Rubi onboards first brand partners, new investors
03/03/2023
Led by Talis Capital, the round included Patagonia’s Tin Shed Ventures, H&M Group, Collaborative Fund and Necessary Ventures. San Francisco-based Rubi has raised $13.5 million in total investment thus far.
Initial seed funding came in early 2022 from angel investors such as co-founder of fashion label Ganni, Nicolaj Reffstrup. Around the same time, the company received a $250,000 grant from the US' National Science Foundation. It was further named among the winners of the H&M Foundation’s Global Change Award and participated in Fashion for Good’s nine-month innovation programme alongside seven other start-ups.
Co-founders, twin sisters Leila and Neeka Mashouf (pictured), feature on business publication Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30’ list for North American manufacturing and industry, class of 2023.
Rubi also announced its very first strategic pilots with brand partners Patagonia, Reformation, Ganni and H&M, as well as online clothing rental and resale platform Nuuly.
“Patagonia is excited about the potential of carbon capture to make clean cellulosic pulp,” the brand’s lead material developer, Ciara Cates, said of the news.
“Moving away from trees and other extractive industries – and finding new ways to reduce the resource intensity of our products – is a true unlock and a critical development.”
Left to right: co-founder and chief technology officer, Leila Mashouf; co-founder and chief executive: Neeka Mashouf. Courtesy.
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