Doji is a technology company building an AI-powered app for personalized fashion shopping, enabling users to create photorealistic AI avatars of themselves to virtually try on real clothes from various brands.[3][4][5] It serves fashion enthusiasts seeking a fun, confident online shopping experience, solving the problem of overwhelming e-commerce by making try-ons realistic, exploratory, and social—allowing users to experiment with looks, share them, and shop seamlessly.[3][4] Launched publicly on the App Store in 2025 after private beta, Doji has shown rapid momentum with a $14 million seed round led by Thrive Capital, participation from Seven Seven Six Ventures, and availability in over 80 countries, positioning it as an innovator in AI-driven retail.[3][4]
(Note: An earlier UK-based Doji from 2020 focused on a marketplace for used tech products like smartphones, raising $3-3.8 million in seed funding, but appears distinct from this AI fashion startup based on founders, location, product, and recent funding timelines.[1][2])
Doji was founded in 2024 by CEO Dorian Dargan and CTO Jim Winkens—hence the name "Doji" (Dorian + Jim)—leveraging their expertise in AI, avatars, and fashion tech.[4] Dargan previously worked at Apple on VisionOS, Meta on Oculus Quest games/experiences, and YouNow, while Winkens was a researcher at DeepMind and contributed to generative AI products at Google, plus high-profile fashion projects for brands like Balmain, Alexander Wang, and Vogue Italia.[3][4] The idea emerged from frustration with tedious online fashion shopping, aiming to make it playful and self-expressive through advanced AI avatars; they built a team with rare skills in AI research, virtual try-on, and fashion before entering private beta.[3][4]
Doji rides the wave of generative AI advancements, particularly diffusion models, enabling consumer-grade virtual try-ons that were infeasible until 2024-2025 breakthroughs in realism and personalization.[4] Timing is ideal amid e-commerce fatigue and sustainability pushes in fashion, where returns plague retailers (up to 30-40% for apparel); Doji reduces this by boosting purchase confidence while promoting creative self-expression.[3][4] Market forces like AI democratization (e.g., post-DeepMind/Google innovations) and investor enthusiasm for consumer AI (evident in Thrive Capital's lead) favor it, positioning Doji as a challenger in electronics resale and e-commerce spaces, influencing how brands integrate AI for interactive retail.[2][4]
Doji is poised to disrupt online fashion by evolving from beta darling to mainstream app, with funding accelerating AI enhancements for broader brand integrations and global scaling beyond its 80-country footprint.[3][4] Trends like multimodal AI, social commerce, and AR/VR convergence (nodding to founders' Apple/Meta roots) will shape its path, potentially expanding to accessories or live events. Its influence may grow by setting standards for "fun" virtual shopping, pressuring incumbents like Amazon or Zara to adopt similar tech—unlocking a more joyful, efficient fashion ecosystem that started with two AI veterans reimagining the mirror.[3][4]
Doji has raised $17.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Doji's investors include 8VC, C2 Investment, Diaspora Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, Launch House Ventures, Paradigm, Prototype Capital, Sequoia Capital, Seven Seven Six, Thrive Capital, Y Combinator, Eduardo Alcalay.
Doji has raised $17.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $14.0M Seed in May 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2025 | $14.0M Seed | 8VC, C2 Investment, Diaspora Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, Launch House Ventures, Paradigm, Prototype Capital, Sequoia Capital, Seven Seven Six, Thrive Capital, Y Combinator, Eduardo Alcalay, Elad Gil, Javaughn Lawrence, John Collison, Lucas Medola, Mark Pincus, Patrick Collison, Siqi Chen | |
| Nov 1, 2021 | $3.0M Seed | Diaspora Ventures, Launch House Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Seven Seven Six, Thrive Capital, Eduardo Alcalay, Javaughn Lawrence, Lucas Medola |
