and comfortable footwear for women, designed primarily for indoor use but versatile enough for everyday occasions. Birdies offers a variety of signature styles that merge the support of a sneaker, the softness of a slipper, and the elegance of a designer flat. Each product incorporates the brand's exclusive 7-layer comfort technology, ensuring luxurious style and ultimate comfort for its customers.

11 Honore

Seed Round in 2017
11 Honore, Inc. is an online retailer based in West Hollywood, California, specializing in plus-size designer clothing for women. Founded in 2017, the company aims to provide an inclusive shopping experience by offering a wide array of apparel, including dresses, tops, sweaters, denim, pants, skirts, jumpsuits, outerwear, swimwear, sportwear, and lingerie. By focusing on size inclusivity, 11 Honore allows women to access high-quality designer fashion that celebrates their bodies and personal style. The platform features curated collections and exclusive pieces, as well as personalized fit and styling advice, ensuring that luxury clothing is available at the same prices as traditional sizes. Through its commitment to redefining the fashion landscape, 11 Honore seeks to empower women and promote a positive body image within the luxury market.

Outdoor Voices

Venture Round in 2017
Outdoor Voices, Inc. is a company that designs, manufactures, and sells athletic apparel aimed at promoting an active lifestyle. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, the brand offers a variety of clothing items for both men and women, including sports bras, tops, sweatshirts, jackets, leggings, pants, and shorts. The company emphasizes the importance of recreation and social engagement, encouraging individuals to be active and enjoy outdoor activities with others. Outdoor Voices distributes its products through retail locations and online platforms, serving customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The brand is committed to redefining recreation as an integral part of daily life, making it accessible and enjoyable for all.

M.Gemi

Series C in 2017
M.Gemi is a luxury brand that specializes in handcrafted shoes and bags, produced in esteemed family-owned artisan factories in Italy. The company distinguishes itself by introducing new, limited edition styles weekly and selling directly to consumers, which allows it to offer its products at more accessible price points. By merging traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, M.Gemi aims to provide a platform for Italian artistry while maintaining a commitment to quality and affordability. The brand caters to both men and women, emphasizing the belief that luxury can be both exquisite and attainable.

Stadium Goods

Series A in 2017
Stadium Goods is an online marketplace for sneakers and apparel with a brick and mortar store in soho, NYC. It is a U.S.-based company doing business globally that was founded in 2015 by John McPheters and Jed Stiller.

Rockets of Awesome

Series A in 2017
Rockets of Awesome is a direct-to-consumer brand specializing in children's apparel. The company offers a subscription model that delivers curated boxes of clothing to parents, allowing them to personalize selections based on their children's preferences. By utilizing technology and data, Rockets of Awesome aims to streamline the shopping experience, enabling parents to provide their children with the freedom to choose from a variety of styles, patterns, and colors. This innovative approach seeks to transform the way parents shop for kids' clothing, emphasizing personalization and exceptional merchandise.

Hollar

Series B in 2016
Hollar is an online dollar store that provides a diverse range of consumer products, including toys, apparel, electronics, beauty items, accessories, party supplies, and home essentials. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in California, the company focuses on offering affordable prices for its curated selections, which include unique gift and party collections. Hollar's e-commerce platform allows customers to conveniently purchase a variety of products online, catering to their everyday needs while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Rockets of Awesome

Seed Round in 2016
Rockets of Awesome is a direct-to-consumer brand specializing in children's apparel. The company offers a subscription model that delivers curated boxes of clothing to parents, allowing them to personalize selections based on their children's preferences. By utilizing technology and data, Rockets of Awesome aims to streamline the shopping experience, enabling parents to provide their children with the freedom to choose from a variety of styles, patterns, and colors. This innovative approach seeks to transform the way parents shop for kids' clothing, emphasizing personalization and exceptional merchandise.

Outdoor Voices

Series B in 2016
Outdoor Voices, Inc. is a company that designs, manufactures, and sells athletic apparel aimed at promoting an active lifestyle. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, the brand offers a variety of clothing items for both men and women, including sports bras, tops, sweatshirts, jackets, leggings, pants, and shorts. The company emphasizes the importance of recreation and social engagement, encouraging individuals to be active and enjoy outdoor activities with others. Outdoor Voices distributes its products through retail locations and online platforms, serving customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The brand is committed to redefining recreation as an integral part of daily life, making it accessible and enjoyable for all.

M.Gemi

Series B in 2015
M.Gemi is a luxury brand that specializes in handcrafted shoes and bags, produced in esteemed family-owned artisan factories in Italy. The company distinguishes itself by introducing new, limited edition styles weekly and selling directly to consumers, which allows it to offer its products at more accessible price points. By merging traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, M.Gemi aims to provide a platform for Italian artistry while maintaining a commitment to quality and affordability. The brand caters to both men and women, emphasizing the belief that luxury can be both exquisite and attainable.

Outdoor Voices

Series A in 2015
Outdoor Voices, Inc. is a company that designs, manufactures, and sells athletic apparel aimed at promoting an active lifestyle. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, the brand offers a variety of clothing items for both men and women, including sports bras, tops, sweatshirts, jackets, leggings, pants, and shorts. The company emphasizes the importance of recreation and social engagement, encouraging individuals to be active and enjoy outdoor activities with others. Outdoor Voices distributes its products through retail locations and online platforms, serving customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The brand is committed to redefining recreation as an integral part of daily life, making it accessible and enjoyable for all.

Draper James

Series A in 2015
Draper James, LLC is a retail brand that specializes in designing and selling women's apparel and accessories, along with home décor items. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in New York, the company offers a diverse range of products including dresses, skirts, sweaters, outerwear, tops, pants, and denim. Its accessory line features handbags, jewelry, hats, belts, sunglasses, and shoes, while the home collection includes gifts, stationery, linens, and decorative items. Draper James emphasizes personal style and sensibility in its offerings, catering to a multi-channel lifestyle for women. The brand's products are available for purchase online.

Hollar

Seed Round in 2015
Hollar is an online dollar store that provides a diverse range of consumer products, including toys, apparel, electronics, beauty items, accessories, party supplies, and home essentials. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in California, the company focuses on offering affordable prices for its curated selections, which include unique gift and party collections. Hollar's e-commerce platform allows customers to conveniently purchase a variety of products online, catering to their everyday needs while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Guildery

Seed Round in 2015
Guildery is an e-commerce startup that specializes in the mass customization of home products, particularly home textiles and accessories. Operating within the $200 billion home décor industry, Guildery addresses the gap between high-end, made-to-order items and mass-produced goods by offering personalized products without the high costs and lengthy timelines typically associated with artisan customization. The company utilizes advanced digital printing techniques that chemically bond ink to fabric, enabling a virtually limitless selection of patterns and materials to be produced on-demand. Guildery curates exclusive designs from various artists, allowing customers to choose from a range of items, including pillows, drapes, and ottomans, all tailored to individual preferences.

Cotopaxi

Series A in 2015
Cotopaxi is an outdoor gear and apparel company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, founded in 2014. The company operates with a social mission focused on eradicating extreme poverty, linking each product to humanitarian causes in some of the world's poorest regions. For instance, the sale of a travel pack can fund one to three weeks of education for a child, while a water bottle can provide six months of clean water. Cotopaxi offers a diverse range of products, including travel packs, activewear, outerwear, and footwear, all made from responsibly sourced materials. By prioritizing sustainability and transparency, Cotopaxi enables customers to make purchases that not only meet their outdoor needs but also contribute positively to global issues.

PS Dept.

Venture Round in 2014
PS Dept. develops a mobile e-commerce application designed to be used for personal shopping services. The application is a platform for direct access to personal shoppers at select retail stores that connect the dots between the convenience of shopping online and the quality of service of shopping with a qualified associate at the shopper's side, allowing users to search and order accessories and apparel based on suggestions from experts in the particular field.

Cotopaxi

Seed Round in 2014
Cotopaxi is an outdoor gear and apparel company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, founded in 2014. The company operates with a social mission focused on eradicating extreme poverty, linking each product to humanitarian causes in some of the world's poorest regions. For instance, the sale of a travel pack can fund one to three weeks of education for a child, while a water bottle can provide six months of clean water. Cotopaxi offers a diverse range of products, including travel packs, activewear, outerwear, and footwear, all made from responsibly sourced materials. By prioritizing sustainability and transparency, Cotopaxi enables customers to make purchases that not only meet their outdoor needs but also contribute positively to global issues.

Bonobos

Series D in 2014
Bonobos, Inc. is a men's clothing brand that specializes in providing a wide range of apparel including pants, shirts, suits, sweaters, outerwear, shoes, and accessories. Founded in 2007, Bonobos initially made a name for itself with its signature line of better-fitting men's pants, and has since grown to become the largest apparel brand established online in the United States. The company offers various categories of clothing such as washed chinos, dress shirts, and casual wear, as well as a selection of accessories like belts, socks, and watches. Bonobos has expanded its presence by launching Guideshops, which provide personalized shopping experiences, and by partnering with major retailers like Nordstrom to increase its distribution. The brand is recognized for its commitment to delivering excellent fit and customer service, contributing to its reputation as a prominent name in menswear. Bonobos operates primarily online, with a physical store located in Seattle and a headquarters in New York City.

Chloe + Isabel

Series C in 2014
Chloe + Isabel is an innovative social commerce jewelry company that empowers and connects women through their own social selling experience. Launched in 2011, Chloe + Isabel is disrupting the traditional direct sales model to provide an entrepreneurial opportunity. Chloe + Isabel has developed a platform that powers a seller's personal e-commerce experience. Users who sign up as Merchandisers receive a customized digital workplace to create their boutique shopping experience, and earn commission from every sale. Merchandisers may participate in streaming video training, are able to curate personal collections of Chloe + Isabel jewelry on their online boutiques, and receive real-time trends, insights and recommendations to help support their businesses. Chloe + Isabel founder and CEO Chantel Waterbury has over 14 years of expert experience developing jewelry for major retailers in the United States, including Target Corp, Macy's, Gap Inc, LVMH and Kenneth Cole. Waterbury, who supported herself through college by direct-selling, says she made the jump from working for multi-billion dollar retailers to launching a startup so she could empower the next generation of women.

Pickwick & Weller

Venture Round in 2013
With sharp designs, meticulous fit and a commitment to developing beautifully crafted basics in California, we’re refining the notion of modern workwear, one t-shirt at a time

Bonobos

Venture Round in 2013
Bonobos, Inc. is a men's clothing brand that specializes in providing a wide range of apparel including pants, shirts, suits, sweaters, outerwear, shoes, and accessories. Founded in 2007, Bonobos initially made a name for itself with its signature line of better-fitting men's pants, and has since grown to become the largest apparel brand established online in the United States. The company offers various categories of clothing such as washed chinos, dress shirts, and casual wear, as well as a selection of accessories like belts, socks, and watches. Bonobos has expanded its presence by launching Guideshops, which provide personalized shopping experiences, and by partnering with major retailers like Nordstrom to increase its distribution. The brand is recognized for its commitment to delivering excellent fit and customer service, contributing to its reputation as a prominent name in menswear. Bonobos operates primarily online, with a physical store located in Seattle and a headquarters in New York City.

Trendabl

Venture Round in 2012
Trendabl, Inc. is a company that operates an online community centered around fashion enthusiasts. Launched in March 2012, it offers a photo-sharing platform designed for users to capture and upload images related to fashion. The application allows users to enhance their photos with filters and tag them with details including brand, price, and retail availability. Users can share their images with followers and connect with fashion icons, celebrities, designers, and influencers, thereby creating a vibrant social network focused on fashion content. Founded in 2011, Trendabl is headquartered in New York, New York.

Pickwick & Weller

Seed Round in 2012
With sharp designs, meticulous fit and a commitment to developing beautifully crafted basics in California, we’re refining the notion of modern workwear, one t-shirt at a time

Threadflip

Series A in 2012
Threadflip operates an online marketplace designed to transform the shopping experience for women's fashion through a peer-to-peer model. The platform enables users to photograph and list their clothing items for sale, facilitating a collaborative and engaging environment for buying and selling pre-owned apparel. This approach not only promotes efficient transactions but also fosters a sense of community among users. While Threadflip ceased operations in January 2015, it has since formed a partnership with Le Tote to continue its vision of enhancing the way women shop for clothes and style their wardrobes.

Threadflip

Seed Round in 2012
Threadflip operates an online marketplace designed to transform the shopping experience for women's fashion through a peer-to-peer model. The platform enables users to photograph and list their clothing items for sale, facilitating a collaborative and engaging environment for buying and selling pre-owned apparel. This approach not only promotes efficient transactions but also fosters a sense of community among users. While Threadflip ceased operations in January 2015, it has since formed a partnership with Le Tote to continue its vision of enhancing the way women shop for clothes and style their wardrobes.

Bonobos

Venture Round in 2012
Bonobos, Inc. is a men's clothing brand that specializes in providing a wide range of apparel including pants, shirts, suits, sweaters, outerwear, shoes, and accessories. Founded in 2007, Bonobos initially made a name for itself with its signature line of better-fitting men's pants, and has since grown to become the largest apparel brand established online in the United States. The company offers various categories of clothing such as washed chinos, dress shirts, and casual wear, as well as a selection of accessories like belts, socks, and watches. Bonobos has expanded its presence by launching Guideshops, which provide personalized shopping experiences, and by partnering with major retailers like Nordstrom to increase its distribution. The brand is recognized for its commitment to delivering excellent fit and customer service, contributing to its reputation as a prominent name in menswear. Bonobos operates primarily online, with a physical store located in Seattle and a headquarters in New York City.

Chloe + Isabel

Series A in 2011
Chloe + Isabel is an innovative social commerce jewelry company that empowers and connects women through their own social selling experience. Launched in 2011, Chloe + Isabel is disrupting the traditional direct sales model to provide an entrepreneurial opportunity. Chloe + Isabel has developed a platform that powers a seller's personal e-commerce experience. Users who sign up as Merchandisers receive a customized digital workplace to create their boutique shopping experience, and earn commission from every sale. Merchandisers may participate in streaming video training, are able to curate personal collections of Chloe + Isabel jewelry on their online boutiques, and receive real-time trends, insights and recommendations to help support their businesses. Chloe + Isabel founder and CEO Chantel Waterbury has over 14 years of expert experience developing jewelry for major retailers in the United States, including Target Corp, Macy's, Gap Inc, LVMH and Kenneth Cole. Waterbury, who supported herself through college by direct-selling, says she made the jump from working for multi-billion dollar retailers to launching a startup so she could empower the next generation of women.

Chloe + Isabel

Seed Round in 2011
Chloe + Isabel is an innovative social commerce jewelry company that empowers and connects women through their own social selling experience. Launched in 2011, Chloe + Isabel is disrupting the traditional direct sales model to provide an entrepreneurial opportunity. Chloe + Isabel has developed a platform that powers a seller's personal e-commerce experience. Users who sign up as Merchandisers receive a customized digital workplace to create their boutique shopping experience, and earn commission from every sale. Merchandisers may participate in streaming video training, are able to curate personal collections of Chloe + Isabel jewelry on their online boutiques, and receive real-time trends, insights and recommendations to help support their businesses. Chloe + Isabel founder and CEO Chantel Waterbury has over 14 years of expert experience developing jewelry for major retailers in the United States, including Target Corp, Macy's, Gap Inc, LVMH and Kenneth Cole. Waterbury, who supported herself through college by direct-selling, says she made the jump from working for multi-billion dollar retailers to launching a startup so she could empower the next generation of women.

Bonobos

Series B in 2010
Bonobos, Inc. is a men's clothing brand that specializes in providing a wide range of apparel including pants, shirts, suits, sweaters, outerwear, shoes, and accessories. Founded in 2007, Bonobos initially made a name for itself with its signature line of better-fitting men's pants, and has since grown to become the largest apparel brand established online in the United States. The company offers various categories of clothing such as washed chinos, dress shirts, and casual wear, as well as a selection of accessories like belts, socks, and watches. Bonobos has expanded its presence by launching Guideshops, which provide personalized shopping experiences, and by partnering with major retailers like Nordstrom to increase its distribution. The brand is recognized for its commitment to delivering excellent fit and customer service, contributing to its reputation as a prominent name in menswear. Bonobos operates primarily online, with a physical store located in Seattle and a headquarters in New York City.

Bonobos

Seed Round in 2009
Bonobos, Inc. is a men's clothing brand that specializes in providing a wide range of apparel including pants, shirts, suits, sweaters, outerwear, shoes, and accessories. Founded in 2007, Bonobos initially made a name for itself with its signature line of better-fitting men's pants, and has since grown to become the largest apparel brand established online in the United States. The company offers various categories of clothing such as washed chinos, dress shirts, and casual wear, as well as a selection of accessories like belts, socks, and watches. Bonobos has expanded its presence by launching Guideshops, which provide personalized shopping experiences, and by partnering with major retailers like Nordstrom to increase its distribution. The brand is recognized for its commitment to delivering excellent fit and customer service, contributing to its reputation as a prominent name in menswear. Bonobos operates primarily online, with a physical store located in Seattle and a headquarters in New York City.
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