Ventures

 

The Ken Pilot Ventures team sits at the forefront of where Retail and Technology intersect. We have deep knowledge of and experience with our technology investments and are successful at identifying when a specific platform can be of use to Retail companies.

We understand the risks and opportunities of implementing a new technology platform and are methodical and deliberate when it comes to connecting our partners with their future customers.

VENTURE PARTNERS

Retail Store Solutions

  • Reflex

    Reflex is a talent marketplace that connects store teams with on-demand, experienced retail associates for both front of house and back of house shifts. Using Reflex, retailers can flex labor models to the needs of the business while not being constrained by employee availability and turnover. Their customers include: Faherty, J. Crew, Skims, Rag&Bone and Vinyard Vines. 

  • Radar RFID

    RFID & computer vision platform automates inventory management, analytics and checkout. Radar RFID ceiling-mount hardware provides inventory updates and autonomous checkout. Investors Include: Gap, American Eagle and Victoria’s Secret.

  • Glass Media

    Glass Media is a group of visual storytellers, engineers and retail strategists passionate about bringing together movement, technology, and design. Capabilities include Digital Display solutions that bring your digital transformation aspirations to life as well as bespoke digital products such as spotlights, digital poster stands and dynamic shelving.


E-Commerce Solutions

  • Firework

    Firework enables brands/retailers and publications to embed shoppable videos and live-stream into their commerce sites creating a more dynamic social media-like shopping experience, driving engagement and improving sales.

  • Lily ai

    Automate and elevate the arduous product attributing process creating consistent tagging. Lily ai saves numerous hours and adds the attributes to product that help connect the customer with the product they want most. Customers Include: Bloomingdales, Gap, ThreadUp and Joor.

  • FindMine

    FindMine

    FindMine uses Predictive Intelligence to empower Merchants and Marketers to automate looks for 95% of the product catalog and drive millions in incremental revenue.

  • Taggstar

    Powered by real-time data, Taggstar’s Social Proof Messaging, Social Proof Recommendations and eXtended Messaging tap into consumer behaviors to help retailers and brands deliver dynamic shopping experiences that convert and significantly boost the bottom line. Consumers are greatly influenced by the actions of others. Understanding what other people are buying in real-time, helps shoppers discover products and make more informed and confident buying decisions.

  • Sizer

    Sizer captures customers’ body measurements and translates them into highly accurate size recommendations, delivering highly valuable sizing data into your value chains. Drive your business today with the leading digital sizing platform and transform how your customers are served.

  • Fabric

    Fabric is the only “headless” commerce platform that combines simplicity of use with the power to create rich, modern customer experiences. With headless, companies can grow their commerce platform easily by adding the best solutions without having to rebuild the platform. Customers Include: GNC, Chicos, Crate & Barrel.


Operations Solutions

  • Portless

    Portless is a logistics platform revolutionizing e-commerce fulfillment by shipping products directly from China and Vietnam to customers in over 55 countries. It replaces containers with planes, typically delivering to the customer within 7 days of the order and eliminates middlemen, reducing costs by up to 40% (tariff-free under $800/order), improving cash flow, enabling inventory to be sold within 48 hours of production. With centralized inventory management, real-time tracking, and seamless integration with platforms like Shopify and Amazon, Portless offers faster lead times, lower risks of overstock or stockouts, and a domestic delivery experience for global expansion.

  • Raspberry AI

    Raspberry AI enables designers to quickly modify and change styles, seeing those changes on a “body”. This improves speed to market and will also reduce sample cost. Raspberry AI works with some of the largest retail brands like H&M, Faryl Robin, MONSE, and Robert Barakett.

  • Toolio

    Elevate the product planning process by replacing excel with a platform that supports top-down and bottom-up planning. From pre-production plans through item-level OTB’s, Toolio includes variables such as lead times and inventory turns to produce the most accurate plans. Integrates with Netsuite. Customers Include: Mack Weldon, Chubbies and Outdoor Voices.

  • DropIt

    Dropit optimizes parcel delivery by connecting to warehouses and efficiently storing and shipping inventory to customers. It takes into account factors such as proximity, turnaround time, delivery cost, and customer behavior to determine the best location for pick and send, as well as return. Dropit is an add-on platform that enhances the capabilities of your OMS, and can be implemented within weeks

  • 42 Technologies

    42 Technologies is an all-in-one retail reporting platform providing data from all channels of operations. Reporting includes images of all items along with over 120 different metrics used to view and analyze the business. Improves upon reporting associated with Shopify and Netsuite. Customers Include: Faherty, All Saints, Rebecca Minkoff, Frye.


Martech

  • Ometria

    Ometria is the customer data and experience platform for retail. The platform utilizes ai-fuelled insights to get campaigns to market faster, create next-generation experiences via personalized customer touchpoints, and unlock growth opportunities via deep customer insights.

  • Wunderkind

    Wunderkind powers one-to-one messages at unprecedented scale using first-party data to re-engage users and drive revenue when other channels fall short. With high-performing one-to-one emails, you can retarget your most valuable site traffic and drive more revenue than is otherwise possible with just your ESP.

  • ROKT

    ROKT allows you to harness your first party and Rokt's advanced machine learning to deliver the best and most relevant message for each individual during the checkout journey. Whether that’s driving customers further into your loyalty ecosystem or rewarding them with offers that excite, Rokt is a low lift/high impact way to enhance the customer experience and generate ancillary profit.

  • Publitas

    Publitas digitizes paper catalogs and creates digital catalogs that can easily be shopped online. This provides the best experience to shopping the look/vibe from fashion to home brands.


Expense Control

  • FlexFactor

    Flex turns payment declines into increased revenues using an AI Driven platform that partners with merchants and payment providers to instantly review and recover failed customer transactions at no risk to the merchant and at no cost to the consumer.

  • Extend

    Extend, works with >1,200 leading brands including Peloton, Bed Bath & Beyond, Banana Republic, Michaels, Dolce Vita/Steve Madden, Hey Dude/Crocs, Mizzen & Main, Malbon Golf, and more to provide enhanced post-purchase experiences for consumers.

  • CNS

    CNS is a carrier-neutral advisory that leverages its network of over 100 providers of Telecom and data services to reduce company rates. A free 2-week analysis/audit of your bills will highlight how CNS will reduce your costs or confirm you have best possible pricing. Customers Include: ADP, Barnes & Noble, Intermix and Tom Ford.

  • North

    North is a credit card processing company that does not require Auth.net, saving customers cost. They provide POS hardware, reporting and a host of other services. Customers Include: Starbucks, BP and Burger King.


Consumer Ventures

  • Koio

    Using regenerative and organic materials, Koio makes shoes that are good for you and Earth. Designed in New York, handcrafted in Italy.

  • Seven Rooms

    SevenRooms’ Guest Experience and Retention platform helps hospitality operators create exceptional experiences that boost profitability and repeat business.

Exits

  • Predictspring

    A global, Modern POS, PredictSpring combines in-store and online transactions, extended aisle, inventory management/cycle counts, mPOS, BOPIS and clienteling. Select Customers: Deciem, Steve Madden, Movado, LoveSac, Janie & Jack and Bouclair. *Acquired by Salesforce, September 2024.

  • Burrow

    Burrow makes simple, adaptable furniture and other nice things for modern life at home. *Acquired by Heavenly, October 2024.


Past Partnerships

  • Matterport

    By creating a digital twin, Matterport helps companies improve the visual process, catalog all stores and make a digital shoppable experience. Video space capture allows a virtual walk-through of any space. Used by real estate, hospitality and retail industries.

  • DeepNorth AI

    DeepNorth’s video analytics program captures store traffic data from conversion to dwell time, associate/customer interaction, line abandonment. Plugs into existing cameras. Select Customers: Home Depot, Delta, California Irvine Groupoes here

  • Backbone

    BackbonePLM is a cloud-based solution for improving the efficiency of the product development process between design and production teams. It replaces excel spreadsheets and tracks all facets of the PD timeline. Customers Include: allbirds, Parachute.

  • Reupp

    Enabling the “Circular Economy” for brands, ReUpp offers customers a buy-back on gently used product in exchange for a gift card at up to 35% of the original value. A great way to keep your customer!

  • Narvar

    Narvar provides seamless post-purchase customer engagement solutions for online retailers. They offer a platform that helps businesses enhance their customer experience after a purchase has been made. Services include order tracking, delivery notifications, and communication tools that keep customers informed and engaged throughout the post-purchase journey.

  • Maergo

    Get FedEx delivery speed without the cost and hidden fees, saving up to 40%! Maergo leverages unused space on commercial airlines and works with a network of regional carriers, ISP contractors & USPS to yield 2-3 day delivery across the US. Customers Include: DSW, Levis.