Ichuanyi

About Ichuanyi

Ichuanyi, operating under Shanghai Youmeng Information Technology Co., Ltd., was established on July 9, 2012, by founder and CEO Gu Yingying. The firm initially entered the market as a tool for users to record and manage their clothing combinations. Over time, it transitioned from a fashion community centered on outfit sharing to a shopping guide platform, and ultimately evolved into a fashion e-commerce entity. This strategic pivot transformed the platform into a curated e-commerce destination focusing on 'fashion buyers', allowing style influencers to monetize their content and followers to purchase featured items directly.

The company's core offering is a mobile application that serves as a personal styling assistant, helping users manage, share, and discuss their fashion choices. Originally inspired by the founder's observation of women's interest in sharing outfit photos, the platform was created to be a dedicated space for recording and sharing clothing combinations. The business model has since expanded to incorporate e-commerce, enabling transactions within the app and converting community engagement into sales. This allows fashion-forward users and stylists to become vendors on the platform.

Gu Yingying is a serial entrepreneur with over five years of experience in the internet, mobile value-added services, and interactive entertainment sectors before founding Ichuanyi. In 2007, while still in her third year of university, she co-founded the web game company Fancheng Technology. After cashing out from her first venture in 2010, she founded Hangzhou Qirong Investment Co., Ltd., focusing on internet and mobile internet investments before embarking on Ichuanyi as her second entrepreneurial project.

The company has successfully secured significant funding to fuel its growth. In September 2013, it raised 12 million RMB in a Series A round from Huaying Capital. This was followed by a substantial Series B funding round in February 2015, where it raised tens of millions of US dollars from JD.com and Vertex Ventures (a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings).