EP22: Janice Tam, Co-Founder & CEO of TrueToForm | "Revolutionizing Fit in Fashion"

Janice Tam, Co-Founder and CEO of TrueToForm, shares her journey in building a body scanning and fit prediction software platform for the apparel industry. She discusses the evolution of her startup, the challenges of technology development, and the importance of market validation. Janice emphasizes the need for capital efficiency and the impact of location on startup growth, highlighting the support from her community. She also reflects on lessons learned and future aspirations for TrueToForm.   https://www.truetoform.fit/ & https://www.linkedin.com/in/janice-hy-tam/    Takeaways:

• The idea for TrueToForm originated in business school.
• Personal experiences with fit issues drove the passion for the startup.
• The transition from hardware to software was crucial for scalability.
• Building a capital-efficient startup is essential in today's market.
• Market validation is key to understanding customer needs.
• Community support can significantly impact startup growth.
• Emotional runway is as important as cash runway for founders.
• Feedback from users is vital for product improvement.
• Location can influence networking opportunities and startup success.
• The future of e-commerce is evolving with technology advancements.

Keywords: TrueToForm, Janice Tam, body scanning, fit prediction, apparel industry, startup journey, capital efficiency, technology development, market validation, community support   Sound Bites:

• "There's so much variation in sizing from brand to brand."
• "The purpose of a business is to make money."
• "It's a very exciting time to be in this space of e-commerce."
• "We were able to meet a lot of people quickly, get feedback quickly."
• "We're leaving no stone left unturned, that's for sure."
• "Keep in mind that there's two pieces of runway."

Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to TrueToForm and Janice Tam's Journey 02:47 The Evolution of TrueToForm: From Idea to Execution 05:54 Understanding the Fit Problem in Fashion 08:49 Building a Capital Efficient Startup 12:14 Navigating the Challenges of Technology Development 15:10 The Importance of Market Validation 17:56 Expanding into Ready-to-Wear Market 21:03 The Impact of Location on Startup Growth 24:09 Community Support and Resources 26:50 Lessons Learned and Future Aspirations