Michael Mente
Co-founder and co-chief executive of Revolve Group
Michael Mente is the co-founder and co-chief executive of Revolve Group, the US online fashion retailer he started in 2003 with Mike Karanikolas. Revolve is known for combining data analytics with influencer marketing to sell to Millennial and Gen Z consumers, and reported net sales of 1.2 billion US dollars in 2025.
| Role | Co-founder and co-CEO, Revolve Group |
|---|---|
| Co-founder | Mike Karanikolas |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Listed | 2019 |
| 2025 net sales | 1.2 billion US dollars |
Who is Michael Mente?
Michael Mente co-founded Revolve in 2003 with Mike Karanikolas, and the two lead the company as co-chief executives. Revolve Group describes itself as a next-generation fashion retailer for Millennial and Gen Z consumers, connecting millions of shoppers, thousands of fashion influencers and more than 1,600 brands. It operates the Revolve platform and FWRD, its luxury offer.
Career
Mente and Karanikolas started Revolve as an online-only business at a time when many fashion brands were still sceptical about selling on the internet. From the outset the company positioned technology and data as central to merchandising and marketing; it now refers to more than 20 years of investment in technology and data analytics. Revolve became a listed company in 2019.
According to the group's investor relations site, its 2025 performance included:
- Net sales of 1.2 billion US dollars
- Net income of 61 million US dollars
- A gross margin of 54 per cent
- An average order value of 299 US dollars
- 81 per cent of sales at full price
The assortment covers more than 140,000 apparel and footwear styles, together with beauty and accessories.
Influence on the fashion business
Revolve is often cited as an early adopter of influencer marketing at scale. Rather than relying mainly on traditional advertising, it built a network of creators and events to generate demand, and used data on what sold to inform buying and its own brands. That combination of social reach and analytics has been widely studied and imitated by digital retailers and brands.
Michael Mente and technology
Under Mente and Karanikolas, Revolve has treated proprietary technology and data analytics as a core competence rather than an outsourced function. The company highlights its data capabilities as a driver of merchandising decisions, full-price sell-through and customer engagement. For an online retailer, the high share of full-price sales it reports is a key indicator of how well buying matches demand.
Why it matters
Michael Mente's career illustrates how an online retailer can build a profitable fashion business by aligning data, merchandising and creator marketing. For brands and wholesalers, Revolve is a reference case for how digital platforms use demand signals and influencer networks to shape assortments and brand discovery.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Michael Mente?
Michael Mente is the co-founder and co-chief executive of Revolve Group, the online fashion retailer he started in 2003 with Mike Karanikolas. The group operates Revolve and the luxury platform FWRD.
What is Revolve known for?
Revolve is known for selling fashion to Millennial and Gen Z consumers online, using data analytics and a large network of fashion influencers. It reported net sales of 1.2 billion US dollars in 2025.