London-based software start-up Emperia has recently secured over £10 million in funding with the goal of revolutionizing the e-commerce industry. The company’s ambition is to bring retail into the metaverse by offering merchants the necessary technology and tools to create virtual stores. Notably, Emperia has already established partnerships with renowned brands such as Bloomingdales, Dior, Sunglass Hut, and Lacoste.
Emperia was co-founded in 2019 by fashion and retail expert Olga Dogadkina and VR innovation specialist Simonas Holcmann. Their platform enables various brands from the retail sector to create immersive and engaging virtual experiences. The objective is to merge the convenience of e-commerce with the impactful nature of in-person retail, providing customers with interactive shopping experiences.
CEO Dogadkina observed a gap in storytelling and customer journey capabilities within traditional 2D websites during her time in the fashion industry. To address this, Emperia aims to offer a solution that integrates virtual experiences as a crucial aspect of brands’ long-term e-commerce strategies. The metaverse holds tremendous potential for attracting customers across different markets and Emperia intends to bring this transformative technology to the retail sector.
The recent funding will be used to expand Emperia’s team, improve their virtual store Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform, and further develop the accompanying data suite. The investment round saw participation from prominent firms including Base10 Partners, Daphni, Sony Innovation Fund, Background Capital, Stanford Capital Partners, Concept Ventures, and business angel Jay Radia.
With this significant injection of funds, Emperia is well-positioned to trailblaze the future of e-commerce and reshape the way we shop. Leveraging the metaverse and innovative technology, Emperia aims to equip brands with the necessary tools to create captivating virtual stores that enthrall the digital-native generation. As the future of retail continues to evolve, Emperia is taking the lead in this transformation.
Useful links:
1. [Emperia’s Official Website](https://www.emperia.io)
2. [Emperia’s Partnerships and Collaborations](https://www.emperia.io/partnerships)
