LookLive

LookLive operated as a digital platform at the intersection of entertainment media and e-commerce, offering users the ability to purchase clothing and accessories worn by celebrities and influencers. Founded in Amsterdam in 2011 by Christopher Archer and Gerbert Kaandorp, the company later established its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The initial concept, primarily focused on men's fashion discovery, evolved significantly after a pivotal merger. A team led by Scooter Taylor, which had started a similar concept named Curateurs, acquired LookLive's technology and brand name while participating in the Y Combinator accelerator program. This new iteration of LookLive was also founded by Paul Judge, Cedric Rogers, and Greg Selkoe.

The platform's core function was to identify products within popular media like TV shows, music videos, and social media posts, making them directly shoppable. Using a combination of proprietary image analysis software and an editorial team, LookLive would tag items in photos and videos, providing users with direct links to purchase the exact products from the brand's website. Recognizing that celebrity-worn items are often high-end, the platform also offered a key feature: providing links to similar, more affordable alternatives, thereby broadening its consumer appeal. This addressed a common frustration for consumers by significantly shortening the journey from seeing a product on an influencer to being able to purchase it.

LookLive's business model was primarily based on affiliate commissions, earning revenue when users clicked through and made a purchase. The company also explored one-off partnerships with brands and influencers and was developing a B2B widget for digital publishers to embed the shoppable technology on their own sites. The platform successfully attracted a substantial user base, reaching over a million users with minimal marketing expenditure and facilitating over $1 million in sales in 2016. The company secured a total of $2.23 million in funding over two rounds from investors including Y Combinator, Liberty Global, and Volta Ventures. Despite its initial traction and clear value proposition, the company is now listed as deadpooled or out of business as of April 2021.

Keywords: celebrity fashion, shoppable content, e-commerce platform, affiliate marketing, fashion technology, influencer marketing, visual commerce, style finder, get the look, celebrity style, fashion discovery, shoppable media, image recognition shopping, entertainment commerce, online shopping, men's fashion, clothing identification, Y Combinator, fashion-tech, direct-to-consumer