Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, Co-Founder of Gilt Groupe and Glamsquad, has launched Clerisy, a growth equity fund, with former L Catterton Partner Lisa Myers. With a focus on serving consumer and tech companies, Clerisy has made its first investment in Dormify, the dorm room and home décor ecommerce brand. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We’re thrilled to have Clerisy’s support to accelerate our business at a time when Gen Z is increasingly focused on creating individualized and functional living spaces as a key part of their self-expression,” said Amanda Zuckerman, Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Dormify. “We’re committed to continue listening to what college students want and using technology to create and curate the most relevant assortment of product, to inspire our consumers to design a space that looks like them and feels like home.”
Dormify, which launched in 2013, has become a destination home décor and lifestyle brand for Gen Z consumers who are living in dorms and small spaces. In 2018, the company received $3.45 million in Series A funding from AEO Inc., parent company of American Eagle Outfitters, to forge a strategic partnership on décor and accessories that would serve its apparel business. With this latest round of investment, Clerisy will help Dormify “catalyze our category presence and grow our business to new heights,” said Karen Zuckerman, Co-Founder and Chairman of the ecommerce brand.
As a firm, Clerisy is focused on partnering with entrepreneurs who are meeting consumers’ ever-evolving needs in a tech-driven world, according to Myers. “We understand how to help companies like Dormify expand their total addressable market, employ transformative technology, optimize their supply chains, leverage different channels of distribution and create dynamic branding strategies that engage key demographics.”
Myers and Wilson noted in a Forbes interview that Clerisy is focused on growth equity, not pre-seed or seed stage funding. To date, $70 million of their funding has closed, leaving $30 million for institutions, family offices and high-net-worth individuals to invest in innovative companies that need capital and expertise to scale.
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