Profile Overview
David Oates is the Co-founder and CEO of Curtsy, a San Francisco-based fashion resale app focused on providing a sustainable alternative to fast fashion for Gen Z consumers, primarily females aged 15 to 30. His leadership has been instrumental in the company’s growth trajectory and market positioning within the competitive resale marketplace sector.
Professional Background and Experience
David co-founded Curtsy, originally launched as a peer-to-peer dress rental platform targeting sorority students in Southern U.S. universities. The company has since evolved into a broader clothing, shoe, and accessories resale platform addressing the sustainability and social commerce trends favored by Gen Z.
Under Oates’ guidance, Curtsy has undergone remarkable business growth, recently doubling its revenue and securing a position among the top 20 shopping apps in its category. Curtsy's app has been downloaded over one million times, with revenue projected at $12.5 million by 2020 and continuing to grow, reflecting effective market penetration and scalability.
David's entrepreneurial acumen is supported by his experience and skills in web design, graphic design, creativity, and startup leadership, rooted in his education at Northeastern University (2012–2016). He identifies as a designer and actively shares startup insights through his podcast hosting and social media presence.
Company Funding and Market Position
Curtsy has raised approximately $14.5 million in total funding, including an $11 million Series A round led by Index Ventures in January 2021. The funding has been dedicated to scaling technology, expanding the team, enhancing market share, and broadening the app’s feature set.
David’s role encompasses navigating the company through an increasingly crowded resale and rental marketplace, competing directly with companies like Poshmark. His strategy includes expanding the product beyond collegiate niche markets to wider Gen Z audiences, emphasizing fashion circularity and sustainability as core brand values.
Notable Achievements and Leadership
- Named a successful young CEO and co-founder, David has received recognition including participation in major hackathons and startup challenges early in his career (e.g., Third Place at BitHack Coinbase 2014, Best Visual Design at Beanpot Hackathon 2013).
- Under his leadership, Curtsy transitioned from a regional niche rental model to a national resale platform for secondhand apparel, achieving rapid user growth and high market traction.
- David is known for maintaining a growth mindset culture within Curtsy, focusing on team expansion, operational scalability, and continuous innovation in product offerings.
Public Presence and Additional Roles
David is active on social media and professional platforms:
- On LinkedIn ([linkedin.com/in/deoates](https://www.linkedin.com/in/deoates)) with 500+ professional connections.
- On X (formerly Twitter) (@deoates), where he describes himself as a designer, CEO, and podcast host sharing startup learnings.
- Hosts the podcast @slt_pod, offering insights into startup strategy and leadership.
His email listed publicly as deoates@gmail.com indicates availability for professional outreach.
Company Culture and Team
Curtsy has grown to about 30 employees as of recent reports, indicating a scale-up phase from its startup roots. The company culture emphasizes responsibility, innovation, and sustainability, reflecting David’s leadership philosophy toward building a modern, purpose-driven consumer technology brand.
Market and Industry Context
Curtsy competes in the rapidly expanding secondhand apparel market which intersects sustainability trends, Gen Z consumer preferences, and the rise of social commerce. The company's differentiated positioning on mobile-first, user-friendly peer transactions and the goal of making fashion more circular supports strong growth potential.
David’s strategic focus on expanding product categories (clothing, shoes, accessories), rolling out Android support to complement iOS, and innovating bulk shopping features (Curtsy Clear Outs) aligns with consumer demand and competitive market dynamics.
This comprehensive profile of David Oates presents a data-driven perspective on his professional role, leadership accomplishments at Curtsy, company growth metrics, funding background, and market positioning relevant to understanding the leadership driving Curtsy’s sustainable fashion resale business.
