UC alumna prepares to release personal styling app

Finding the perfect outfit doesn’t need to involve a lot of stress or a shopping spree. Perhaps all you need are the clothes already in your closet — and an app on your phone.

RYN is a startup launched by a University of Cincinnati alumna that aims to make fashion more accessible with a virtual closet and personal styling app.

“RYN was born out of my own personal struggle with fashion,” Camryn Ellis, RYN founder and CEO. “I often found myself getting overwhelmed when picking out outfits or felt that nothing I owned was good enough.”

Ellis, who graduated in August with a bachelor's degree in international business and entrepreneurship from UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business, created an app that provides custom outfit recommendations and the ability to try on clothes virtually.

RYN is accepting users to beta test its app in advance of a public launch that’s expected in early 2024.

With RYN, the app will have the ability to scan a user’s camera roll to detect their clothes and recognize recent online purchases. Users also will have the ability to upload items themselves.

The app then will make outfit recommendations based on what the user has available and their indicated preferences. Think of it as the 2020s version of Cher's closet in the movie "Clueless."

Also, users will be able to view outfit options or even try them on virtually, similar to how filters work on other apps like Instagram and Snapchat.

As users make selections, the app’s machine learning will gain a better understanding of the individual’s preferences and be better able to make suggestions.

To build the app, Ellis has enlisted the help of current UC students, former UC students and others, including people she knew prior to forming the startup and others she’s met during the process of building the app. The team includes people working in fashion, software development, content creation and marketing, data analytics and machine learning.

Ellis also received mentorship this past fall through UC’s Venture Lab, which provides a launch pad for entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into reality. The lab is located in the 1819 Innovation Hub in the Cincinnati Innovation District, providing a connection point to talent, support and funding. The UC Venture Lab’s eight-week pre-accelerator program provides tools and expert guidance to help new entrepreneurs determine their business idea’s commercial potential and identify resources and next steps. It’s open to anyone in the Cincinnati community.

Even prior to launching, RYN has earned accolades, including a top three finish in the Morning Mentoring program hosted by Alloy Development Co., a commercial capital lender, growth lab for startups and economic development partner.

RYN also was one of three winners of a pitch competition called Launch It: Cincy, hosted by Main Street Ventures, a Cincinnati-based organization that provides entrepreneur support. As a Launch It: Cincy winner, Ellis spent the summer in an eight-week program that provided mentorship in legal, accounting, finance and funding services and public relations.

“It was very informative,” Ellis said. “We got a lot of connections through it, a lot of mentorship. Being surrounded by other entrepreneurs was very inspiring and helpful.”

Through the Launch It: Cincy program, Ellis was able to refine her business plan and rebranded her app to RYN. Previously, it was known as Sty/e (pronounced “style”). Going through the program, Ellis discovered she would have trouble trademarking the previous name.

RYN, along with being easier to trademark, was more personal for Ellis and meaningful for her users. Not only is RYN part of Ellis’ first name, it honors her Welsh ancestry as it means ruler in Welsh, and Ellis wants the app’s users to know they’re rulers of their own style.

At the end of the summer program, Ellis presented her startup alongside other entrepreneurs. She was able to enroll some beta testers and received good feedback.

“Cincinnati's startup ecosystem has been so welcoming and encouraging of me and my venture,” Ellis said. “Since starting my entrepreneurial journey just over a year ago, I have been greeted with immense support, for which I am so grateful. I am extremely excited to get the app out there and onto everyone's phones come the new year so we can start 2024 off right.”

Individuals can sign up to be a beta tester for RYN on its website, https://www.therynapp.com/.