Raspberry AI Secures $24M from a16z to Revolutionize Fashion Design
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Amelia Cross
- January 13, 2025
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The fashion industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace, with brands and manufacturers seeking innovative ways to meet the rising demand for rapid design iterations. Raspberry AI, a two-year-old startup, has emerged as a key solution, offering a text-to-image generative AI platform that allows designers to visualize and iterate their concepts instantly.
Founded by Cheryl Liu, a former private equity analyst at KKR with experience at Amazon and DoorDash, Raspberry leverages generative AI to revolutionize fashion design. Liu recognized the potential of tools like OpenAI’s DALL-E and Stability AI’s stable diffusion to streamline the creative process in late 2022. “For the first time in history, you could rapidly create hundreds of designs in a way that you could never do before,” Liu told TechCrunch.
Traditionally, designers relied on weeks-long processes involving physical samples or older computer-aided tools like Browzwear and Photoshop. Raspberry AI eliminates these delays by turning sketches into photo-realistic images that mimic how products would appear on a brand’s website. This allows brands to explore dozens of iterations—materials, prints, and styles—without incurring the cost of physical prototypes.
Raspberry’s platform has quickly gained traction, with 70 customers, including notable names like Under Armour, Italian manufacturer Gruppo Teddy, and luxury designer MCM Worldwide. These brands use the tool to accelerate decision-making and streamline production.
The startup’s rapid growth has attracted significant funding. Raspberry recently closed a $24 million Series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Greycroft, Correlation Ventures, and MVP Ventures. This follows a $4.5 million seed round raised just 10 months prior.
With its cutting-edge technology, Raspberry AI is well-positioned to redefine how fashion brands approach design in an era of fast-paced demand.
Image Credits:Raspberry AI
Andreessen Horowitz was drawn to Raspberry AI’s potential to revolutionize the fashion manufacturing process, according to Bryan Kim, a partner at the firm. “We met with multiple companies and were impressed by Cheryl’s approach to building a business,” Kim said. He added that Raspberry’s roster of “marquee clients” also played a significant role in their decision to invest.
While Raspberry competes with AI image generators like Midjourney, DALL-E, and Adobe Firefly, founder Cheryl Liu highlighted a key advantage: Raspberry’s ability to understand and accurately interpret industry-specific terminology. For instance, Liu explained, “A term like ‘fuzzy sweater’ carries nuanced meaning that other tools like Midjourney might not grasp.” Additionally, Raspberry offers features tailored to professional designers, such as generating images from sketches.
With the $24 million Series A funding, Raspberry plans to expand its team across engineering, sales, and marketing. The company also aims to broaden its reach into new design categories, including home goods, furniture, and cosmetics, further positioning itself as a leader in AI-powered product design.
