Maude

Maude specialize in gender-neutral, affordable, and tastefully designed essentials. Their well-executed concept has won them retail partnerships with high end or popular brands like Nordstrom, Saks, Sephora, and Bloomingdales, and Maude products are now available in 33 countries. From the beginning, they understood the value of social proof and popular influence to a sex-oriented business by appointing actress, Dakota Johnson, as a Co-Creative Director and Investor.

The success of these brands may have caught some off guard - certainly, they have been made increasingly viable by a change in public attitudes towards sex. VC investment into sexual wellness has historically been stymied by so-called “vice clauses”, and advertising by sex-oriented brands is restricted in some locations. But the tide is turning, and Maude are one of the viral brands that are helping elevate the tone of an industry which is expected to top $125 billion by 2026.