10 eCommerce Players, Playing

By Pete Rizzo (@pete_rizzo_)

As careful or even casual followers of our weekly Startup Roundup series can attest, hardly an edition goes by when payments VCs don’t grant at least one eCommerce company a sizeable multimillion-dollar round of funding.

Despite select cold pockets that are certainly forming – the subscription commerce sector remains the most recent and relevant example, the eCommerce money machine marches on, with estimates suggesting the global market will rise 17.5 percent to top $963 billion in sales this year.

In 2013, the driving force behind this growth was rapid expansion abroad, as major players sought to engage new markets and encourage new buyers with the power of mobile devices.

In the rush of all that funding, you may have missed a few interesting players worthy of a second look. So, on PYMNTS.com’s 10th Day of Christmas, we’re bringing you 10 eCommerce companies that meet just that description:

1. Linio – Rocket Internet was one of the more active VC groups on the global eCommerce front and Linio, the ‘Amazon of Latin America,’ its platform for reaching consumers in Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela raised two rounds of funding, a $26.5 million private equity extension in February.

So far, it seems Linio is delivering on its promise, garnering awards for its quick and secure delivery and wide range of products.

2. Cuyana – Founded in 2013, San Francisco-based eCommerce provider Cuyana curates selections that emphasize quality over quantity. The company raised $1.7 million this June to help consumers make smarter buying choices, selecting items that are known for their craftsmanship, sustainability and quality materials.

Cuyana’s success in 2014 and beyond remains interesting due to the fact that it runs counter to the “fast fashion” provided by many of its peers. If it can succeed, however, Cuyana could make the case that there’s room for boutique buying outlets, even in eCommerce. 

3. The Iconic – Rocket Internet was anywhere and everywhere this year, and THE ICONIC was its foray into the Australian eCommerce market. It bet on The Iconic, a Sydney-based online fashion site that has struggled to turn a profit since its opening.

Though interviews with its founder reveal this might be part of its ambitious founder’s plans, as he has stated that the company’s performance in the eCommerce power rankings is more important than its profitability.

4. Zalora – At a time when many companies struggle to gain investment, Zalora practically couldn’t stop its funding faucet. Based in Singapore and serving southeast Asia, the online retailer raised $112 million on December 3. While impressive, this pales in comparison to its total 2013 funding, which to date has reached $238 million dollars in venture round funding.

The recent funding suggests that Zalora’s past struggles are behind it, and that its scaling down of operations in Taiwan in April has not affected its momentum.

5. Namishi – Styled as a Zappos clone, Namshi is serving eCommerce merchandise to the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, and raised $13 million toward this goal in May.

While this may not seem impressive compared to other international funds, past PYMNTS articles have indicated this may be more representative of postal issues in the Middle East than the company’s own shortcomings.

6. Dynamic Yield – Of course, while eCommerce companies solve problems of traditional retail, they too need solutions. The Israel-based company raised $2 million in April to an help eCommerce companies better direct traffic and promote engagement, valuable tools no doubt for those looking to compete in the increasingly crowded space.

7. FastSpring – Founded in 2005, FastSpring isn’t a traditional eCommerce company, but rather a way for these businesses to outsource many essential parts of the process, including merchandising, global tax compliance and payments support.

And with more clients, an increasing base, and not to mention increasing revenue 2014 could have more in store for FastSpring. Especially if its foray into microtransactions can unlock new consumers.

8. Soldsie – San Francisco-based payment system Soldsie is one of a growing number of companies looking to help eCommerce businesses promote spending via social channels. Soldsie enables merchants to purchase through comments on popular social networks like Facebook and Instagram.

9. Slice – California-based purchase organizer Slice is a bit of an outlier on this list, but it could prove influential as eCommerce develops. The company raised $23 million earlier this year with the help of big names such as Lightspeed Venture Partners and Rakuten to help eCommerce consumers organize past purchases and better track when their deliveries will be made. 

10. Branding Brand – You may not know the name Branding Brand, but chances are high you’ve interacted with one of its products. The Pennsylvania-based company powers the mobile commerce apps of a number of major retails from Crate & Barrel and Sony to Ralph Lauren and Dockers, and boasts high-profile partners such as Braintree, Google and PayPal.