Startup of the week: Vestir AI

Vestir AI is taking Virtual Fitting Room technology to the next level with engaging, hyper-realistic avatars that also solve for size & fit. We are B2B first and plug and play on a Retailer's website, on the PDP. Shoppers create their avatar one time only, using a single video recorded of themselves plus their height measurement. After that, they can shop using their own 3D image that is not only true to life and engaging, but can provide them with an accurate size recommendation, finally taking the guesswork out of online shopping

We spoke to Joanne Filbin, Founder & CEO of the company, to find out more.

What made you become an entrepreneur?  

Joanne: I love doing things that move the needle in a positive way every day. After starting my career in advisory and then in big corporate, I grew weary of the politics and lack of forward motion. This is my second startup and I have finally found my sweet spot. This time round I am solving for a pain I experience regularly, especially after giving birth to my 2 boys, when I had no clue (and no more time to even figure out) what size I was anymore. What more can I ask for every day than to work on something I am passionate about?!

What is the most challenging part of running your own startup? 

Joanne: Feeling like things can never move fast enough. In our field, we are trying to solve an extremely difficult technical challenge which has never been done before, at least not well. Sometimes these things take time and need several iterations to get to something good. I am not the most patient person, so giving us all the space to do this is a challenge! But the plus side is that with impatience comes forward motion, and always maintaining a firm eye on the end goal

What is the biggest challenge you have faced when looking for funding? 

Joanne: That we are attempting something that has been done hundreds of times, badly. I can almost see investors' eyes glaze over when I introduce us as a virtual try on startup Some have invested in the past and been burned, some are invested in similar companies and have a conflict, others have heard of the challenges in this space and want to wait on the sidelines until a winner emerges. But on the other side, at the Retailers and Brands, they truly believe this is the future of fashion, they're just waiting for someone to do it well. So for me, this means building a product that nails it and getting contracts signed, as this demonstrates demand. Until we can demonstrate that we are different from the rest through customer contracts, there is little funding to be had. Customer contracts trump everything, so that is what we are focusing on. If we do that, then the funding will happen

What is the most rewarding aspect of entrepreneurship? 

Joanne: Being involved in everything, being able to move the needle every day in a tangible way. Building something from scratch that will create value for people. Leading a team that are fully bought in to the vision and are excited by its future. Working with people that see difficulties as challenges to be overcome, not obstacles that prevent us from progress. Not being part of a large corporate system, stuck in a box, wasting my life! It sounds cliche, but the fact that every 6 months, the business looks different - constant movement, development and forward motion

Learn more about Vestir AI on their website: https://vestir.ai/