Top 7 Venture Capital Firms Investing in Fashion Startups

For founders in the fashion, apparel, and consumer goods space, preparing to raise capital means knowing exactly who to talk to. Approaching investors who don't understand your industry can be a significant setback when time is critical for your business.

To help, our team created this overview of the top venture capital firms actively investing in fashion, beauty, and e-commerce. Use this guide to quickly identify investors who are a good fit for your company, whether you're at the seed stage or raising a Series A.

Actively raising? You can now access non-dilutive funding options like venture debt and credit lines through Rho Capital. Rho also provides access to business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay—built for startup teams moving fast.

Key Takeaways

• Securing venture funding can provide your fashion startup with the capital to scale production, expand marketing, and hire key talent.
• Top venture capital firms investing in fashion and consumer brands include Bullish, The Venture Reality Fund (VRF), The Helm, and M3 Ventures.
• Once you've raised a round, our platform helps you manage your new capital with integrated business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

Which VC Firms in Fashion Are Right for Your Stage?

Whether you're just starting out or preparing for an exit, it's important to know which investors to approach. Here’s a quick overview of venture capital firms that invest in fashion, broken down by stage.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in Fashion

This initial funding stage helps you transform an idea into a viable product and gain early market feedback. For founders in the consumer and fashion space, firms like New York-based The Helm, M3 Ventures, and Austin's Sputnik ATX are actively investing at this level.

Early Stage VC Firms in Fashion

Early-stage funding, which includes Series A and B rounds, is for companies with established product-market fit that are ready to scale operations and accelerate growth. Consumer-focused investors such as Bullish and Fab Co-Creation Studio Ventures specialize in backing brands at this critical inflection point. Once you secure a round, our integrated platform helps you manage the new capital with business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay, all in one place.

Late Stage VC Firms in Fashion

Late-stage capital is designed for mature companies looking to fund major expansion, enter new markets, or prepare for an exit through an IPO or acquisition. Venture capital firms like Founders Circle Capital and M3 Ventures provide this type of growth-stage financing.

Keep in mind that some venture capital firms invest across multiple stages, from seed to exit.

To help you identify the right partners, our team has gathered information on the top VC firms investing in fashion. You'll find details on their investment stages, geographic focus, and what makes each one unique.

1. Bullish

Based in New York, Bullish is an investment firm that backs early-stage consumer brands. They operate as both a venture capital fund and a brand strategy agency, providing founders with capital and marketing expertise.

The firm is known for backing category-defining consumer companies like Peloton, Warby Parker, and Casper, according to their investment portfolio. Their model of combining investment with brand strategy suggests a hands-on approach to helping companies build a strong market presence.

Bullish could be a great partner if you're a founder in the consumer space who values strategic support on branding and marketing. Their portfolio shows a clear preference for direct-to-consumer models that have the potential for wide appeal.

• Investment stages: Seed and Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Consumer, Fashion, and Wellness
• Geographical presence: Based in New York, NY
• Notable portfolio companies: Peloton, Casper, and Warby Parker
• Unique approach: Combines venture funding with a brand strategy agency.

You can refer to their website here.

2. The Venture Reality Fund/VRF

The Venture Reality Fund, or VRF, is a California-based firm that invests in companies shaping our digital future through AI and spatial computing. While tech-focused, they also have an interest in fashion, gaming, and social media, backing founders from seed to early-stage rounds.

The firm shows a clear focus on companies building foundational technologies in augmented and virtual reality. Their portfolio includes notable exits like Owlchemy Labs and Phiar Technologies, both of which were acquired by Google, signaling a strong eye for strategically valuable tech.

VRF is a strong potential partner if your fashion or consumer brand has a deep technology component, particularly in AR or VR. Founders looking for investors who understand the intersection of advanced tech and consumer experiences would find this firm a good fit.

• Investment stages: Seed and Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Fashion
• Geographical presence: Burlingame, CA
• Founded year: 2016
• Notable portfolio companies: Baobab Studios, Strivr, and Owlchemy Labs
• Portfolio size: 64 investments

You can refer to their website here.

3. The Helm

The Helm is a New York-based venture firm that invests in early-stage companies founded by women. Their mission is to provide capital to businesses that are positioned to make a significant impact.

The firm concentrates on industries like fashion, lifestyle, and finance, with a clear focus on seed and early-stage rounds. Their portfolio highlights successful consumer brands like the women's health clinic Tia and the razor company Billie, which had a notable $310 million exit.

The Helm is an excellent match for female founders building companies in the consumer sector. If you are looking for an investor that offers a strong community and understands brand building, this firm could be a great partner.

• Investment stages: Seed and Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Fashion, Lifestyle, Financial Services
• Geographical presence: Based in New York, NY
• Founded year: 2016
• Notable portfolio companies: Tia, Rebellyous Foods, Billie
• Portfolio size: 31 investments
• Unique approach: Exclusively invests in companies with female founders.

You can refer to their website here.

4. M3 Ventures

M3 Ventures is a New York-based firm that operates as a strategic investment partner for founders in the fashion, lifestyle, and wellness sectors. They provide capital to companies with a clear vision and a strong brand identity.

The firm's portfolio highlights a focus on high-growth consumer companies. It includes the tech-enabled clinic Forward, their first unicorn, as well as successful exits like the maternity brand HATCH Collection, according to investment data.

M3 Ventures is a strong match for founders building consumer brands with the potential for significant scale. If you are seeking an investor with experience guiding companies toward major exits or high valuations, this firm is worth considering.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, and Private Equity
• Industries of focus: Fashion, Lifestyle, and Wellness
• Geographical presence: New York, NY
• Founded year: 2015
• Notable portfolio companies: Forward, Cotopaxi, HATCH Collection, Coterie
• Portfolio size: 39 investments

You can refer to their website here.

5. Founders Circle Capital

Founders Circle Capital is a San Francisco-based firm that provides growth-stage financing. Their approach centers on investing in people, backing founders who are building influential companies across several industries, including fashion and finance.

The firm primarily targets late-stage ventures, with a portfolio that includes major consumer and tech brands like DoorDash and Robinhood. Their track record shows a pattern of backing companies that achieve significant exits, including high-profile IPOs and acquisitions.

This firm is a good fit if you lead a mature company with proven traction and are preparing for a major growth phase or exit. Once you secure a late-stage round, our platform can help you manage the new capital with integrated banking, cards, and spend controls.

• Investment stages: Late Stage Venture, Seed, and Venture
• Industries of focus: Education, Fashion, Finance, and Financial Services
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, CA
• Founded year: 2012
• Notable portfolio companies: DoorDash, Robinhood, VMware, Ethos
• Portfolio size: 53 investments

You can refer to their website here.

6. Sputnik ATX

Sputnik ATX is an Austin-based venture capital fund and startup accelerator. They focus on funding "maker-founders," suggesting a preference for founders who are deeply involved in building their products.

The firm operates across a wide range of industries, including fashion, beauty, and retail. Their model combines capital with an accelerator program, providing hands-on support to early-stage companies like the vegan cosmetics brand LAMIK.

Sputnik ATX is a great choice for founders at the seed or early stages who would benefit from an accelerator environment. If you are a hands-on founder in the consumer space, their program could provide the structure and funding needed to grow.

• Investment stages: Seed and Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Fashion, Beauty, Retail, and Social
• Geographical presence: Austin, TX
• Founded year: 2017
• Notable portfolio companies: LAMIK, Cognitive View, Kargoplex
• Portfolio size: 116 investments
• Unique approach: A VC fund and accelerator that invests in "maker-founders"

You can refer to their website here.

7. Fab Co-Creation Studio Ventures

Fab Co-Creation Studio Ventures is a Los Angeles-based firm that invests in early-stage, direct-to-consumer companies. They concentrate on conscious brands in the beauty and fashion industries, along with new commerce and retail technology.

The firm has a clear focus on sustainability and impact, backing companies like Kintra Fibers, which develops biodegradable textiles, and SuperCircle, a textile-recycling platform. Their portfolio also includes direct-to-consumer brands like DAMDAM Tokyo, a Japanese skincare line that entered the U.S. market through major retailers, per their LinkedIn.

This firm is a strong fit for founders building consumer brands with an ethical or sustainable mission at their core. Once you secure a partnership, our integrated platform helps you manage the new capital with business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay.

• Investment stages: Seed and Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Conscious Beauty, Fashion, Retail Technology, Impact Investing
• Geographical presence: Los Angeles, CA
• Founded year: 2020
• Notable portfolio companies: Kintra Fibers, SuperCircle, Trendio, DAMDAM Tokyo
• Portfolio size: 25 investments

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About The VC Scene for Fashion Companies

The venture capital firms on this list show a strong focus on early-stage opportunities in the fashion sector. Most of the investors specialize in seed and Series A rounds, which is great news if you are building a company from the ground up. This indicates a healthy appetite for new brands and technologies in the consumer space.

You'll also find a variety of investor types. While many are based in major hubs like New York and California, there are partners in other growing ecosystems. The firms themselves range from brand-focused agencies and tech specialists to mission-driven funds, giving you different kinds of strategic support to consider.

As you prepare to connect with these investors, remember that dilutive funding isn't the only path forward. Our team at Rho Capital can help you access non-dilutive options like venture debt and credit lines, providing capital that is tailored to your business model without giving up equity.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Having a focused list of relevant investors is invaluable when your time and energy are limited during a fundraise. This guide is designed to help you connect with the right partners for your company.

If you’re seeking funding, Rho Capital connects you to non-dilutive options like venture debt and credit lines through a fast, guided process. We help you access financing tailored to your business model without giving up equity.

Once capital is secured, Rho provides integrated tools to help you manage and deploy funds efficiently. Our platform includes business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay to support your growth.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms Focused on Fashion

Which are the top fashion venture capital firms in New York City?

New York is a major hub for fashion investment. Firms like Bullish, The Helm, and M3 Ventures are based there, actively funding consumer brands from seed to growth stages. Each offers unique strategic support for founders.

What do early-stage venture capital firms look for in consumer brands?

Early-stage investors look for product-market fit and a strong brand. They want to see initial traction and a plan for growth. Once funded, our platform helps you manage capital with integrated banking and spend controls.

Are there venture capital firms that focus on women-led fashion startups?

Yes, several firms prioritize investing in women founders. The Helm, for example, exclusively backs companies founded by women, with a portfolio that includes successful fashion and lifestyle brands, offering a supportive community for entrepreneurs.

How can I find emerging fashion tech venture capital firms?

To find new firms, follow industry news, attend fashion and tech conferences, and build your network. Platforms that track investment activity can also help you identify investors who are actively funding companies in your specific sector.

How can Rho help my startup with funding?

If you're seeking capital without giving up equity, our team can help. Rho connects you to non-dilutive options like venture debt and credit lines, providing financing tailored to your business model through a fast, guided process.