IRIS Ventures

📣 We are thrilled to announce that IRIS Ventures is leading a USD 10M Series A round in Essentialist, a new age bespoke and digitally-led travel agency proposition for the sophisticated traveler. The Company leverages its bench of 200+ travel editors (with 2,500+ of their best recommendations), in house creative talents and technological prowess to deliver a curated, customized, and user-friendly booking experience to its highly discerning customers, both through B2C and B2B channels. 🛫 Founded by Joan Roca, a veteran in the travel industry, Essentialist aims to deliver a seamless, striking and memorable booking and travel experience to luxury travelers by leveraging the power of its data with a view to evolve into a more automated product over time. In what has historically been a highly fragmented, inefficient, limiting, and uninspiring brick-and-mortar industry, Essentialist has risen to the market’s call for disruption and is creating a novel category that sits at the intersection of lifestyle, travel and digital. 📈 🙌 We are proud to be partnering with Essentialist and congratulate Joan and the rest of the team on their continued success. Montse Suarez, Florian Wojewodzki, Celia Bosch Torres, Eugenia Zozaya, Marc Calzada, Marta Indeka, Sara Barona, Maria Dominguez Delgado, Jordan Trilla Mansing #luxurytravel #brandinvestors https://lnkd.in/ej_zc-5R

🚀 Very excited and proud to announce our collaboration with WGSN on a groundbreaking new-to-market Beauty Report: 𝐀 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲. 💄Beauty was once a one-dimensional reflection of aesthetics. Technological advancements in product formulations and the impact of Covid-19 have led to a significant shift in consumer values, emphasising the growing importance of health and wellness and prompting us to see beauty through a different lens. 📈The beauty industry has historically outperformed in times of crisis. From an M&A perspective, the market is open for best-in-class assets and will continue with fewer, higher-quality deals at high multiples across strategics and private equity. Download the report for detailed insights👇 https://lnkd.in/eJFmmkAm 🧡 A heartfelt thank you to WGSN for this incredible collaboration! #BeautyTrends #MarketInsights #BeautyIndustry #Beautyleaders #IRISVentures #WGSN Carla BuzasiClare VargaSamantha Scruggs Montse Suarez Florian Wojewodzki Marc Calzada Eugenia Zozaya Marta Indeka Celia Bosch Torres

✨Exciting Announcement! ✨ The Saysh x ba&sh collaboration is officially live! We are thrilled to witness these two powerhouses come together to create the Saba Sneaker, designed for women by women, just in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics 🇫🇷 Celebrate this phenomenal collaboration with us! #Saysh #Bash #FemaleEmpowerment #SustainableFashion #ParisOlympics2024

📣 The IRIS Ventures family is growing! 📣 We are thrilled to welcome Marta Indeka, our newest IRIS team member, who will be based in London and play a vital role in leading market research and reinforcing origination efforts across consumer verticals. Marta has a background in trend forecasting, consumer insights and brand strategy (from her time at The Future Laboratory) across sectors including food & beverage, health & wellness, youth culture and fashion. She has a keen eye for brands, her finger on the pulse for emerging consumer trends and a passion for supporting entrepreneurs on their growth journeys. Welcome to the team! 💥

🏋️♂️ 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 The luxury fitness market is expanding rapidly, driven by a growing consumer demand for holistic wellness and premium experiences. High-end fitness clubs are increasingly popular, offering exclusive services and environments that are starting to replace traditional spas. Equinox, 💪 a leader in luxury fitness, is elevating this renewed consumer demand with its $40,000 per year Optimize by Equinox program. This longevity program includes biomarker testing through Function Health and personalized one-on-one training, setting a new standard in personalized wellness. Treatments like cryotherapy, infrared saunas, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and lymphatic compression are gaining popularity for their effectiveness in reducing inflammation, improving overall performance and enhancing recovery. 🌟 The trend toward comprehensive recovery solutions aligns seamlessly with the expanding active nutrition category, which now appeals not only to elite athletes but also resonate with well-informed consumers, who increasingly recognize the significance of recovery in attaining long-term wellness objectives. 🤍 At IRIS Ventures, we support the evolving trajectory of the all-encompassing fitness and wellness category as we see significant potential for innovation. #LuxuryFitness #Wellness #Recovery #HealthAndWellness #Sportsnutrition

🏆 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 Nike is currently experiencing its most significant financial slump in a decade, missing analysts expectations in Q2-24, with stock price sinking more than 20% 📉. Despite its status as a leader in the sportswear market, boasting annual revenue of $51 billion, the company faces several challenges as it loses ground to upstart rivals. These challenges encompass disruptive restructurings, stalled innovation, and uninspiring marketing efforts, leading to missed opportunities. One significant missed opportunity is the growing popularity of 🏃♀️running clubs and the focus on community engagement, which has become crucial for brands in today's highly competitive market. While they have made efforts, their running clubs have not captured the full potential of engaging and empowering women runners. This gap has left room for 🚀 emerging brands to step in and fill the void. 🌟 And that is what Saysh has done: co-founded by Allyson Felix, the most decorated Olympian in track and field history, the brand has seized the opportunity of running clubs to the fullest extent. Focused on women, Saysh has built a community-centric brand through their Run Club, emphasizing movement and authenticity. This club not only offers a space for 👭 women to connect and support each other but also challenges traditional notions of sports communities that have often overlooked female athletes. Because that is what legends do. They do it first. 💛 As proud investors in Saysh, we are excited to witness their continued growth and impact they make in this category. #WomenInSports #RunningClubs #Saysh #AllysonFelix #legend

🌟𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐦, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐋𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬🌟 In recent years, the rise of 👩🎤 celebrity-led beauty brands has been driven by two main factors. Firstly, celebrities have capitalized on their personal brands to launch new business ventures, especially in the beauty sector. A prime example is rhode skin, led by #HaileyBieber, selling 36 units of its glazing fluid every second during recent restocks. Secondly, incubators have tapped into this trend, focusing on creating talent-led brands by aligning market gaps with celebrity endorsements. However, today, celebrity brands aren't synonymous with success. Consumers have become more discerning, and while the aspirational element can generate initial interest, it alone is not enough to sustain any brand today. For instance, JLo Beauty by Jennifer Lopez, which launched in 2021, struggled to gain traction with Sephora shoppers. Yet, amidst these challenges, 👑 Rare Beauty stands as a notable exception. Its current success and strong market presence make it a compelling candidate for a potential 2024 sale. As the number one US color cosmetics brand in terms of EMV, Rare Beauty reportedly saw a 300% revenue increase from 2023. 🚀 So, what sets Rare Beauty apart? While having #SelenaGomez —currently the most followed woman on Instagram with 428 million followers—as its founder certainly helps, the brand's success is not solely dependent on her fame. Rare Beauty's refreshing approach to beauty, which challenges the myth of physical perfection and promotes "owning what makes you rare," resonates deeply with today’s consumer. This empowerment and relatability are key factors. Importantly, Rare Beauty is a make-up brand where the key consumer motivation is around self-expression and what that looks like. The science, while important, is not the core of the decision making process. The artistry, inspiration, and creativity of taking the face as a canvas, and what that means about one’s identity is. And those factors translate to the object in itself, which in many instances lives in the consumer’s public life: a handbag, in a touch-up before a meeting or meal. Moreover, Rare Beauty is 🦸♀️ mission-driven, with a strong philanthropic focus. The brand's dedication to destigmatizing mental illness and fostering conversations around this topic is evident in its nonprofit division, the Rare Impact Fund, aiming to raise $100 million over 10 years to provide access to mental health services and education for young people. 🔍 In essence, the celebrity-led brands of the future articulate an authentic message and boldly challenge the conventional beauty norms. This disruptive approach, coupled with a clear mission, is what deeply resonates with the modern consumer. #RareBeauty #CelebrityBrands #BeautyIndustry #Innovation #SelenaGomez

🏞️𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 As the world opens up, the travel industry is experiencing a remarkable resurgence. The wellness tourism market is projected to reach $1 trillion in 2024, with travelers seeking to slow down, recharge, and most importantly, be healthier. This growing demand is driven by wellness-conscious individuals looking for more holistic experiences, Pinterest citing ‘rest stops’ and ‘slowcations’ amongst 2024 priorities for Gen Z and millennials, with ‘ASMR sleep’ 💤 trending as a search term. Hotels are now addressing mental health, trauma, and anxiety alongside traditional well-being. 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 2024: → 🧬 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: Biohacking is the art of pursuing excellence in our physical and mental realms. Six Senses has backed biohacking since 2015, offering IV infusions, photobiomodulation (red light sauna), and cryotherapy as ways to ‘hack your holiday’, supported by diagnostic screening tests and sleep tracking. At Lanserhof, guests adhere to a tailored, no-nonsense regime of medical therapies, based on genetic and lifestyle factors. → 🏋️♀️𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬: At SIRO One Za’Abeel, a recently opened wellness-focused hotel in Dubai, each guest partakes in a 3D body scan on arrival before embarking on a tailor-made program with dedicated coaching and guidance throughout their stay. Resorts like Joalie Being, offer wellness programs that cater to the diverse needs of today's wellness travelers. → 🤝 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬: Aman’s sibling brand, Janu, which launched in Tokyo in March, places ‘social wellness’ at its core, encouraging “shared group adventures” and “thriving in the company of others. Consumers are craving real-life experiences now more than ever, and companies like The Nest’s Table, who create unique culinary experiences in remote, picturesque locations, are catering to that need through gastronomy. → 🧘 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬: At SHA Wellness clinics, emotional health and stress management are given the same priority as nutrition and physical performance, aided through psychological consultations and coaching sessions, advocating for enhancing one's "health span" over merely extending the "life span." Moreover, ✈️ JetBlue Airways reports that its guided meditation and breath work videos, in partnership with mindfulness studio Open, are amongst its most popular in-flight entertainment options. A key theme emerging from these trends is personalization 🎯. There's no universal solution when it comes to health journeys. Today's consumers seek tailored experiences that address their unique needs and preferences, recognizing that wellness is a deeply individual pursuit. 🌱💚 At IRIS Ventures we continue to embrace this reinterpretation of travel. #WellnessTourism #TravelIndustry #HealthAndWellness #HolisticHealth

We are very pleased to have contributed to @ESG_VC’s latest research in partnership with the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA)   We’ve worked with ESG_VC to compile ESG data from 587 portfolio companies backed by leading VCs including Atomico, Beringea, Molten Ventures, and Highland Europe.   The findings offer the most comprehensive benchmarking of ESG performance across start-ups and scale-ups, and how this performance differs by stage, sector, and geography.   Key takeaways from this year’s report include:   🌳 Over the past year, the proportion of start-ups measuring their carbon footprint has almost doubled. 🗒️ Start-ups are investing heavily in people, talent and training, with 57% now offering study support to staff and 47% offering internships, apprenticeships or trainee programmes. 🤖 Responsible use of AI is an increasing focus for start-ups – 31% now offer training or codes of conduct on the topic – but is this keeping pace with the boom in generative AI?   Check it out via the link below!   #ESG_VC #sustainability #responsibleinvesting   https://lnkd.in/dr7EfT9X

📢 ENERGY, CONFIDENCE & JOY Ahead of the Olympics in Paris, Saysh and ba&sh team up on a limited edition sneaker! We are excited to announce that our portfolio company, Saysh has teamed up with the renowned French brand Ba&sh to create Saba, a pair of 🏃🏽♀️sneakers that embody energy, confidence, and joy. These values, inherent in Ba&sh, are also reflected in Saysh’s founder, Allyson Felix, both on and off the track. In an era where the synergies between sports and fashion are increasingly intertwined, Saysh is finding innovative ways to empower women through impactful partnerships that amplify its mission.✨ It's inspiring to witness how companies founded by women like Ba&sh and Saysh 🫶 support each other in making a greater impact on the industry. Thank you Samantha Conti at WWD #saysh #allysonfelix #femaleimpact #femalefounders #consumerinvestors https://lnkd.in/dGqVpXAh