STCH bets on AI to fix trial-and-error in fabric R&D, raises $5.5 million from Omnivore, Kae Capital

Fabric development today is trial-and-error. One may need 20 iterations to get one output right, said Narahari Payala, cofounder and chief executive of STCH, a contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) platform.

The startup works with the likes of Shein, Crocodile and Being Human, helping them design, develop and source fabrics aligned with global trends. STCH, which has raised $5.5 million in a funding round led by Omnivore, with participation from Kae Capital and WVC, said it is attempting to bring predictability to a largely fragmented and manual process.