Trying to Make CPG Customers More Loyal, Repeat Raises $1.5M

Ben Bergman

Ben Bergman is the newsroom's senior finance reporter. Previously he was a senior business reporter and host at KPCC, a senior producer at Gimlet Media, a producer at NPR's Morning Edition, and produced two investigative documentaries for KCET. He has been a frequent on-air contributor to business coverage on NPR and Marketplace and has written for The New York Times and Columbia Journalism Review. Ben was a 2017-2018 Knight-Bagehot Fellow in Economic and Business Journalism at Columbia Business School. In his free time, he enjoys skiing, playing poker, and cheering on The Seattle Seahawks.

Trying to Make CPG Customers More Loyal, Repeat Raises $1.5M
  • Repeat aims to make consumer packaged goods (CPG) customers more loyal by sending personalized reminders.
  • The company raised $1.5 million in seed funding from Harlem Capital, Techstars and Mucker Capital.
  • The two co-founders met at a Venice startup and were planning to get married in April until COVID-19 happened.

The good news for ecommerce companies is that the pandemic has driven U.S. consumers online. Up to half say they buy household supplies with a click, according to McKinsey & Company, but 70% of buyers never return to a brand for another purchase.

Repeat, formerly known as PRZM, aims to change that and make customers more loyal by figuring out their unique consumption habits. The company uses the data to remind shoppers with email nudges, it is time to restock. "Hi Anna. Are you ready for another face wash?" reads one such reminder. When customers go back to the site the items they "need" will be waiting for them in their cart.


"We help brands turn customers into repeat customers," said co-founder and CEO Kim Stiefel. "We're essentially removing the friction from the replenish experience, allowing brands to unlock more repeat revenue."

Repeat announced Wednesday it has raised $1.5 million in seed funding in a round led by Harlem Capital. Existing investors Techstars, Act One Ventures and Mucker Capital returned while Break Trail Ventures, Vamos Ventures and Wedbush Ventures also came on board.

Repeat's business has been booming due to the accelerated shift to ecommerce. "We were already seeing consumers come online, but with COVID it dramatically changed," said Stiefel. Case in point: She says a toilet paper brand that is a client saw a 3000x increase in conversions.

Stiefel and her co-founder Sarah Wissel met in 2015 while the two were colleagues at Vytmn, a short-lived Venice startup.

Stiefel and her co-founder Sarah Wissel met in 2015 while the two were colleagues at Vytmn, a short-lived Venice startup. It soon ran out of money, but the two started dating as well as hatching an idea for a new company that would be a subscription brand. "There was nobody else I wanted to do it with," said Wissel.

But like many startups, they pivoted. "During the process of building a brand we discovered subscribing to products is not a great experience," said Stiefel. The two decided to focus on using their own data to help other consumer packaged goods companies retain customers.

Stiefel says their skills complement each other since she is good at strategy, sales and bringing in revenue while Wissel is more analytic and focused on the product. "There's no power struggle," Stiefel said. "We're big fans of each other."

    The co-founders were planning to get married in April until courthouses closed. "They are now offering marriages on Zoom and so I think we're going to do that," said Stiefel.

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    šŸ¤« The Secret to Staying Fit at Your Desk: 6 Essential Under-Desk Exercise Machines

    Health experts are sounding the alarm: our sedentary jobs are slowly killing us, yet we can't abandon our desks if we want to keep the lights on. It feels like we're caught between a rock and a hard place. Enter under-desk exercise machines ā€“ the overlooked heroes (albeit kind of goofy looking) of the modern workspace. These devices let tech professionals stay active, enhance their health, and increase their productivity, all without stepping away from their screens. Here are 6 fantastic options that will enhance the way you work and workout simultaneously.

    DeskCycle Under Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser

    This bike has nearly ten thousand five-star reviews on amazon. It works with nearly any desk/chair setup. It is quiet, sturdy and allows up to 40 pounds of resistance. If you are looking for an under-desk bike this is a fantastic option.

    Type: Under-Desk Bike

    Price: $180 - $200


    Sunny Health & Fitness Dual Function Under Desk Pedal Exerciser

    This under-desk bike is extremely quiet due to the magnetic resistance making it an ideal option if you work in a shared space. It doesnā€™t slip, has eight levels of resistance, and the option to work legs and arms. Itā€™s about half the price of the DeskCycle bike making it a solid mid-range option for those looking to increase their daily activity.

    Type: Under-Desk Bike

    Price: $100 - $110


    Sunny Health & Fitness Sitting Under Desk Elliptical

    This under-desk elliptical comes in multiple colors if you really want to underscore that you are a quirky individual, in case an under-desk elliptical isnā€™t enough. This model is a bit heavy (very sturdy), has eight different resistance levels, and has more than nine thousand 5-star reviews.

    Type: Under-Desk Elliptical

    Price: $120 - $230


    DeskCycle Ellipse Leg Exerciser

    This under-desk elliptical is another great option. It is a bit pricey but itā€™s quiet, well-made and has eight resistance levels. It also syncs with your apple watch or fitbit which is a very large perk for those office-wide ā€œstepā€ challenges. Get ready to win.

    Type: Under-Desk Elliptical

    Price: $220 - $230


    Daeyegim Quiet LED Remote Treadmill

    If you have a standing desk and are looking to walk and work this is a fantastic option. This walking-only treadmill allows you to walk between 0.5 to 5 mph (or jog unless you have the stride length of an NBA forward). It is very quiet, which is perfect if you want to use it near others or during a meeting. You canā€™t change the incline or fold it in half but it is great for simply getting in some extra steps during the work day.

    Type: Under-Desk Treadmill

    Price: $220 - $230


    Sunny Health & Fitness Foldable Manual Treadmill

    This under-desk treadmill isnā€™t the most premium model but it is affordable and has an impressive array of features. It is a manual treadmill meaning it doesnā€™t need to be plugged in; it is foldable and offers an incline up to 13%. I personally canā€™t imagine working and walking up a 13% incline but if that sounds like your cup of tea, then I truly respect the hustle.

    Type: Under-Desk Treadmill

    Price: $150 - $200




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    šŸ¤ Musk Picks Texas and šŸ”„Tinder AI Picks Your Profile Pictures

    šŸ”¦ Spotlight

    Tinder is altering dating profile creation with its new AI-powered Photo Selector feature, designed to help users choose their most appealing dating profile pictures. This innovative tool employs facial recognition technology to curate a set of up to 10 photos from the user's device, streamlining the often time-consuming process of profile setup. To use the feature, users simply take a selfie within the Tinder app and grant access to their camera roll. The AI then analyzes the photos based on factors like lighting and composition, drawing from Tinder's research on what makes an effective profile picture.

    The selection process occurs entirely on the user's device, ensuring privacy and data security. Tinder doesn't collect or store any biometric data or photos beyond those chosen for the profile, and the facial recognition data is deleted once the user exits the feature. This new tool addresses a common pain point for users, as Tinder's research shows that young singles typically spend about 25 to 33 minutes selecting a profile picture. By automating this process, Tinder aims to reduce profile creation time and allow users to focus more on making meaningful connections.

    In wholly unrelated news, Elon Musk has announced plans to relocate the headquarters of X (formerly Twitter) and SpaceX from California to Texas. SpaceX will move from Hawthorne to Starbase, while X will shift from San Francisco to Austin. Musk cited concerns about aggressive drug users near X's current headquarters and a new California law regarding gender identity notification in schools as reasons for the move. This decision follows Musk's previous relocation of Tesla's headquarters to Texas in 2021.

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    • Penguin Random House agreed to acquire comic book publisher Boom! Studios from backers like Walt Disney Co. - learn more

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    Top LA Accelerators that Entrepreneurs Should Know About

    Los Angeles, has a thriving startup ecosystem with numerous accelerators, incubators, and programs designed to support and nurture new businesses. These programs provide a range of services, including funding, mentorship, workspace, networking opportunities, and strategic guidance to help entrepreneurs develop their ideas and scale their companies.


    Techstars Los Angeles

    Techstars is a global outfit with a chapter in Los Angeles that opened in 2017. It prioritizes local companies but will fund some firms based outside of LA.

    Location: Culver City

    Type of Funding: Pre-seed, early stage

    Focus: Industry Agnostic

    Notable Past Companies: StokedPlastic, Zeno Power


    Grid110

    Grid110 offers no-cost, no-equity programs for entrepreneurs in Los Angeles, including a 12-week Residency accelerator for early-stage startups, an Idea to Launch Bootcamp for pre-launch entrepreneurs, and specialized programs like the PledgeLA Founders Fund and Friends & Family program, all aimed at providing essential skills, resources, and support to help founders develop and grow their businesses.

    Location: DTLA

    Type of Funding: Seed, early stage

    Focus: Industry Agnostic

    Notable Past Companies: Casetify, Flavors From Afar


    Idealab

    Idealab is a renowned startup studio and incubator based in Pasadena, California. Founded in 1996 by entrepreneur Bill Gross, Idealab has a long history of nurturing innovative technology companies, with over 150 startups launched and 45 successful IPOs and acquisitions, including notable successes like Coinbase and Tenor.

    Location: Pasadena

    Type of Funding: Stage agnostic

    Focus: Industry Agnostic, AI/Robotics, Consumer, Clean Energy

    Notable Past Companies: Lumin, Coinbase, Tenor


    Plug In South LA

    Plug In South LA is a tech accelerator program focused on supporting and empowering Black and Latinx entrepreneurs in the Los Angeles area. The 12-week intensive program provides early-stage founders with mentorship, workshops, strategic guidance, potential pilot partnerships, grant funding, and networking opportunities to help them scale their businesses and secure investment.

    Location: Los Angeles

    Type of Funding: Pre-seed, seed

    Focus: Industry Agnostic, Connection to South LA and related communities

    Notable Past Companies: ChargerHelp, Peadbo


    Cedars-Sinai Accelerator

    The Cedars-Sinai Accelerator is a three-month program based in Los Angeles that provides healthcare startups with $100,000 in funding, mentorship from over 300 leading clinicians and executives, and access to Cedars-Sinai's clinical expertise and resources. The program aims to transform healthcare quality, efficiency, and care delivery by helping entrepreneurs bring their innovative technology products to market, offering participants dedicated office space, exposure to a broad network of healthcare entrepreneurs and investors, and the opportunity to pitch their companies at a Demo Day.

    Location: West Hollywood

    Type of Funding: Seed, early stage, convertible note

    Focus: Healthcare, Device, Life Sciences

    Notable Past Companies: Regard, Hawthorne Effect


    MedTech Innovator

    MedTech Innovator is the world's largest accelerator for medical technology companies, based in Los Angeles, offering a four-month program that provides selected startups with unparalleled access to industry leaders, investors, and resources without taking equity. The accelerator culminates in showcase events and competitions where participating companies can win substantial non-dilutive funding, with the program having a strong track record of helping startups secure FDA approvals and significant follow-on funding.

    Location: Westwood

    Type of Funding: Seed, early stage

    Focus: Health Care, Health Diagnostics, Medical Device

    Notable Past Companies: Zeto, Genetesis


    KidsX

    The KidsX Accelerator in Los Angeles is a 10-week program that supports early-stage digital health companies focused on pediatric care, providing mentorship, resources, and access to a network of children's hospitals to help startups validate product-market fit and scale their solutions. The accelerator uses a reverse pitch model, where participating hospitals identify focus areas and work closely with selected startups to develop and pilot digital health solutions that address specific pediatric needs.

    Location: East Hollywood

    Type of Funding: Pre-seed, seed, early stage

    Focus: Pediatric Health Care Innovation

    Notable Past Companies: Smileyscope, Zocalo Health


    Disney Accelerator

    Disney Accelerator is a startup accelerator that provides early-stage companies in the consumer media, entertainment and technology sectors with mentorship, guidance, and investment from Disney executives. The program, now in its 10th year, aims to foster collaborations and partnerships between innovative technology companies and The Walt Disney Company to help them accelerate their growth and bring new experiences to Disney audiences.

    Location: Burbank

    Type of Funding: Growth stage

    Focus: Technology and entertainment

    Notable Past Companies: Epic Games, BRIT + CO, CAMP


    Techstars Space Accelerator

    Techstars Space Accelerator is a startup accelerator program focused on advancing the next generation of space technology companies. The three-month mentorship-driven program brings together founders from across the globe to work on big ideas in aerospace, including rapid launch services, precision-based imaging, operating systems for complex robotics, in-space servicing, and thermal protection.

    Location: Los Angeles

    Type of Funding: Growth stage

    Focus: Aerospace

    Notable Past Companies: Pixxel, Morpheus Space



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