SAN JUAN — Puerto Rico-based Aurora Angel Network, which connects startups with investors interested in providing seed capital and advisory services, has invested in local fashion tech startup Guilty.
Founded in November 2017, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane María, Guilty’s team has distinguished itself in entrepreneurial programs such as pre18, Parallel 18, and Grupo Guayacán’s EnterPRize business competition.
With its proprietary platform, Guilty offers its customers the ability to build their own custom closet with access to hundreds of outfits for $49 a month. Besides being able to refresh its contents on the fly, customers no longer need to buy or even wash clothes again, leading to great savings.
“We’ve always been believers in Puerto Rico and in creating our own opportunities. With the rise of the sharing economy, my co-founder, Armando Sánchez, and I saw an opportunity to apply this concept to the fashion industry and target the underserved Latino market. Essentially, we’re giving women access to a much larger and dynamic closet, adapted to the vibrant style of Latinas, in the same way that Uber and Airbnb have created shared transportation and accommodations. Our team is very excited for this next phase of the company and we look forward to making Guilty the top fashion tech company in Latin America,” said Suhaily Sepúlveda, who is an attorney and Guilty’s co-founder.
Aurora views this investment in Guilty as an opportunity to support the growth of a local innovative startup not only with its capital, but also with its professional experience and networks as Guilty expands to the rest of the island and abroad.
“Guilty is an attractive investment for our members because it is building on the emerging concept of a sharing economy, an exciting and growing space, and because it has a demonstrated track record of growth and excellent customer loyalty,” Liana O’Drobinak, Aurora’s managing director, pointed out.
Guilty will use the funds to expand its service to the rest of the island, launch new subscription alternatives, and grow its catalog with more apparel choices.
Aurora is accepting applications for its quarterly Screening Committee until July 3. For more information, contact auroraangelnetwork@gmail.com or apply here.