The founder of Net-a-Porter Natalie Massenet has launched a new retail investment fund with the goal of “challenging the retail status-quo”.
Massenet partnered with venture capitalist Nick Brown to launch Imaginary Ventures, which has now closed its first $75 million (£52.2 million) fund.
Its aim is to invest in innovative retail brands and startups which capitalise “on this rapidly changing environment” through utilising new technologies.
The fund is already investing in various brands including Farfetch, which Massenet co-chairs, Appear Here, Dirty Lemon, Everland and Glossier.
“I’ve felt for a while that I wanted to apply the brand-building experience and network I’ve gained over my career to today’s evolving retail landscape,” Massenet said.
“The most effective route to do that was to partner with and invest in this emerging generation of entrepreneurs challenging the retail status-quo across every vertical.”
Matchesfashion co-founder Tom Chapman, who along with his wife Ruth chair the fund, added: “Natalie has disrupted and inspired an industry through innovation and Nick has built a formidable reputation as an intuitive early stage investor.
“Ruth and I share many of their core values in building a consumer commerce business from the customer up, something that is vital in this competitive environment.”
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