The New York Fashion Tech Lab (NYFTLab) is proud to showcase the 11 companies selected for The 2026 Collective — the program’s largest group of participants to date. This milestone comes as the Lab marks its 13th year of connecting women-led, B2B retail technology startups with the industry’s leading retailers and brands. The 11 companies, representing two groups of innovators, will come together for the first time at a live Experiential Tech Event during New York Fashion Week this September.
The event will be co-hosted with N4XT Experiences, the live events company behind NYFW Collections, and will take place on September 10, 2026 at The Penthouse at NeueHouse in New York City, in partnership with Convene Hospitality Group and AWS.
The private gathering will bring together an audience of 200+ retail executives, investors, lab alumni, and press. The afternoon prior, on September 9, the 2026 Collective Companies will be spotlighted on the Nasdaq Tower in Times Square.
For 2026, NYFTLab debuted a revised format called The Collective, evolving from its traditional single-cohort model to expand the number of participating startups and create greater opportunities for dialogue and collaboration. Finalists presented to retail and brand partner executives during two selection sessions held in April and June 2026 at the SAP Experience Center in New York City. The 11 selected companies then took part in five weeks of curated programming with the Lab and its partners.
“Our goal with the 2026 Collective is to create more opportunities for dialogue and collaboration between B2B retail tech startups and retail leaders as the industry continues to evolve.”
– Jackie Trebilcock, Managing Director, New York Fashion Tech Lab
The 2026 program is supported by a group of leading retail and brand partners who participated in the selection and programming of The Collective, including AEO Inc., Gap Inc., J.Crew Group, Kohl’s, lululemon, Saks Global, The TJX Companies, VF Corporation, Steve Madden. The 2026 program is also supported by strategic partners SAP, Manatt, and J.P. Morgan.
The 11 companies, selected across both the April and June programs, represent innovations across key B2B retail technology categories including data management, authentication, fraud, quality assurance, discovery, post-purchase, loyalty, inclusivity, visual experiences, profitability, and consumer feedback.
The 2026 Collective Companies Include:
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● Spur |
● AIUTA |
● Maeve |
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● Wyllo |
● Hawcx |
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● Atronous |
● Siren |
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● Rediem |
The 2026 Collective Companies will join an alumni community of 90+ leading B2B retail technology startups that have raised over $550M in capital to date and have participated from over 20 countries. A full list of NYFTLab alumni is available HERE.
About New York Fashion Tech Lab
New York Fashion Tech Lab is a community-driven, relationship-building, collaboration, and business development platform. The nonprofit program was co-founded by Springboard Enterprises and key fashion retailers to support women-led companies that have developed innovations at the intersection of fashion, retail, and technology. Now in its 13th year, the Lab continues its mission to connect retailers and brands with B2B retail technology companies through curated engagement, discovery, and collaboration. Learn more at nyftlab.com.
About Springboard Enterprises
Springboard Enterprises is a US-based venture catalyst and 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to accelerate the growth of entrepreneurial companies led by women through access to essential resources and a global community of experts. It is the leading network of influencers, investors, and innovators dedicated to building high-growth companies led by women, transforming industries in technology and life science. Since 2000, 950+ Springboard portfolio companies have created more than $77B in value, achieved 28 IPOs, celebrated 240 exits and 10 unicorns. Learn more at springboardenterprises.org.
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