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Bombfell is a New York City-based e-commerce company that provides an online personal styling and clothing delivery service specifically tailored for men. The retail platform utilizes a proprietary combination of data science algorithms and dedicated human stylists to curate personalized apparel selections, allowing customers to try on garments at home for seven days before making a purchasing decision. Operating with a flexible pay-per-kept-item model that requires no upfront styling or subscription fees, the company has generated approximately $21 million in annual revenue and maintains an estimated workforce of up to 89 employees. The startup has secured $8.6 million in total venture funding from institutional backers including Y Combinator, 500 Startups, and Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, while key personnel includes Director of Styling Melinda Chu-Yang. Bombfell was officially founded in 2011 by co-founders Bernie Yoo and Jason Kim.
Bombfell has raised $830K across 2 funding rounds.
Bombfell has raised $830K in total across 2 funding rounds.
Bombfell has raised $830K in total across 2 funding rounds.
Bombfell's investors include Craft Ventures, REMUS Capital, Andrew Reis, Daniel Wallace, David Shen, Diane Loviglio, Galen Ward, Gilman Tolle, Jeff Fluhr, Kavin Stewart, Sze-jun Tsai, 500 Startups.
Bombfell has raised $830K across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $730K Seed in February 2013.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2013 | $730K Seed | — | Craft Ventures, Remus Capital, Andrew Reis, Daniel Wallace, David Shen, Diane Loviglio, Galen Ward, Gilman Tolle, Jeff Fluhr, Kavin Stewart, SZE JUN Tsai, 500 Startups, David Shen Ventures, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Romulus Capital, SOSV | Announced |
| May 15, 2012 | $100K Venture Round | 500 Startups | — | Announced |
Bombfell is an online, membership-based personal styling service for men that delivers curated clothing outfits using data-driven algorithms and human stylists.[1][2][3] It serves busy men seeking hassle-free access to high-quality apparel from brands like French Connection, Ben Sherman, and Original Penguin, solving the problem of selecting fashionable clothes by matching users with personal stylists who preview and ship outfits on subscription.[2][3] Users provide style preferences and body details via profile; shipments arrive free with easy returns, fostering low churn and average customer lifetime value over $500.[2]
Launched publicly in 2012 after incubation in 500 Startups, Bombfell grew to New York headquarters, raised $8.6M total funding (including $730K seed), and scaled to $21M revenue with 89 employees, positioning it as a fast-growing NYC e-commerce player in personalized retail.[2][3]
Founded in 2011, Bombfell emerged from the need to simplify men's wardrobing through technology, incubated in the 500 Startups accelerator in 2012.[2][3] Co-founder Bernie Yoo highlighted early focus on low churn via algorithms blending user data with stylist input, leading to public launch in November 2012.[2] Pivotal traction came from seed funding of $730K and relocation to New York for manufacturer proximity, enabling steady growth in personalized subscriptions.[2]
Bombfell rode the early 2010s wave of subscription e-commerce and personalization tech, capitalizing on rising mobile shopping and data analytics to disrupt traditional menswear retail.[1][2] Timing aligned with post-recession demand for convenient, algorithm-enhanced services amid fragmented online apparel markets, where men lagged in adoption.[2] Favorable forces included accelerator support (500 Startups) and NYC's manufacturing ecosystem, amplifying its influence on personalized retail trends now seen in broader DTC fashion platforms.[2][3]
Bombfell pioneered tech-enabled styling for men, blending data and human touch in a model ripe for scaling amid AI-driven personalization surges. Next steps likely involve expanding via tech stack enhancements (e.g., Mixpanel, Google integrations) and new funding to boost market share in a $21M revenue base.[3] Evolving trends like AI stylists and sustainable fashion could shape its path, potentially elevating its NYC startup legacy into a dominant personalized apparel force—echoing its founding mission to eliminate dressing guesswork.[1][2][3]
