In an effort to highlight IDEA’s resources, impact, and amazing ventures that go through the program we’ve started, Venture Talk, a quarterly feature on one venture and their path through IDEA and beyond.
Venture Talk: unsize
Co-founders Katie Willhoit and Shuya Gong met while Katie was on co-op at IDEO and then shortly after becoming good friends they founded unsize. unsize seeks to eliminate the question of “will it fit me?” when shopping online. Now as online shopping begins to expand, finding the right fit is even more tricky due to the lack of current sizing standards meeting the needs of today’s online consumer. Cue unsize, a quick and accurate way to find the best fit. How it works:
Katie Willhoit CCSH’18 Shuya Gong Co-Founders
Join unsize & figure out your size using Tailor, a measurement tool. Download the usize chrome extension to sync your measurements. Once set up you will receive personalized recommendations on retailer websites.
After what first became a side project to help develop her business skills, Katie decided to enter Husky Startup Challenge and ended up receiving funding and the confidence to realize this solution to a common problem could become a reality.
IDEA Resources
For unsize, IDEA was the next natural step into getting the support and resources needed to further develop.
IDEA’s framework and stages for venture development helped focus unsize’s solution and feasibility in going-to-market.
Prototype Services
Prototype Fund ($1,000)
What now?
IP Co-Lab
Design Services
Now that they have the Tailor prototype finalized, and a chrome extension build and ready, the unsize team is looking at their options to go to market, and establish partnerships with retailers. The team is currently working towards launching a kickstarter in the spring in order to begin manufacturing for Tailor.
The IDEA coaching team, Bob, and mentorship through VMN helped develop my confidence as an entrepreneur and my ability to start a business and be successful without having a business background.