Startup Spotlight: Ex-Amazon duo finds the right fit for indie artists with apparel marketplace

Two of Loomerang’s co-founders: Vijay Roy, left, and Matt Koyama. (Loomerang Photo) Loomerang made its first sale less than 12 hours after it went live in June. A customer in Houston bought a shirt designed by Joe, an independent artist in Japan. Four months later, the Seattle-based marketplace for artist-designed T-shirts has 40 artists from 15 countries and recently expanded to India. Startup Spotlight Loomerang Vijay Roy, Matt Koyama, Arka Majumdar, CEO, President, CDO Founded 2024 · Seattle and Kolkata, India Funding raised Bootstrapped Employees 14 Favorite AI tool Claude and Chat GPT for coding. The art is always human. Coffee order Matt — black coffee; Vijay — Latte with whole milk; Arka — A good cappuccino. What are you reading Matt — "The Inner Game of Tennis"; Vijay — "Man-eaters of Kumaon"; Arka — "The Creative Act: A Way of Being" What are you listening to Matt — Island Music: TOI, 8RO8, Six60, Seven Suns; Vijay — Dreams of the Machine, Above & Beyond; Arka — The Weeknd, Coldplay, Arijit Singh, and Tame Impala. Entrepreneurial idol Matt — Phil Knight, because of his tenacity combined with philanthropic commitment; Vijay — Henry Ford; Arka — Steve Jobs. His ability to connect design, technology, and human experience. @media (max-width: 600px) { .gw-founder-box { float:none !important; max-width:100% !important; margin:20px 0 !important; padding:16px 18px !important; } .gw-founder-box .gw-label { font-size:12px !important; margin-bottom:8px !important; } .gw-founder-box .gw-hero { font-size:19px !important; } .gw-founder-box .gw-byline { font-size:15px !important; } .gw-founder-box .gw-meta { font-size:12px !important; margin-bottom:14px !important; } .gw-founder-box .gw-facts { padding-top:14px !important; } .gw-founder-box .gw-facts li { margin-bottom:12px !important; } .gw-founder-box .gw-facts li:last-child { margin-bottom:0 !important; } .gw-founder-box .gw-value { font-size:15px !important; line-height:1.45 !important; } } Loomerang works by handling everything but the art. Artists open storefronts for free, set their own prices, and get 60% of what’s left after manufacturing costs. The company prints, inspects and ships every order, for now out of co-founder Matt Koyama ’s garage. Koyama described Loomerang as an attempt to run a more responsible business in a capitalist system, one built around people who spend their lives working on a craft. “How can we reward them for that rather than making them feel like they’re being …