IN a setting reminiscent of a speed-dating bar scene, but with no promise of even a first date, much less a long-term relationship, more than 20 fledgling fashion companies pitched their talent, their drive and their ideas to an audience of potential investors at the Fashion Institute of Technology last week.

Fashion is fickle, making it harder for start-ups to raise capital. But FashInvest, created by David J. Freschman and Karen Griffith Gryga, venture capitalists, is a platform that acts as a kind of matchmaker between seedling fashion companies and investors.

Last week, FashInvest held its second annual Capital Conference at F.I.T., a daylong event at which fashion and retail companies were given eight minutes to promote their brainchild to more than 50 possible backers. Then, in a short “American Idol”-style feedback session, an investor, a sponsor and an industry veteran vetted the pitches. Kevin Ryan, the chief executive of Gilt Groupe, was the keynote speaker, and the designer Steven Alan was among the presenters who shared their experiences.

The intersection between fashion and technology is generating increased interest, and investors are hurrying to keep up. “To the fashion world, technology is suddenly very cool,” said Saleem Qadir, who works on the development side of eBay. Mr. Qadir attended FashInvest hoping to find future partners. “The shopping experience has to be personal yet social,” he said. “It has to simplify the complex stuff, like fit. That is going to differentiate the winners from the losers.”