For decades, the computerized closet from the 1995 cult classic “Clueless” remained the ultimate fashion fantasy—a symbol of a future where technology could solve the age-old “nothing to wear” dilemma. In 2025, that fantasy has finally transitioned into a high-stakes reality. Jenny Wang, a Harvard-trained engineer and Gen Z founder, has emerged as the architect of this shift with her AI-powered styling app, Alta. Since its June 2025 launch, the New York-based startup has secured $11 million in seed funding and processed hundreds of thousands of wardrobe uploads. By combining the precision of computer science with the intuition of a personal stylist, Wang isn’t just building an app; she is creating a new category of “agentic shopping” where your phone doesn’t just show you clothes—it understands your soul.
The Architect of Ambition: From Harvard to Alta
The story of Alta is inextricably linked to the trajectory of its founder, Jenny Wang. A 2019 Harvard Computer Science alumna, Wang’s background is a rare fusion of technical rigor and fashion-tech advocacy. Before Alta, she was a co-host of the Techsetters podcast and a contributor to Forbes, where she explored the intersection of NFTs, AI, and digital identity. This multidisciplinary perspective allowed her to see fashion not just as a creative industry, but as a complex data problem waiting to be solved.
Wang’s vision for Alta was born from a desire to make personal styling “effortless and fun.” She recognized that while the e-commerce industry is worth billions, it is saturated with choice and friction. Most shoppers struggle to integrate new purchases with their existing wardrobes. Alta serves as the missing link, acting as a utilitarian tool that digitizes what you already own while providing an aspirational roadmap for what you might need next.
The “Agentic” Experience: How Alta Works
At its core, Alta is an AI-native personal stylist and shopper. Unlike previous styling apps that required tedious manual entry, Alta leverages advanced machine learning to automate the digitization process. Users can populate their “digital closet” by simply snapping photos of their clothes, forwarding digital shopping receipts, or browsing Alta’s extensive item database.
Once the wardrobe is digitized, the app’s “agentic” capabilities take over. Alta doesn’t just suggest random pairings; it provides recommendations based on specific prompts, the current weather, the season, and the user’s upcoming calendar events. Whether styling a user for a first date, a job interview, or a weekend getaway, the AI analyzes the “DNA” of the user’s style to suggest outfits that feel authentic rather than algorithmic.
Scaling the Dream: The $11 Million Milestone
The industry’s belief in Wang’s vision was validated in mid-2025 when Alta raised $11 million in a seed funding round led by Menlo Ventures. The round also attracted high-profile fashion and venture heavyweights, including LVMH-backed Aglaé Ventures and Meredith Koop, famously known as Michelle Obama’s stylist. This backing provides Alta with the capital to refine its styling algorithms and expand its reach into Europe and Oceania.
The funding also supports strategic partnerships with influential bodies like the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). These collaborations are designed to bridge the gap between high-end fashion designers and the everyday consumer. By integrating designer insights directly into the AI’s logic, Alta ensures that its styling advice remains culturally relevant and fashion-forward, rather than just functional.
The 2026 Horizon: Virtual Try-Ons and Digital Twins
As we look toward 2026, the next frontier for Alta is the perfection of the virtual try-on. Through the use of “AI twins” or personalized avatars, users will be able to visualize exactly how a new piece will fit and drape on their own bodies before hitting the “buy” button. This feature aims to solve the industry’s massive returns problem while giving consumers the confidence to experiment with bolder styles.
Wang’s goal is to move the industry beyond “algorithmic chasing”—where users are shown more of what they’ve already bought—toward “intelligent discovery.” Alta is being positioned as a lifelong style companion that evolves with the user. If you move to a new city with a different climate or undergo a career change, Alta’s AI adapts its recommendations to reflect your new reality, ensuring your wardrobe remains a source of confidence rather than stress.
Is Fashion’s AI Boom Solving a Real Problem?
The rise of Alta comes amidst a broader wave of AI fashion tech, competing with platforms like Julie Bornstein’s Daydream and Phoebe Gates’ Phia. However, Alta’s unique value proposition lies in its focus on the “Existing Wardrobe + New Discovery” loop. By prioritizing what a user already owns, Wang addresses the sustainability crisis in fashion, encouraging users to “shop their closets” before buying new.
This “utilitarian aspiration” is what sets Wang apart from the competition. She isn’t just trying to sell more clothes; she is trying to help people understand their own style through the lens of data. In the words of Wang, “Fashion is so interesting from a data perspective… Alta is both utilitarian and aspirational.” In the hands of this Gen Z founder, the “Clueless” closet is no longer a dream—it’s a data-driven reality that is changing the way the world gets dressed.
