Zola Ventures

Zola is a comprehensive wedding planning platform that provides an all-in-one solution for couples. The company offers free wedding websites, integrated guest list management, and a versatile wedding registry featuring both physical gifts and cash funds with group gifting options. It also facilitates finding and booking venues and vendors, offers customizable wedding invitations, and provides essential planning tools like budget trackers and seating charts.

The company was founded in 2013 by Shan-Lyn Ma and Nobu Nakaguchi, who identified a need to modernize the outdated wedding planning and registry experience. Both founders brought significant e-commerce and product development expertise from their previous roles at Gilt Groupe, with Ma serving as the first product lead and Nakaguchi as Senior Director of User Experience. Their insight aimed to integrate technology with empathetic customer service to simplify the process.

Zola serves engaged couples seeking a streamlined and enjoyable approach to wedding preparation. The platform’s vision is to transform wedding planning into a celebration itself, offering a centralized hub for every stage of the journey, from initial announcements to post-wedding gift management. The company strives to be the definitive starting point for couples embarking on their wedding plans.