NTWRK

Aaron Levant was already deep in streetwear culture before NTWRK — he co-founded the ComplexCon convention and spent years at the intersection of fashion, music, and limited-release products. He launched NTWRK in 2018 with a simple observation: the streetwear community's most valuable currency was access to limited drops, and access was chaotic and unfair via existing retail channels.

NTWRK turned those drops into live video events. A celebrity or designer would appear on screen, talk about the product, and the drop would go live while the audience watched.

The combination of entertainment and commerce, combined with the authentic personalities behind the products, created something that felt less like shopping and more like a cultural event.

NTWRK is a live commerce platform focused on exclusive and limited-edition products. The company produces original shows featuring celebrities, athletes, and designers who present products directly to viewers.

Revenue comes from a share of sales on the platform. The scarcity model drives urgency — items drop in limited quantities during shows, and once they are gone, they are gone.

NTWRK does not hold inventory. It acts as a platform connecting product creators with buyers.

The company also sells advertising and sponsorship placements within its shows, and produces its own branded events including live experiences.

NTWRK App — the core iOS and Android platform for watching live shows and purchasing drops. NTWRK Shows — original content productions featuring artists, athletes, and designers including collaborations with Travis Scott, Tony Hawk, and the NBA.

ComplexLand — virtual festival experience (produced with Complex Media). Limited Edition Drops — exclusive product releases from streetwear brands, sneaker companies, and artist collaborations.

NTWRK Live Events — in-person activations connected to the app platform.

NTWRK's growth playbook was cultural credibility first. They recruited Drake, Jimmy Iovine, Tony Hawk, Kevin Durant, and other cultural figures as both investors and participants — people who could each bring their fan communities to the platform.

The model was similar to how streetwear brands use collaborations: each new partnership introduced NTWRK to a new audience that trusted the collaborator. Goldman Sachs led a Series B in 2021 when livestream commerce was getting serious institutional attention, partly influenced by the massive success of livestream shopping in China.

NTWRK also expanded into physical experiences and live events to deepen community ties.

The hardest thing about NTWRK's model is that it depends on high-quality, authentic talent who can both sell and entertain. That is a different skill set from most influencer marketing — it requires genuine expertise and personality, not just follower counts.

Scaling that while maintaining authenticity is difficult. Meanwhile, TikTok Shop launched its U.S.

commerce features, Amazon Live expanded, and Instagram doubled down on shopping integrations — suddenly NTWRK was a first mover competing against platforms with billions of users. The niche streetwear and collector market that NTWRK owns is real, but it is small compared to what the tech giants are targeting.

Goldman Sachs (Series B lead, 2021). Drake (personal investment).

Jimmy Iovine (personal investment). Tony Hawk (personal investment).

Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman's Thirty Five Ventures. Access Industries.

BAM Ventures.