John Imah’s ascent from teenage entrepreneur to chief executive of a $1.5 billion fashion-tech startup signals a shift in who shapes global innovation.
Now in his mid-30s and estimated to be worth about $400 million, the Nigerian-American founder of SpreeAI has fused Silicon Valley engineering rigor with fashion-world cultural fluency to build one of the most influential companies in retail AI.
A new blueprint for global leadership, from early startup wins to steering a $1.5 billion fashion-tech unicorn, Imah represents a new model of leadership that merges cultural intelligence, technical depth, and global ambition.
In an era where technology, identity, and commerce increasingly intersect, his trajectory is a blueprint for how first-generation African innovators are reshaping the frontiers of global industry.
Raised in the United States by Nigerian immigrants, Imah built early momentum. By age 16, he had launched and sold two startups, one in mobile gaming and another in 3D-design solutions, establishing a founder’s mindset long before college.
After studying Management Information Systems, he entered Silicon Valley, where he worked across the platforms that define digital culture which are Samsung, Twitch, Snap, and Meta.
At Meta, he was named an Employee of Impact, a recognition acknowledged by longtime executive Dan Rose. At Samsung Electronics, he became one of the youngest hires in his division, reinforcing a reputation for speed, precision, and scale.
In 2023, entrepreneurship pulled him back. Imah and Bob Davidson, co-founder, launched SpreeAI and relocated to Incline Village, Nevada which is a strategic choice for business-friendly operations.
Their mission was to reinvent the online apparel experience with AI that allows shoppers to virtually try on clothing with photorealistic rendering and 99 percent sizing accuracy.
Imah said the goal was to make e-commerce more personal, inclusive, and emotionally resonant. In fashion, where credibility and fit determine purchase confidence, SpreeAI sought to solve one of the industry’s most costly pain points.
By 2024, SpreeAI had secured roughly $70 million in funding, with growth backed by The Davidson Group and other major investors.
A new round in May 2025 pushed the startup’s valuation to $1.5 billion, cementing its unicorn status which is a milestone highlighted by Romania’s business publication, Ziarul Financiar, in its ‘Un Unicorn pe Zi’ series.
The company also expanded its board, adding supermodel Naomi Campbell; the first time a supermodel had ever joined the board of a tech startup.
The move reinforced SpreeAI’s position at the intersection of technology, culture, and style.
SpreeAI has rapidly gained credibility in the fashion ecosystem. The company partnered with designers including Sergio Hudson — known for dressing Michelle Obama and Beyoncé — and Kai Collective founder Fisayo Longe, integrating their collections into SpreeAI’s virtual try-on platform.
In 2025, SpreeAI made its mark at the Met Gala. Beyond Imah’s invited appearance, the company collaborated with Sergio Hudson to showcase how AI could enhance fashion presentation and design.
Harper’s Bazaar noted Hudson’s enthusiasm about ‘what [Imah’s] tech could mean for the future of fashion.’
SpreeAI’s technical capabilities are anchored in research collaborations with MIT and Carnegie Mellon University. Among its academic partners is CMU professor and computer vision expert Deva Ramanan.
These partnerships have produced features such as an AI stylist offering personalised outfit suggestions and a virtual wardrobe that blends owned items with new recommendations.
The strategy is to blur the line between physical and digital retail and make online shopping more interactive, confident, and fun.
Virtual try-on technology directly addresses fashion’s persistent challenge which is uncertainty of fit.
With photorealistic rendering and near-perfect sizing accuracy, SpreeAI boosts customer confidence and lowers return rates which is a major expense in an industry that sees over $100 billion in online returns annually.
Higher trust leads to higher conversion rates, creating measurable gains for retailers and setting a new benchmark for apparel e-commerce.
Imah’s work has earned broad recognition. In 2025, Observer named him to its AI Power 100 for transforming fashion retail through practical A.I. applications, citing SpreeAI’s 99 percent accuracy, $1.5 billion valuation, and over $80 million raised.
AfroTech included him in its Future 50 list, celebrating his blend of cultural insight and technical execution.
An alliance with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) further solidified SpreeAI’s role in industry transformation.
In 2024, the company became the CFDA’s exclusive technology partner for digital innovation, with Imah, now a CFDA member, working closely with CEO Steven Kolb to introduce AR and AI tools to designers and retailers.
For Imah, his rise is part of a broader wave of African and diaspora innovators reshaping global tech, alongside figures like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji and Mitchell Elegbe. But his path which is bridging Silicon Valley and high fashion remains rare.
“My journey as an African American has evolved into a deeply personal mission to champion diversity,” he told Innovation & Tech, describing each achievement as a beacon for future generations.
At the University of Texas at Arlington, he established a scholarship fund, and he frequently speaks to underrepresented students at institutions including Stanford.
Through the Imperial Family Foundation, which hosts scholarship exams in Nigeria, he supports high-performing students seeking pathways into tech and innovation.
“For Imah, giving back is non-negotiable. To truly build a community, you have to give back, not just talk about it,” he said.
