Julep
Facts
- HQ
- Seattle, Washington, USA
- Sectors
- Startup
- Stage
- Seed
Jane Park Launches Tokki Sustainable Gift-Wrap Startup, Raises Funds via StartEngine Equity Crowdfunding
Veteran entrepreneur Jane Park has chosen equity crowdfunding on StartEngine to raise capital for her sustainable gift-wrap startup Tokki, highlighting its lower barriers and broader investor participation compared to traditional venture capital. Park, who previously raised over $50 million for Julep Beauty from major investors, values crowdfunding for connecting with end users and offering an alternative fundraising method.
Jane Park on SPACs, the immigrant ethos, and brands in the Amazon era
Jane Park, the CEO of newly public Athena Consumer Acquisition Corp., hadn't imagined herself leading a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, before accepting the job. She decided to consider the pitch from venture capitalist Isabelle Freidheim for one reason. “It took some convincing, a little bit. I wasn’t sure if I had the right capabilities. I have always sat on the entrepreneur side. So to be on the acquiring/money side is a new perspective and vantage point for me,” she said. “I don’t think I would have taken the call if it wasn’t the fact that it was an…
Version One Ventures Raises $100M Across Fund IV ($70M) and Opportunities Fund II ($30M), Will Target 25–30 Early-Stage Startups
Version One Ventures raised $100 million across two new funds — $70M for Fund IV (pre-seed and seed) and $30M for Opportunities Fund II — and plans to invest in 25–30 startups across sectors including SaaS, marketplaces, crypto, healthcare, and climate. The nine-year-old firm, led by Boris Wertz and Angela Tran Kingyens, continues to treat Seattle as a key geography while broadening its geographic focus.
