Latest news with #IrisVentures
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Competitive Sport and Business Are a Winning Pair, Say Women Investors in London
SWEAT, AND EQUITY: Competitive sports can be an ideal training ground for business — and vice-versa — offering lessons in teamwork, discipline, endurance and nimble thinking, according to a clutch of high-achieving female business professionals in London. The women were taking part in a panel discussion called 'Empowering Women in Sports,' organized by Mumble Forum, a networking club for women in business, and Iris Ventures, the growth equity firm specializing in next-generation lifestyle and health-focused brands. More from WWD Petra Ecclestone Is Heading to Las Vegas, but Not for the Formula 1 Grand Prix Zandra Rhodes Hits the Beach With Oceanus Swimwear Collaboration Meet Oli Walsh, the Man Behind the Latest, Award-winning Gap Ads The three panelists — Montse Suarez, founding partner at Iris Ventures, and a lifelong athlete; Sophie Power, an ultrarunner and former investment banker, and Stephanie Wetmore, a former professional WTA tennis player turned angel investor, spoke over cocktails and canapés at 1 Warwick, a private members' club in Soho. It was a muscular lineup moderated by Sonja Moses, a national Muay Thai champion and human performance coach, with the women talking about their experiences at work and on the playing field, and how they're pressing them into action every day. Suarez, a former gymnast who now plays field hockey in Spain, said teamwork is critical for any business, but especially for start-ups. When she's deciding which founders to back, Suarez said she imagines playing on a team with them. 'I need to look at their eyes and see how the founders interact with one another. Is there chemistry, or not? Am I going to be able to play with them and pass on feedback? If so, how will they receive it? Is my role going to be on the bench or in the field with them?' said Suarez. Her Iris investments include Maurten, a global sports nutrition company based in Sweden; Biomel, a plant-based gut health brand, and Superlativa, a drug- and hormone-free supplement that aims to help manage stress and regulate women's levels of cortisol. Suarez added that as an investor, 'it's very important to have open conversations with founders regarding what the journey is going to look like. Not everything will go according to plan. There will be failures on the way. There will be moments where you're expecting to grow at high speed, but it's actually not happening. And I think that's the best thing that I can bring to founders, is to have those open conversations.' Wetmore talked about the importance of failure and of celebrating losses as well as wins. Even if you're a top tennis player, 'you're learning from your losses every week. I think having a level head and being able to take things from losses is really important. When I was young, I wasn't able to celebrate loss. But you can learn from your losses while still celebrating your wins. I think it's about finding a bit of a balance,' and building resilience, she said. Power, who is also an advocate for mothers in sport, said there are so many parallels between ultra marathons and life. 'You don't set out and feel great all the time. You have ups and downs, and you know that if you keep putting one foot in front the other, you will get to the end of the tunnel. And sometimes it takes a long time, and sometimes it's quick. And while you're doing that, you can be problem-solving. Every single step of the way you can be problem-solving,' she said, adding that long-distance running also puts life into perspective. During the discussion, she recalled a particularly brutal, multiday marathon in the Sahara desert in the middle of the night. She was hungry, and still had 20 kilometers before the finish line. She said that what kept her going were memories of a toxic boss at the bank. 'There was a meeting I remembered that was much worse than this,' said Power. 'And I thought to myself I'd rather be here than in that meeting with that absolute bully I used to work for.' Best of WWD Longtime Vogue Editor Grace Mirabella Dies at 91 First Lady Dr. Jill Biden Helps Forbes Celebrate Its 50 Over 50 List Mikaela Shiffrin Gets Personal in New Series for Outside+
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iris Ventures Leads Multimillion-dollar Investment Into Fast-growing Wellness Platform Healf
— Healf, a leading online retailer selling premium wellness products, has closed a multimillion-dollar funding round led by Iris Ventures, an international growth equity firm specializing in next-generation lifestyle and health-focused brands. Launched four years ago by brothers Lestat McCree and Max Clarke, Healf has become one of the U.K.'s fastest-growing well-being companies. It has built a reputation for its polished curation, clear communication and a personalized approach to well-being. More from WWD The Top Five Health and Wellness Trends in 2025, According to The Vitamin Shoppe Farfetch Pushes Into South Korea, One of the World's Biggest Luxury Markets EXCLUSIVE: Beekman 1802 Founders Release Book 'G.O.A.T. Wisdom: How to Build a Truly Great Business' The company has been able to scale quickly in what remains a fragmented market in the U.K., populated by pharmacies and retail chains that are often cluttered with product — and the opposite of aspirational. Healf has a growing community of 325,000 customers and 282,000 followers on Instagram, and is on track to post $100 million in revenue by the end of 2025. The plan is to expand Healf across Europe and capitalize on the booming wellness trend. The personal health and well-being category alone is estimated to be worth $1.8 trillion globally. Healf's approach is to help people take control of their health with a holistic approach that's focused on the basics: eating, moving, sleeping and mindfulness. The site stocks more than 4,000 curated products to tend to those needs, and helps customers personalize their approach. Healf is also packed with slick editorial images and articles on how to lower cortisol levels naturally; special massages for lymphatic health; and how to bring 'more brain-soothing beauty into your life.' Customers take surveys to help them target the best remedies, and there is also an AI assistant that doles out recommendations about gut health, sleep habits and how to manage stress and anxiety. McCree said he and Clarke started the company because 'well-being shouldn't feel overwhelming — but it so often does. From Day One, Healf has been dedicated to cutting through the noise with simplicity, credibility and curation.' He added that the company's trademarked Four Pillars strategy focused on eating, moving, sleeping and mindfulness acts as a compass, and helps the founders deliver on quality, service and product offerings. Clarke said he and his brother were inspired by their own well-being journeys and have experienced the 'tangible and synergistic benefits that accompany a holistic approach to well-being — a major unlock we believe all consumers deserve access to.' Florian Wojewodzki, partner at Iris Ventures, said 'we quickly understood that Max and Lestat were a rare breed of founders. They are mission-driven brothers exemplifying laser focus and militant execution at every turn. 'Their uncompromising pursuit of product, innovation and customer journey excellence has been a masterclass, and propelled Healf to the forefront of health and wellness disruption. The company's highly engaged and growing community is a testament to its standout offering and the consumer trust it has so deservedly earned,' Wojewodzki said. Montse Suarez, founder and managing partner of Iris Ventures, said that 'with smart retail curation, personalized tech, and habit-forming products, wellness is no longer an add-on — it's seamlessly woven into everyday life. We're seeing a powerful shift from reactive fixes to proactive strategies. 'Max and Lestat recognized this early on and, with unwavering focus on excellence, have rapidly built an exceptional business. We're proud to partner with them and to help shape the future of well-being together,' she said. Iris Ventures is a thematic fund targeting European, U.K. and U.S. high-growth customer-centric brands and tech-enabled solutions across consumer sectors including beauty, health, wellness, family, lifestyle, nutrition, daily tech and modern commerce. Recent investments have included Maurten, a global sports nutrition company based in Sweden; Biomel, a plant-based gut health brand; and Superlativa, a drug- and hormone-free supplement that aims to help manage stress and regulate women's levels of cortisol. Best of WWD Harvey Nichols Sees Sales Dip, Losses Widen in Year Marred by Closures Nike Logs $1.3 Billion Profit, But Supply Chain Issues Persist Zegna Shares Start Trading on New York Stock Exchange
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iris Ventures Leads Multimillion-dollar Investment Into Fast-growing Wellness Platform Healf
— Healf, a leading online retailer selling premium wellness products, has closed a multimillion-dollar funding round led by Iris Ventures, an international growth equity firm specializing in next-generation lifestyle and health-focused brands. Launched four years ago by brothers Lestat McCree and Max Clarke, Healf has become one of the U.K.'s fastest-growing well-being companies. It has built a reputation for its polished curation, clear communication and a personalized approach to well-being. More from WWD The Top Five Health and Wellness Trends in 2025, According to The Vitamin Shoppe Farfetch Pushes Into South Korea, One of the World's Biggest Luxury Markets EXCLUSIVE: Beekman 1802 Founders Release Book 'G.O.A.T. Wisdom: How to Build a Truly Great Business' The company has been able to scale quickly in what remains a fragmented market in the U.K., populated by pharmacies and retail chains that are often cluttered with product — and the opposite of aspirational. Healf has a growing community of 325,000 customers and 282,000 followers on Instagram, and is on track to post $100 million in revenue by the end of 2025. The plan is to expand Healf across Europe and capitalize on the booming wellness trend. The personal health and well-being category alone is estimated to be worth $1.8 trillion globally. Healf's approach is to help people take control of their health with a holistic approach that's focused on the basics: eating, moving, sleeping and mindfulness. The site stocks more than 4,000 curated products to tend to those needs, and helps customers personalize their approach. Healf is also packed with slick editorial images and articles on how to lower cortisol levels naturally; special massages for lymphatic health; and how to bring 'more brain-soothing beauty into your life.' Customers take surveys to help them target the best remedies, and there is also an AI assistant that doles out recommendations about gut health, sleep habits and how to manage stress and anxiety. McCree said he and Clarke started the company because 'well-being shouldn't feel overwhelming — but it so often does. From Day One, Healf has been dedicated to cutting through the noise with simplicity, credibility and curation.' He added that the company's trademarked Four Pillars strategy focused on eating, moving, sleeping and mindfulness acts as a compass, and helps the founders deliver on quality, service and product offerings. Clarke said he and his brother were inspired by their own well-being journeys and have experienced the 'tangible and synergistic benefits that accompany a holistic approach to well-being — a major unlock we believe all consumers deserve access to.' Florian Wojewodzki, partner at Iris Ventures, said 'we quickly understood that Max and Lestat were a rare breed of founders. They are mission-driven brothers exemplifying laser focus and militant execution at every turn. 'Their uncompromising pursuit of product, innovation and customer journey excellence has been a masterclass, and propelled Healf to the forefront of health and wellness disruption. The company's highly engaged and growing community is a testament to its standout offering and the consumer trust it has so deservedly earned,' Wojewodzki said. Montse Suarez, founder and managing partner of Iris Ventures, said that 'with smart retail curation, personalized tech, and habit-forming products, wellness is no longer an add-on — it's seamlessly woven into everyday life. We're seeing a powerful shift from reactive fixes to proactive strategies. 'Max and Lestat recognized this early on and, with unwavering focus on excellence, have rapidly built an exceptional business. We're proud to partner with them and to help shape the future of well-being together,' she said. Iris Ventures is a thematic fund targeting European, U.K. and U.S. high-growth customer-centric brands and tech-enabled solutions across consumer sectors including beauty, health, wellness, family, lifestyle, nutrition, daily tech and modern commerce. Recent investments have included Maurten, a global sports nutrition company based in Sweden; Biomel, a plant-based gut health brand; and Superlativa, a drug- and hormone-free supplement that aims to help manage stress and regulate women's levels of cortisol. Best of WWD Harvey Nichols Sees Sales Dip, Losses Widen in Year Marred by Closures Nike Logs $1.3 Billion Profit, But Supply Chain Issues Persist Zegna Shares Start Trading on New York Stock Exchange Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
