Tracxn – Analyst Notes # 801 – Subscription Commerce

A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally 

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – SUBSCRIPTION COMMERCE

• YuppTV, a subscription-based streaming service, raised $50M Series B funding from Emerald Media. Link
• Gousto, a recipe box subscription service, raised $12M Series B funding. Link
• StoryTel, a monthly subscription service of audio and e-books streaming, raised $11.65M. Link
• Anghami, an Arabic music streaming service, raised undisclosed Series B funding led by Samena Capital. Link
• SOMA, a service offering innovative sustainable water filters on subscription, raised  
  $3.9M. Link
• GuiltySoles, a subscription-based designer and seller of footwear for women, raised $2.14M Series A funding. Link
• Sightbox, a subscription box for contact lenses, raised $1.8M Seed funding from RougeVP. Link
• Bitsbox, a subscription box for kids to help them learn coding, raised $735k. Link
• BeanBox, a Seattle artisan coffee subscription, raised $630k. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

grüum (2016, Manchester) –  Monthly organic shave, beard and skincare kit provider.
WeeklyFig (2016, Chattanooga) – Private membership-based subscription service for local, sustainable foods.
Wholesome Box (2016, Mississauga) – Subscription box for organic groceries.

LEADER BOARD – SUBSCRIPTION COMMERCE

Digital Media – Music Streaming
Spotify (2006, Stockholm, $2.06B) – Music streaming over the internet on a subscription basis. Backed by TCV and Goldman Sachs.
Deezer (2006, Paris, $259M) – Subscription-based music streaming service. Backed by CM-CIC Capital Prive, Access Industries, Idinvest Partners, and Orange.
KKBox (2004, Taipei, $114M, Acq.) – Digital music service provider in Asia on a subscription basis. Backed by HTC Corp, Chunghwa Telecom, and KDDI Corporation. Acquired by KDDI Corporation in 2010.

Digital Media – Online TV and Video
Netflix (1997, Los Gatos, IPO) – Subscription-based online and offline video rental portal. Went public in 2002.
Quickflix (2003, Perth, IPO) – Subscription-based online movies and TV shows streaming with offline DVD rentals. Went public in 2005.
Xunlei Kankan (2005, Shenzhen, IPO) – Subscription-based video-on-demand portal. Went public in 2014.
Hulu (2007, LA, $100M) – Subscription-based online movies and TV streaming. Backed by 21st Century Fox, The Walt Disney Company, and Providence Equity Partners.

Digital Media – eBooks
Scribd (2007, SF, $48M) – Premier ebooks digital library featuring a subscription service. Backed by CRV, Khosla Ventures, Red Point Ventures and YCombinator.
Oyster (2012, NYC, $17M, Acq.) – eBook subscription service. Backed by Highland Capital Partners, SV Angel, Founder Collective, Founders Fund, BoxGroup, and Advancit Capital. Acquired by Google in 2015. 

Food & Beverage – Recipe Box
HelloFresh (2012, Berlin, $278.5M) – Delivers portioned groceries and corresponded recipes to cook at home. Backed by Baillie Gifford, Rocket Internet, Insight Venture Partners, and Phenomen Ventures.
BlueApron (2012, NYC, $194M) – Weekly subscription based recipe ingredients for meals. Backed by Fidelity Investments, Stripes Group, and Bessemer Venture partners.
Plated (2012, NYC, $80M) – Subscription-based recipe box and meal kits. Backed by Greycroft Partners, ff Venture Capital, and Formation 8.

Food & Beverage – Snack Box
NatureBox (2012, San Carlos, $58.5M) – Subscription-based healthy snacks provider. Backed by General Catalyst Partners, Softbank, Canaan Partners, Redpoint Ventures and Global Founders Capital.

Food & Beverage – Grocery
Door To Door Organics (2007, Lafayette, $43M) – Online organic grocery delivery subscription service. Backed by Greenmont Capital Partners and Arlon Group.

Food & Beverage – Alcohol
Door To Door Organics (2011, LA, $31M) – Customized, subscription-based wine delivery service. Backed by Bessemer Venture Partners and Crosscut Ventures.
TastingRoom (2009, NYC, $6M, Acq.) – Subscription-based personalized wine delivery. Acquired by Lot18 in 2013.

Fashion – Horizontal
JustFab (2010, El Segundo, $300M) – Subscription-based fashion commerce site. Backed by Passport Special Opportunity, Shining Capital, Matrix Partners, and TCV. Acquired Shoedazzle and FabKids.
Le Tote (2012, SF, $26M) – Subscription-based rentals for women clothing, jewelry, and accessories. Backed by AITV and Azure Capital Partners.

Fashion – Accessories
Shoedazzle (2009, El Segundo, $66M, Acq.) – Online-first shoe brand providing subscription services. Acquired by JustFab in 2013.
RocksBox (2012, SF, $10M) – Premium jewelry rentals on a subscription. Backed by MuckerLab and Matrix Partners.

Fashion – Apparel
Outfittery (2012, Berlin, $60M) – Curated shopping service for men’s clothing. Backed by Highland Capital Partners, Northzone, and Octopus Ventures.  
StitchFix (2011, SF, $47M) – Subscription-based personal shopping and delivery service. Backed by Benchmark, Baseline Ventures, LSVP, and WTI.

Essentials
Harrys (2012, NYC, $285M) – Subscription-based online shaving supplies brand. Backed by Tiger Global, Wellington Management, and Thrive Capital. Acquired The Feintechnik Factory.
Dollar Shave Club (2011, LA, $165M, Acq.) – Subscription for razors and grooming supplies for men. Backed by Venrock, TCV, Forerunner Ventures and Dragoneer Investment Group. Acquired by Unilever in 2016.

Beauty
Ipsy (2011, San Mateo, $107M) – Personalized make-up and beauty sample subscription. Backed by TPG Growth, Sherpa Capital, Crosscut Ventures, 500 Startups and Amalfi Capital.
Julep (2007, Seattle, $58M) – Private label of beauty products that provides beauty subscription boxes. Backed by Andreessen Horowitz.

Beauty – Sample Products
GlossyBox (2011, Berlin, $72M, Acq.) – Monthly beauty subscription box. Acquired by Lust Have It! in 2012.
BirchBox (2010, NYC, $72M) – Subscription-based grooming and beauty samples provider for men and women. Backed by First Round Capital, Accel Partners, and Viking Global Investors. Acquired JolieBox.

Infants and Kids
The Honest Company (2011, Santa Monica, $228M) – Customized eco-friendly and organic infant products subscription service. Backed by Glade Brook Capital Partners, Wellington Management, Institutional Venture Partners and General Catalyst Partners.

Infants and Kids – Toys and Books
Speakaboos (2008, NYC, $25M)  – Interactive storybooks for kids on mobile platforms on a subscription basis. Backed by [212]Media, Advancit Capital, and Kyowon Group.
Pley (2013, San Jose, $17M) – Subscription-based rental for Lego sets. Backed by Sozo Ventures and Allegro Venture Partners.
Epic (2013, Palo Alto, $13M) – Subscription-based ebook service for kids. Backed by TransLink Capital.

Infants and Kids – Activity Box
Kiwicrate (2011, Mountain View, $10M) – Monthly subscription for hands-on activity box for kids. Backed by Comcast Ventures, First Round, and Funders Club.

Healthcare – Prescription Drugs
PillPack (2013, Boston, $94M) – Subscription-based periodic delivery of prescription medicines. Backed by CRV, Accel Partners, Atlas Venture, and Founder Collective.

Healthcare – Supplements
BuluBox (2012, Lincoln, $4M) – Subscription for vitamins and supplements of premium brands. Backed by Flyover Capital.
Nootrobox (2014, SF, $2.57M) – Subscription for nootropic supplements. Backed by Andreessen Horowitz.

Healthcare – Personal Care
Lola (2014, NYC, $4.2M) – Cotton tampons in a customized box delivered to subscribers. Backed by  Expansion Venture Capital, Brand Foundry Ventures, Vayner/RSE, 14W, Lerer Hippeau Ventures, BoxGroup, and BBG Ventures.
FabFitFun (2010, Beverly Hills, $3.5M, Acq.) – Women personal care products subscription box. Acquired by MeetCharlie in 2010.

Pets
BarkBox (2011, NYC, $22M) – Monthly subscription for toys, treats, and gifts for dogs. Part of Bark&Co. Backed by Resolute.vc, RRE Ventures, Lerer Ventures, Polaris Partners and 500 startups.
PetFlow (2009, NYC, $15M) – Monthly subscription of pet food for dogs and cats. Backed by LSVP and Westwood Ventures.

Flowers
HBloom (2009, NYC, $17M) – Subscription-based luxury flower arrangements delivery service. Backed by Battery Ventures and Shasta Ventures.

Household Products
Soma (2012, SF, $10M) – Subscription for high design sustainable water filters. Backed by Baseline Ventures.
FilterEasy (2012, Raleigh, $5M) – Subscription for air filter delivery service. Backed by IDEA Fund Partners, Azure Capital Partners, and RTP Capital Associates.

Curated Packages
Loot Crate (2012, LA, $18.5M) – Monthly subscription for tech and gamer gear. Backed by Upfront Ventures, Montage Capital, Team Downey, TimeInc, and Breakwater Investment Management.
Quarterly (2011, LA, $5M) – Quarterly subscription for gift box service. Backed by True Ventures, Collaborative Fund, SV Angel and VegasTechFund.