Women-led business grows platform for luxury resale
COLUMBIA, Md., (August 27, 2025) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced a recent $750,000 Inclusion Fund investment in LePrix. TEDCO’s Inclusion Fund rests under Social Impact Funds, an umbrella of investment opportunities that seek to provide eligible entrepreneurs with access to support and capital.
“Starting a business is difficult, but as a woman, there are hurdles to overcome that many don’t think of,” said Elise Whang, CEO of LePrix. “TEDCO is unique – they have various programs and resources dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs and are active participants in their portfolio companies’ growth, offering things from mentorships to connections. Thanks to TEDCO’s continued support, we are looking forward to the next chapter of LePrix.”
LePrix, located in Bethesda, Md., developed a two-tiered B2B services platform for pre-owned luxury goods. The first tier, LePrix Wholesale Marketplace, works to enable businesses to source pre-owned luxury inventory from a global network of suppliers, including international auction houses. The second tier, LePrix Enterprise, aims to provide comprehensive, end-to-end solutions for retailers—ranging from procurement support in a highly fragmented market to AI-driven data analytics and fulfillment services.
“TEDCO was created to identify, invest in and help grow technology startups across the state,” said Jean-Luc Park, deputy chief investment officer & senior director, Social Impact Funds. “In this mission, the creation of the Social Impact Funds has enhanced this process, looking to make investment grade returns in SEDI founded and owned startups.”
LePrix has been a part of TEDCO’s portfolio since 2020 when it received Seed funding; the entity went on to receive funding from TEDCO’s Venture Funds in 2022.
“Women entrepreneurs make up nearly 51% of the nation’s population, but are still only receiving around 2% of Venture Capital funding,” said TEDCO CEO, Troy LeMaile-Stovall. “In Maryland, we’re doing things differently. As a state, we are home to the city ranked number one for ‘best cities for women’ and are dedicated to supporting diverse, sustainable growth across the ecosystem. We encourage female founders to consider what growing a business in Maryland could mean for their success.”
The Inclusion Fund is focused on providing investment opportunities that are often overlooked by traditional investment and financing sources due to economic disadvantages. For more information, visit our page here.