Calgary-based fashion technology startup Prévoir has successfully closed a USD$542,000 pre-seed funding round to scale its innovative platform. The investment, solely contributed by Edmonton AI developer AltaML, will fuel the company's market expansion and product development efforts. Prévoir's technology uses artificial intelligence to help fashion retailers analyze trends, curate collections, and optimize sales performance.
A Strategic Partnership for Growth
The partnership between Prévoir and AltaML is described as more of a co-founding relationship than a traditional investor arrangement. CEO Courtney Kos noted that the two companies have been working together for years, fostering deep technical collaboration. This synergy led to the mutual decision to forgo other investors at this stage, focusing on shared growth objectives.
Enhancing Merchandising with AI
At its core, Prévoir's platform utilizes sophisticated AI and computer vision to deconstruct fashion items into specific product attributes. This data is then integrated with sales and inventory metrics, generating powerful insights for merchandising teams. The technology aims to uncover performance patterns that are often difficult to identify through manual analysis alone.
Company representatives emphasize that the goal is not to replace the creative intuition of merchandisers but to augment it. By automating time-consuming data analysis and reducing reliance on spreadsheets, the platform frees up professionals to focus on strategic decisions. This human-in-the-loop approach ensures that brand identity and creative vision remain central to the curation process.
Market Entry and Product Development
Prévoir is entering the market with a subscription model priced at $250 USD per month, offering access to its full suite of services. To maximize accessibility for its target audience, the platform was recently made available on the Shopify app store. This integration allows merchants to seamlessly incorporate Prévoir’s AI capabilities into their existing e-commerce operations.
The platform has undergone rigorous validation testing with several fashion brands, including a notable partnership with New York-based Elie Tahari. Alongside the pre-seed funding, Prévoir also received a $36K grant from Alberta Innovates for product development. This capital is dedicated to advancing its flagship "Range Builder" feature, a key tool for collection planning.
Future Outlook and Industry Impact
Looking ahead, the company plans to use the new funds to enhance its infrastructure, product capabilities, and customer support systems. This strategic scaling is designed to support a major push for user acquisition throughout the coming year. Prévoir and AltaML are positioning the company for a potential seed funding round targeted for late 2026.
Prévoir's emergence addresses a pressing need in the fashion industry for data-informed decision-making to manage inventory and anticipate consumer demand. The startup's success contributes to Calgary's growing reputation as a burgeoning technology hub, diversifying its economic landscape. Its ability to attract partners like Elie Tahari demonstrates the global appeal of its innovative solution.
This $542,000 pre-seed investment marks a pivotal moment for Prévoir, validating its vision and technological approach. By empowering fashion retailers with data-driven insights while preserving creative control, the company is poised to make a significant impact. As it scales its platform and expands its user base, Prévoir is well-positioned to redefine modern merchandising practices.