Backed by investors with an eye on supply-chain transformation, the San Francisco startup is positioning its technology at the centre of fashion’s shift toward on-demand, localized production.
Rotostitch, a San Francisco–based manufacturing startup founded by engineers from Tesla, Neuralink and Apple, has raised $1 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed round led by Boost VC and Nova Threshold. The funding marks an important early step in its ambition to redefine garment production through automation.
The company is developing proprietary hardware–software systems designed to speed up garment assembly, increase production flexibility and support on-demand manufacturing. By automating steps traditionally reliant on labor-intensive processes, Rotostitch aims to help brands move from design to finished product far more quickly while reducing waste and excess inventory.
Co-founders Leah McClure (CEO) and Anson Tsang (CTO) describe the platform as an adaptable architecture capable of meeting evolving customer requirements and tightening ESG expectations. The vision is a more localized, responsive and sustainable supply chain—one where production can be scaled up or down in real time.
The fresh capital will support continued product development, expansion of manufacturing capabilities, engineering recruitment and preparation for commercial rollout.
The investment comes at a moment of structural pressure for the apparel industry. Brands face rising demand volatility, shorter design cycles and the need to cut lead times without increasing environmental impact. Automation has long promised improvements, yet most solutions remain fragmented or insufficiently scalable.
Rotostitch’s pitch—integrated automation that delivers speed, flexibility and nearshoring potential—speaks directly to these challenges. If successful, its system could help brands minimise overproduction, shrink logistics footprints and shift toward more agile manufacturing models.
With the pre-seed round complete, the company will focus on refining its core manufacturing system and engaging early commercial partners. The next 12–18 months will be critical: proof-of-concept deployments, operational reliability and integration into existing supply chains will determine whether Rotostitch can transition from promising startup to a real catalyst in apparel’s long-awaited automation wave.
