A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally
RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – ONLINE RETAIL
- James Allen, an online retailer of diamond jewellery, raised $140M from Francisco Partners, a PE firm. Link
- Hosjoy, an online retailer of home appliances, raised $115.9M from a group of investors. Link
- Takealot, an online horizontal retailer, raised $69.4M from Naspers. Link
- AO World, a consumer electronics online retailer, raised $62 million in a post-IPO round as a buffer aginst uncertain European economic conditions. Link
- Ehomy, an internet first brand of custom made furniture, raised $11.6M in a Series A round of funding. Link
- Clovia, an internet-first brand of lingerie, raised $4 million from existing and new investors. Link
- Maisonette, an online marketplace of curated multi-category luxury products for baby and kids, raised $2.7M in a seed round from NEA with private investors. Link
- Friction Free Shaving, a subscription box service for grooming products for women, raised $1.6M in a Series A funding from Athene Capital LLP. Link
- Fynd, a hyperlocal fashion shopping app, raised $500k in a Series A round of investment from investment platform Venture Catalysts. Link
- Davdian, a content driven eCommerce platform for mothers, raised $1.45M from Fidelity International, Siwei investments etc. Link
- Bluethumb, a P2P visual arts marketplace, raised $1M from a group of investors. Link
- Qlapa, an online marketplace for handmade products, raised an undisclosed Series A led by Aavishkaar Frontier Funds (AFF) with participation from existing investors. Link
- TULA, a brand of skin care products, offering received an undisclosed amount of investment from L Catterton, a consumer-focused private equity firm. Link
- Mizzen+Main, a performance apparel brand for men, received an undisclosed amount of investment from L Catterton, a consumer-focused private equity firm. Link
- Context, a brand of beauty products, raised undisclosed funding from Volta Global, a PE firm. Link
SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND
Mented Cosmetics (2016, NYC, $0.5M) – A brand of lipsticks for catering to especially catering to women of colour.
FLYTE (2015, Stockholm) – Internet first brand of levitating consumer products.
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 fulfilment 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, $268M) – 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, $4.6B) – 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, $340.5M) – 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, $214M) – 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, $92M) – 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 customised 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 collectables. Backed by Accel Partners, Peak Capital, and others.
Gifting Products
Roseonly (2013, Guangzhou, $49M) – Online retailer of premium flower bouquets. Backed by Accel Partners, Tencent and others.
The Bouqs Company (2012, Marina Del Rey, $44.5M) – Online retailer of flowers and plants. Backed by OurCrowd, Plug and Play Tech Center, Partech Ventures etc.
Niche Products
Shapeways (2008, NYC, $78M) – Marketplace where one can make, buy and sell 3D Printed products. Backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures, Union Square and others.
Zazzle (1999, Redwood City, $46M, Acq.) – An online retailer for user customised/designed products. Backed by KPCB, Sherpalo Ventures, Northgate Capital and others.
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.
