Leap, a Chicago, IL-based platform that enables digital brands to launch high impact experiential retail stores, raised $3m in seed funding.
The round was led by Costanoa Ventures with participation from Equal Partners and Brand Foundry Ventures.
Led by Amish Tolia and Jared Golden, Co-CEOs, Leap is building a retail-as-a-service platform for emerging brands to grow and deepen their customer brand experience.
The platform includes all aspects of store development and operations, including physical space, staffing, and managing all technology infrastructure which allows consumer brands to integrate features to manage and improve:
– the Brand experience – Design featuring compelling brand experiences that engages customers and drives local word of mouth;
– the Omni-channel customer service – Mobile checkout, virtual in-store shopping, and the ability to buy online and return in any Leap store, regardless of brand;
– the Data-driven operations – Agile store management enabled by rich brand, product and customer insights and intelligent logistics; and
– the Rapid expansion – Open new stores as quickly as brands can ship product.
The company is also announcing the first brick-and-mortar store opening in Chicago, for Koio. The brand leveraged the Leap platform to expand its store footprint by removing the need to lease, build-out, staff, implement technology and manage day-to-day operations for every store location.
FinSMEs
01/11/2018