NYFTLab Empowers Women Entrepreneurs to Drive Innovation and Sustainability in the Fashion Industry.
The fashion industry is undergoing a tech-driven transformation, and the New York Fashion Tech Lab (NYFTLab) continues to be at the forefront of innovation. Now in its 12th year, NYFTLab has once again selected a group of cutting-edge, women-led B2B startups aiming to revolutionize how brands and retailers operate. Backed by some of the biggest names in fashion, this year’s cohort is tackling challenges in personalization, in-store analytics, circular economy, and AI-driven solutions.
Founded in 2014 by Springboard Enterprises, NYFTLab has established itself as the leading accelerator for female-founded fashion and retail technology companies. The non-profit initiative has partnered with over 40 retail and brand heavyweights, and its alumni network includes some of the industry’s most impactful startups.
“Each year, the selected companies reflect the industry’s most pressing priorities, and 2025 is no different,” says Jackie Trebilcock, Managing Director of NYFTLab. “These innovations are more than just trends; they represent real, practical applications that drive efficiency, deepen consumer engagement, and enhance loyalty, all while addressing sustainability for our future.”
This year’s Retail and Brand partners include AEO Inc., Gap Inc., J.Crew Group, lululemon, Saks Global, The TJX Companies, Inc., and Tapestry, reinforcing NYFTLab’s industry-wide influence.
Six startups made the final cut, joining the Lab’s 12-week program that connects them with top executives, provides mentorship, and offers unparalleled access to retail and brand leaders. Here’s a look at the companies driving the next wave of fashion and retail innovation:
Tash Grossman, CEO and Founder of Slip
A cutting-edge digital receipt platform that creates personalized and seamless post-purchase experiences across all channels.
Disney Petit, CEO and Founder of LiquiDonate
A platform that connects retailers and brands with their unsellable inventory for non-profit donations. Help reduce logistics inefficiencies and provide reporting insights while giving back.
Stephanie Horbaczewski, CEO and Founder of Vody
Multimodal LLMs that translate inventory data into consumer-friendly language to boost conversion rates without costly migrations.
Heidi Van Dyck, CEO and Founder of Athena Studio
A platform providing real-time visibility to track product development workflows across files, teams, and systems.
Karen Moon, CCO and COO of Spangle AI & Yufeng Gou, Head of Engineering of Spangle AI
AI-powered self-optimizing landing pages that drive conversion and ROAS to maximize revenue.
Sofia Lemes, CRO and Co-Founder of KSI Vision
AI-powered in-store analytics leveraging existing security cameras to provide real-time customer insights.
These startups span global markets, with founders from London, Los Angeles, Luxembourg, New York, San Francisco, and Uruguay bringing diverse perspectives to the Lab.
NYFTLab’s alumni continue to make headlines. The program has played a pivotal role in scaling companies, providing direct access to enterprise clients, and facilitating funding rounds. “The NYFTLab immediately partnered us with four incredible brands/retailers, which would have taken us months to sell into,” says Cheryl Liu, CEO of Raspberry AI, a 2024 Lab participant. “Every week, we presented to an enterprise brand or had a conversation with a mentor who had been in the industry for 10-20 years.”
“The NYFTLab provided the perfect blend of tech insight and fashion industry know-how. The collaborative environment and access to industry leaders helped Flock refine its product and strategy. The relationships we built and the knowledge we gained continue to support our growth.” Manvitha Mallela, CEO, Flock AI- 2024 Lab Company
“The 2025 Lab companies join an esteemed group of NYFTLab alumni who continue to excel, achieving major/recent milestones, including Obsess, a 2017 Lab Company that was acquired by Infinite Reality, a leader in AI-powered immersive media and eCommerce. And Raspberry AI, a 2024 Lab Company, raised a $24M Series A funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, post-program,” said Jackie Trebilcock, Managing Director.
For early-stage startups in fashion tech, NYFTLab remains a game-changer. With the launch of the 2025 cohort, these six innovative companies are ready to impact the industry significantly.
To explore NYFTLab’s past cohorts, visit: https://nyftlab.com/all-labs