Welcome back to the Ideas to Impact podcast, powered by Techscaler, where we bring you unfiltered conversations with founders and ecosystem leaders reshaping the future of work, tech, and entrepreneurship.
In our seventh episode, we sit down with Olivia Parkes, founder of Persi, an AI-powered personaliation platform for online retailers that delivers tailored fashion recommendations based on consumers’ actual wardrobes and individual styles.
In this episode of Ideas to Impact, host Hannah Mercer speaks with Olivia Parkes, founder and CEO of Persi, a B2B personalisation tool for e-commerce retailers. Olivia shares how Persi is redefining the online shopping experience by recommending products based on what customers already own — not just what they’ve clicked. Together, they discuss the journey of turning an idea into a funded business, tackling imposter syndrome in tech, and the future of personalised and sustainable fashion.
“You don’t have to be a tech founder to build a tech company — you just need the right people who believe in your vision.”
Olivia Parkes is the Founder and CEO of Persi, an AI-powered personalisation platform for online retailers that delivers tailored fashion recommendations based on consumers’ actual wardrobes and individual styles.
Before founding Persi, Olivia spent over 15 years in brand marketing, leading campaigns for major retail and lifestyle brands. Her deep understanding of consumer psychology and visual storytelling now informs Persi’s core mission — to make e-commerce personal, conscious, and human.
After navigating the challenges of launching a tech startup without a technical background, Olivia taught herself the language of AI, recruited the right collaborators, and built a company that now partners with major retailers across the UK. In 2024, she raised £665,000 in pre-seed investment, much of it from female angel investors inspired by her transparent and authentic communication style on LinkedIn.
Olivia is a passionate advocate for women in tech, ethical personalisation, and sustainable consumption. Through Persi, she’s redefining how technology can empower both retailers and shoppers to make smarter, more authentic choices.
What if online shopping actually understood you — your taste, your wardrobe, and your values?
In this thought-provoking and candid conversation, Ideas to Impact host Hannah explores how Olivia Parkes is reimagining the e-commerce experience through her company Persi, a B2B personalisation platform that integrates with online retailers to deliver truly individualised recommendations.
Olivia explains that most “personalisation” today isn’t personal at all — it’s biased by data from single retailers, sales goals, and browsing clicks. Persi flips that model. It looks at what consumers already own, how they dress, and what they’re shopping for, creating suggestions that reflect their identity, not a retailer’s agenda.
The episode dives deep into AI ethics, data privacy, and sustainability in fashion, as Olivia shares her vision for how technology can help consumers buy less, but better. Rather than fueling impulsive overconsumption, Persi aims to extend the life of wardrobes by suggesting pieces that complement what shoppers already have.
Olivia also opens up about her personal and professional evolution — from a 15-year career in brand marketing to becoming a tech founder with no technical background. She recounts her experiences with imposter syndrome, learning to navigate the language of developers, and finding the perfect CTO through what she calls a “startup dating process.”
Later, Hannah and Olivia discuss mentorship, leadership, and the reality of building a company through challenges, pivots, and near-failures.
The episode culminates in an inspiring discussion about female representation in tech and investment. Olivia reveals how she successfully raised £665,000, including £440,000 sourced directly through LinkedIn posts, and how she intentionally ring-fenced £50,000 for female angel investors — five of whom made their first ever investment in Percy.
With warmth, honesty, and humour, Olivia and Hannah unpack what it takes to turn an idea into a business, to fund a vision that feels impossible, and to make AI work for people, not just profit.
Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe to stay updated on future conversations with founders and exciting guests.
Connect with Olivia Parkes on Linkedin and through their website and instagram.
.svg)
