Tracxn – Analyst Notes # 1075 – Subscription Commerce

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

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – SUBSCRIPTION COMMERCE

• iFlix, a subscription-based video on demand service, raised $90M in Series C funding from Liberty Global, Middle East and Africa-focused operator Zain and existing investors. Link
• Soylent, a meal replacement product that provides essential nutrients, raised $50M in Series B funding led by led by GV, formerly Google Ventures. Link
• Tubi TV, premium movies and TV shows streaming service, raised $20M in Series B funding, led by Jump Capital. Link
• Hubble Contacts, a subscription service for daily disposable contact lenses, raised $16.5M in Series A funding led by FirstMark Capital. Link
• SunBasket, a recipe box subscription service with pre-measured ingredients, raised $9.2M Series C funding led by Unilever Ventures. Link   
• BeautyCon, a quarterly subscription for beauty products and fashion accessories curated by influencers, raised $9M in Series A funding. Link
• Epic, an ebook subscription service for kids, raised $8M Series C round led by Reach Capital. Link 
• Friction Free Shaving, a subscription box for grooming products for women, raised $1.56M in Series A funding from Athene Capital. Link
• Datebox, a subscription box service for couples date, raised $2.6M in Seed funding led by Oklahoma Seed Capital Fund. Link
• BloomThis, online flower delivery service, raised $600k from Singapore-based VC REAPRA. Link
• Snackible, a subscription-based snacks delivery, raised $175,000 in an angel round of funding led by a clutch of individual investors and high-net-worth individuals (HNIs). Link
• Snackexperts, an online subscription-based healthy snack box delivery service, received undisclosed Pre-Series A funding from Angel investors. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

The Box (2016, Mumbai, Undisclosed) – A grocery subscription service.
Care/of (2016, NYC, Undisclosed) – A monthly subscription box for vitamin supplements.
Bandit (2016, NYC) – Subscription service for plus-size bra delivery.

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, Goldman Sachs, and more.
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, KDDI Corporation, and more. 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, YCombinator, and more.
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 Ingredients
HelloFresh (2012, Berlin, $367M) – Delivers portioned groceries and corresponded recipes to cook at home. Backed by Baillie Gifford, Rocket Internet, Insight Venture Partners, Phenomen Ventures, and more.
BlueApron (2012, NYC, $194M) – Weekly subscription based recipe ingredients for meals. Backed by Fidelity Investments, Stripes Group, Bessemer Venture Partners, and more.
Plated (2012, NYC, $80M) – Subscription-based recipe box and meal kits. Backed by Greycroft Partners, ff Venture Capital, Formation 8, and more.

Food & Beverage – Snack Box
NatureBox (2012, San Carlos, $60M) – Subscription-based healthy snacks provider. Backed by General Catalyst Partners, Softbank, Canaan Partners, Redpoint Ventures, Plug and Play Tech Center 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
Tasting Room (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.

Fashion – Accessories
Shoedazzle (2009, El Segundo, $66M, Acq.) – Online-first shoe brand providing subscription services. Acquired by JustFab in 2013.
Eleven James (2013, NYC, $40M) – An online luxury watch subscription-based rental service. Backed by WGI Group, Structure Capital, BoxGroup, and Great American Capital Partners.
RocksBox (2012, SF, $10M) – Premium jewelry rentals on subscription. Backed by MuckerLab, Matrix Partners, and more.

Fashion – Apparel
Outfittery (2012, Berlin, $60M) – Curated shopping service for men’s clothing. Backed by Highland Capital Partners, Northzone, Octopus Ventures, and more.
StitchFix (2011, SF, $47M) – Subscription-based personal shopping and delivery service. Backed by Benchmark, Baseline Ventures, LSVP, and WTI.
Le Tote (2012, SF, $26M) – Subscription-based rentals for women clothing, jewelry, and accessories. Backed by AITV and Azure Capital Partners.

Essentials
Harrys (2012, NYC, $285M) – Subscription-based online shaving supplies brand. Backed by Tiger Global, Wellington Management, Thrive Capital, and more. 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, Dragoneer Investment Group, and more. Acquired by Unilever in 2016.

Beauty – Horizontal
Ipsy (2011, San Mateo, $107M) – Personalized make-up and beauty sample subscription. Backed by TPG Growth, Sherpa Capital, Crosscut Ventures, 500 Startups, Amalfi Capital, and more.
Julep (2007, Seattle, $58M, Acq.) – Private label of beauty products that provides beauty subscription boxes. Backed by Andreessen Horowitz and more. Acquired by Glansaol in December 2016.
BirchBox (2010, NYC, $87M) – Subscription-based grooming and beauty samples provider for men and women. Backed by First Round Capital, Accel Partners, Viking Global Investors, and more. Acquired JolieBox.
GlossyBox (2011, Berlin, $72M, Acq.) – Monthly beauty subscription box. Acquired by Lust Have It! in 2012.

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

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, Allegro Venture Partners, and more.
Epic (2013, Palo Alto, $21M) – Subscription-based ebook service for kids. Backed by TransLink Capital and more.

Infants and Kids – Clothing
Rockets Of Awesome (2016, NYC, $19.5M)  – Personalized subscription box for kids’ apparel. Backed by August Capital and more.

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, Funders Club, and more.

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

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

Healthcare – Personal Care
Lola (2014, NYC, $11M) – 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 Products
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, 500 startups, and more.
PetFlow (2009, NYC, $15M) – Monthly subscription of pet food for dogs and cats. Backed by LSVP and Westwood Ventures.

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

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.

Niche Products
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, and VegasTechFund.

Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.