Julie Bornstein, a seasoned retail executive and entrepreneur, has successfully raised $50 million in seed funding for her latest venture, Daydream—an AI-powered fashion search startup poised to redefine online shopping experiences.(Vogue Business)
🧠 What Is Daydream?
Daydream is an innovative e-commerce search platform that leverages generative AI, machine learning, and computer vision to assist users in discovering fashion items through natural language prompts. For example, a user might input a query like, “pastel-coloured dresses for a garden party in Charleston,” and Daydream will present curated options from its extensive network of participating brands. (Vogue Business)
The platform aims to address the limitations of traditional e-commerce search engines by offering a more personalized and intuitive shopping experience. Unlike conventional search tools that often yield overwhelming and irrelevant results, Daydream focuses on understanding the context and nuances of user queries to deliver tailored product recommendations. (TechCrunch)
💼 The Team Behind Daydream
Daydream’s leadership comprises a team of experienced professionals from prominent tech and retail companies:(Vogue Business)
- Julie Bornstein: CEO and Founder; former COO of Stitch Fix and executive at Sephora, Nordstrom, and Urban Outfitters.(GeekWire)
- Matt Fisher: Chief Technology Officer; formerly led data and applied science at Microsoft and oversaw measurement and marketing science at Amazon for Prime Video.(Digital Commerce 360)
- Dan Cary: Chief Product Officer; previously at Google, including its AI research group.(Digital Commerce 360)
- Lisa Green: Chief Commercial Officer; has led partnerships and business development for Google, THE YES, and Condé Nast.(Digital Commerce 360)
- Richard Kim: Chief Strategy Officer; most recently worked as head of shopping strategy and operations at Pinterest. (Digital Commerce 360)
This diverse team brings together expertise from companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Nordstrom, Farfetch, and Pinterest, positioning Daydream to effectively bridge the gap between technology and fashion retail.(Vogue Business)
💰 Funding and Investor Confidence
The $50 million seed round was co-led by Forerunner Ventures and Index Ventures, with participation from Google Ventures and True Ventures. This significant investment reflects strong confidence in Daydream’s potential to transform the e-commerce landscape through AI-driven personalization.(Inc.com, TechCrunch)
🛍️ Brand Partnerships and Platform Launch
Daydream has already secured partnerships with nearly 2,000 brands, including Net-A-Porter, Altuzarra, Jimmy Choo, Dôen, Everlane, Alo Yoga, and La DoubleJ. The platform is designed to facilitate product discovery, redirecting shoppers to the respective brands’ websites to complete purchases, rather than holding inventory itself. (Vogue Business)
The company plans to launch its beta version in the U.S. this autumn, initially focusing on women’s and men’s fashion. Interested brands and consumers can register on Daydream’s website to participate in the upcoming launch. (Vogue Business)
🔮 Future Outlook
While Daydream’s initial focus is on fashion, the platform’s underlying technology holds potential for expansion into other sectors of e-commerce. By harnessing the capabilities of AI to deliver context-aware and personalized shopping experiences, Daydream aims to set a new standard for online retail discovery. (Axios)
