The New York Fashion Tech Lab is a non-profit, community-driven, relationship-building, collaboration and business development platform. Applications are now open for the 2022 Lab, which runs from March through June next year. The NYFTL welcomes submissions from women-led, early- to growth-stage emerging tech companies that have developed B2B innovations at the intersection of fashion, retail, and technology, and will select between six and ten companies to enter the program through a competitive process and review by the NYFTL’s fashion, retail, and program partners, Springboard Enterprises, and Lab team members.
Selected Lab Companies will have the opportunity to participate in a 12-week program, where they will receive access to potential collaborations with participating fashion, retail, program, and tech partners as well as the Lab’s expert network. They’ll also participate in meetings with senior business executives, investors, and entrepreneurs as well as attend workshops and panel discussions on issues relevant to fashion and retail tech companies. At the end of the program, participating companies will present at NYFTL’s annual Tech Runway Demo Day, where retail executives, investors, and press will be in attendance.
Alumni of the New York Fashion Tech Lab program include startups such as AI visual search company Fashwell, which was acquired by Apple in 2019, and virtual fitting room platform Zeekit, which was acquired by Walmart earlier this year.
“This marks the ninth year of the Lab where we have partnered with more than 35 retail and brands to support this initiative, since 2014,” says NYFTL Managing Director Jackie Trebilcock. “To date, 64 Lab companies have participated and we are thrilled to explore applications for 2022 and work towards selecting the new 2022 Lab companies.”
To submit an application to be considered for the 2022 Lab program:
- Company must be women-led, meaning there must be a female founder or co-founder OR women on the management team with significant equity stake.
- Early to growth-stage companies with a track record of milestone achievements, which may include: grants, clients, and revenue.
- A qualified and profitable market opportunity with competitive advantage.
- For more information check the 2022 Lab program application page
- This year’s deadline for applications is December 30, 2021
The New York Fashion Tech Lab was co-founded by key fashion retailers and Springboard Enterprises, a 501(c)(3) organization that accelerates the growth of entrepreneurial companies led by women through access to essential resources and a global community of experts.
