A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally
RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – ONLINE RETAIL
- NA-KD, a Sweden-based online fashion retailer, raised $14M in Series A led by Northzone along with Swedish fund eEquity. Link
- Taihuoniao, an online product design crowdsourcing platform, raised $12M from JD.Com, Milestone Capital and others. Link
- Rockets of Awesome, a New-york based personalised subscription box for kids apparel, raised $12.5M in Series A from August Capital, Forerunner Ventures and General Catalyst Partners. Link
- Myntra, an online retail store for fashion and lifestyle products, raised $8M from existing investors IDG Ventures India, Accel Partners, Kalaari and Tiger Global Management. Link
- Bluestone, an India-based online jewellery shopping store, raised $5.2M in Series D from Iron Pillar Fund. Link
- EQtainment, a US-based online private label of games and toys for kids, raised $5M in an angel round from investors. Link
- Lovethesign, an Italy-based online retailer of designer home decor & furniture, raises $4M in Series A led by United Ventures with participation from a number of unnamed private investors. Link
- Mac & Mia, an online personal stylist cum personal shopper service for kids fashion, raised $3M from Corazon Capital, Chicago Ventures, KGC Capital and other strategic angel investors. Link
- The Artling, an online retailer of curated arts from Asian galleries and artists, raised $1.8M series A from Edipresse Media, a European luxury lifestyle media company. Link
- Henge Docks, a US-based manufacturer and supplier of accessories for the Apple ecosystem, raised additional $1.6M in Series A from River Forest Capital Partners. Link
- Troubadour Goods, a UK-based menswear accessories brand, raised $612.6k in equity crowdfunding from Seedrs. Link
- Deadsoxy, a US-based private label brand of fashion accessories, raised $220K in Seed round from undisclosed investors. Link
- VivoCarat.com, an India-based online marketplace for precious jewellery, raised $50K in Seed funding from a group of individual investors. Link
- Sociolla, an online retailer of cosmetics and beauty products, raised series B from Japanese firm Istyle, a Tokyo stock exchange-listed fashion company and East Ventures. Link
- Fynd, an India-based hyperlocal fashion shopping app, raised an undisclosed amount in Pre-Series A from Anand Chandrasekaran, others. Link
SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND
Burrow (2016, NYC, Undisclosed) – Direct-to-consumer customizable couch brand. It lets its users customise couch with colour/fabric, third seat, different legs and arms. It has been part of the YC’s Summer 2016 class.
Lime & Leaf (2016, Alexandria, Undisclosed) – Direct-to-consumer designer and manufacturer of home textiles. It has a manufacturing facility in North Carolina and uses locally sourced raw materials. Nigel Morris, co-founder of Capital One, has invested in the company.
LEADER BOARD – ONLINE RETAIL
Horizontal – Retailer
JD.com (1998, Beijing, IPO) – Online retailer selling all categories of consumer goods. They have also built their own nationwide fulfillment network and last-mile delivery network. Went IPO in 2014.
Jumia (2012, Lagos, $537M) – Online retailer selling all categories of consumer goods across Africa. Backed by Rocket Internet, Millicom, MTN Group, Summit Partners and J.P. Morgan.
Ozon (1998, Moscow, $271M) – Online retailer selling all categories of consumer goods and Russian language based products. Backed by Index Ventures, Sistema, Holtzbrinck Ventures, Infinity Ventures, Baring Vostok Capital Partners and others.
Horizontal – Marketplace
Amazon (1994, Seattle, IPO) – Online marketplace for all categories of consumer goods including Electronics, Fashion, Home Decor, Baby & kids, Books, Digital Goods etc. Went IPO in 1997.
Ebay (1995, San Jose, IPO) – Online marketplace for all categories of consumer goods including Electronics, Fashion, Home Decor, Baby & kids, Books, Digital Goods etc. Went IPO in 1998.
Flipkart (2007, Bangalore, $3.19B) – Online marketplace for all categories of consumer goods and operator of its own payment gateway and logistics service provider. Backed by Accel Partners, Tiger Global Management, Naspers and others.
Snapdeal (2010, Delhi, $1.76B) – Online marketplace for all categories of consumer goods and services including Electronics, Fashion, Home Decor, Baby & kids, Books, Digital Goods, Hotel Reservations, Food ordering, Flight ticket booking etc. Backed by Nexus Venture Partners, Kalaari, Bessemer Venture Partners, SoftBank and others.
Fashion
Zalando (2008, Berlin, IPO) – An online retailer for fashion products offering branded fashion products for women, men, and children with free shipping. Went IPO in 2014.
YOOX Group (2000, Milan, IPO) – A global internet retailing partner for leading fashion & designer brands. Went IPO in 2009.
Vancl (2007, Beijing, $580M) – Online marketplace for fashion products. Backed by Saif Partners, IDG Capital Partners, Tiger Global Management and others.
Mogujie (2011, Hangzhou, $420M) – Social shopping marketplace platform focused on women’s fashion. Backed by IDG Ventures, Tiantu Capital, Qiming Venture Partners and others.
Moonbasa (2006, Guangzhou, $340M) – An online platform to buy fashion goods from US brands. Backed by Tiger Global Management, GSR Ventures, DT Capital Partners and China Renaissance Capital Investment.
Farfetch (2008, London, $312M) – A curated online marketplace that brings independent fashion boutiques online to provide a wide selection of brands and styles. Backed by DST Global, Vitruvian Partners, Condé Nast and others.
Justfab (2010, El Segundo, $300M) – An online fashion retailer with a monthly membership program for clothing, women’s shoes and handbags. Backed by Passport Capital, Shining Capital, Rho Capital Partners and others.
Dafiti (2010, Sao Paulo, $245M) – Online retailer for footwear and fashion products. Backed by Rocket Internet, Quadrant Capital Advisors, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and others.
Warby Parker (2010, NYC, $215M) – Private label brand of designer eyewear. Backed by Tiger Global Management, General Catalyst Partners and others.
Electronics
Xiaomi (2010, Beijing, $1.45B) – Designer and manufacturer of Electronics products including Mobile phones, Tablets, TVs etc. Backed by Morningside Ventures, Temasek, IDG Capital partners and others.
Meizu (2003, Zhuhai, $914M) – Designer and manufacturer of Smartphones. Backed by Alibaba Group.
Home Decor & Furniture
Wayfair (2002, Boston, IPO) – Online retailer of home decor products & furnishings. Went IPO in 2014.
Houzz (2009, Palo Alto, $213M) – Content, Community & Commerce Platform in Home Design. Backed by Sequoia Capital, NEA, KPCB, GGV Capital, DST Global, T. Rowe Price, Comcast Ventures, Great Oaks Venture Capital and Canvas Ventures.
WestWing (2011, Munich, $212M) – An online flash sales platform that provides products and services related to interior designing. Backed by Summit Partners, Rocket Internet, Tengelmann Ventures and others.
Home24 (2009, Berlin, $173M) – Online furniture marketplace. Backed by Baillie Gifford.
Pepperfry (2011, Mumbai, $160M) – Online marketplace for furniture & home decor products. Backed by Goldman Sachs, Norwest Venture Partners and others.
Urban Ladder (2012, Bangalore, $77M) – Online private label furniture & home decor brand. Backed by TR Capital and Steadview Capital.
Baby & Kids
Windeln (2010, Munich, IPO) – Retailer of baby and toddler products in Germany, Austria, China, and Switzerland. Went IPO in May 2015.
Zulily (2009, Seattle, IPO, Acq.) – Daily deal sites for mom and kids offering discounts on apparel, toys, and gears. Went IPO in 2013 and then acquired by Liberty Interactive in 2015.
Wzhouhui (2013, Shenzhen, $278M) – An online retailer of imported baby and maternal products. Backed by Globalegrow.
Mia.com (2011, Beijing, $232M) – Online retailer for imported infant care products. Backed by Baidu, Zhenfund, Sequoia Capital and others.
Honest (2011, Santa Monica, $228M) – Monthly subscription service of customized eco-friendly family product bundles. Backed by Glade Brook Capital Partners, Wellington Management, Institutional Venture Partners, General Catalyst Partners and others.
Beauty & Personal Care
Jumei (2010, Beijing, IPO) – An online retailer focused on beauty and personal care products. Went IPO in 2014.
Harry’s (2012, NYC, $285M) – A private label personal grooming brand supplying shaving products on a subscription basis. Backed by Tiger Global Management, SV Angel and others.
Dollar Shave Club (2011, LA, $165M, Acq.) – Private label brand supplying shaving essentials on a subscription basis. Backed by Andreessen Horowitz, KPCB and others. Acquired by Unilever in 2016.
Sporting & Outdoor Goods
Fanatics (1995, Jacksonville, $620M, Acq.) – An online retailer of officially licensed sports merchandise. Acquired by Kynetic in 2011.
Netshoes (2000, Sao Paulo, $427M) – Online retailer of Sports goods. Backed by Tiger Global Management, Temasek and others.
Art
Hihey (2011, Beijing, $100M) – Online art marketplace selling all categories of artworks. Backed by China Minsheng Bank, Shenzhen Capital Group and others.
Auctionata (2012, Berlin, $98M) – Online art auction house & online store of curated artworks and collectibles. Backed by Holtzbrinck Ventures, Infinity Ventures, Bright Capital and others.
Catawiki (2008, Assen, $95M) – Online catalogue and auction house for art and collectibles. Backed by Accel Partners, Peak Capital, and others.
Niche Products
Roseonly (2013, Guangzhou, $49M) – Online retailer of premium flower bouquets. Backed by Accel Partners, Tencent and others.
ProFlowers (1998, San Diego, $35M, Acq.) – Online retailer of flowers and plants. Acquired by FTD Flowers in 2014.
Pets
Boqii (2008, Beijing, $137M) – An online retailer of pet products as well as a pet community. Backed by JAFCO Asia, Goldman Sachs and others.
Pet360 (1997, Plymouth Meeting, $28M, Acq.) – An online retailer of pet supplies including pet food, toys, medicines, apparel etc. Acquired by PetSmart in 2014.
Handicrafts
Etsy (2005, Brooklyn, IPO) – Online marketplace for handmade and vintage items. Went IPO in 2015.
Redbubble (2006, SF, IPO) – Online marketplace for independent artists artworks including wall art, work on T-shirts, iPhone cases etc. Went IPO in 2016.
Books, Stationery & Digital Goods
Paperless Post (2008, NYC, $32M) – Mobile and web-based platform to design and send custom cards and invitations. Backed by SV Angel, RRE Ventures, Lerer Hippeau Ventures and others.
Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.
For latest update visit Online Retail feed.