AHAlife

AHAlife operated as a digital marketplace platform focused on curated luxury lifestyle products. The company was founded in September 2010 by Shauna Mei, who served as its CEO. Mei, an MIT-trained engineer with a background in computer science, previously worked at Goldman Sachs and co-founded a luxury fashion investment firm before establishing AHAlife. Her experience was complemented by co-founder Sachin Devand, who joined as CTO and President, bringing extensive technology leadership from roles at companies like 33Across and a background in computer science from IIT Bombay. The two later became partners in life as well as business.

The business model centered on connecting discerning consumers with over 3,000 designers and artisans from more than 45 countries, offering a platform for these creators to tell their stories. Functioning as a 'discovery shopping destination,' AHAlife utilized a drop-ship model, which eliminated inventory risk. The platform presented a selection of goods across fashion, food, beauty, and design, initially featuring one new product daily, handpicked by influential curators like Tim Gunn and Diane von Furstenberg. Revenue was generated from the sale of these curated items, with the company boasting high gross margins.

AHAlife pursued an aggressive growth strategy through acquisitions. In early 2016, it acquired Bezar.com, a design marketplace, which increased its user base by approximately 30%. This was followed by the acquisition of Kaufmann Mercantile, another e-commerce store focused on craftsmanship, in August 2016. The company also acquired photo-sharing app Kaptur around 2012-2013 to leverage its social user acquisition engine. In 2015, AHAlife went public on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) through a merger with INT Corporation, a move intended to secure growth capital. However, the company faced challenges in achieving profitability. In February 2017, both Shauna Mei and Sachin Devand departed from the company by mutual agreement with the board.

Keywords: AHAlife, Shauna Mei, Sachin Devand, luxury e-commerce, curated marketplace, online retail, designer goods, artisan products, drop-shipping, lifestyle brands, FirstMark Capital, Kaufmann Mercantile, Bezar, digital marketplace, conscious consumption, luxury accessories, home decor, online shopping, ASX, fashion tech