About Retail sector in Austin, United States
The Retail sector in Austin, United States comprises 1.13K companies, including 273 funded companies having collectively raised $3.91B in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 133 are Series A+ funded, and 3 have achieved unicorn status.
Retail sector in Austin, United States has seen 69 acquisitions and 11 IPOs. This represents almost 7.1% of all such companies - which is higher than the 4.5% exit rate of tech companies in general.
This sector includes companies providing the sale of goods and services to consumers and businesses directly. It also includes companies providing tech solutions or tech based assistance to companies that help them in their business operations.
Retail sector is also known as Retail Tech, Retail IT, E-Retail, E-Retailer, E-Tailer, Electronic Retail or eRetail.
It includes companies providing FMCG, durable consumer goods, Coupons and deals platforms, cross border ecommerce etc. Companies providing solutions to businesses to manage theirs in-store or e-commerce business operations. It excludes companies providing sale and purchase of medical goods and equipment, payment solutions and service providers and manufacturing companies etc.
Top Retail Companies in Austin, United States
There are 1,134 Retail startups in Austin, United States which include BigCommerce, Dosh, Bazaarvoice, Away, RetailMeNot. Out of these, 273 startups are funded, with 133 having secured Series A+ funding, and 3 achieving unicorn status.
2026 has seen the creation of 18 Retail startups in Austin, United States. Over the past 10 years, an average of 52 new companies have been launched annually. Notably, several of these startups have been founded by alumni of Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Business School.
Here is the list of top Retail startups in Austin, United States
1. BigCommerce
Provider of ecommerce platform and related services for online businesses. The platform offers tools for businesses to build and manage online stores. Services include implementation, project management, and technical guidance. The company also provides resources such as articles, guides, and reports.
Key facts about BigCommerce
- Founded Year: 2009
- Location: Austin (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $233M
- Investors: Floodgate, Goldman Sachs and 13 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series F, Apr 25, 2018, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 74/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 3 of 1,098 Competitors
2. Dosh
App-based platform offering cashback. It offers automatic cashback on the purchase of multi-category products including fashion, beauty, travel, restaurants, and more. The mobile application is available for Android and iOS users.
Key facts about Dosh
- Founded Year: 2016
- Location: Austin (United States)
- Stage: Acquired
- Total Funding till date: $85.9M
- Investors: Goodwater Capital, Western Technology Investment and 15 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Venture Debt, Jan 22, 2019, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 72/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 2 of 105 Competitors
3. Bazaarvoice
Provider of platform for user-generated content, ratings, reviews, and syndication. The platform offers tools for sampling, social commerce, and creator marketing. It facilitates connections between brands, retailers, and consumers. The platform provides insights and reporting on performance and sentiment. It offers services such as managed sampling and contextual commerce.
Key facts about Bazaarvoice
- Founded Year: 2005
- Location: Austin (United States)
- Stage: Acquired
- Total Funding till date: $20.4M
- Investors: Battery Ventures, First Round Capital and 17 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Nov 05, 2012, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 71/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 506 Competitors
4. Away
Online retailer of luggage, bags, travel accessories, and related items. The business provides a variety of carry-ons, checked luggage, and personal bags. Accessories such as packing organizers, toiletry bags, and luggage tags are available. The retailer also offers a collection of lightweight travel items.
Key facts about Away
- Founded Year: 2015
- Location: Austin (United States)
- Stage: Series D
- Total Funding till date: $181M
- Investors: Global Founders Capital, Forerunner Ventures and 27 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series D, May 14, 2019, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 70/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 133 Competitors
5. RetailMeNot
Provider of app and browser extension offering digital coupons & deals. The platform offers coupons and deals across various categories like electronics, footwear, apparel, home appliances, health care products, beauty & cosmetics, etc. from various e-commerce websites, brands, and more. Its mobile app is available for Android and iOS users and its extension is available for chrome.
Key facts about RetailMeNot
- Founded Year: 2009
- Location: Austin (United States)
- Stage: Acquired
- Total Funding till date: $315M
- Investors: Adams Street Partners, Google Ventures and 10 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series B, Apr 08, 2013, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 66/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 10 of 541 Competitors
Companies founded year-on-year in the Retail sector in Austin
18 new startups have been founded so far in 2026 in the Retail sector in Austin. 78 Retail startups in Austin were founded in 2022 - this is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.
- Total Number of Companies
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 18 |
2025 | 4 |
2024 | 29 |
2023 | 75 |
2022 | 78 |
2021 | 77 |
2020 | 68 |
2019 | 62 |
2018 | 60 |
2017 | 53 |
Stage-wise distribution of Retail sector companies in Austin
Out of the total 1,134 Retail companies in Austin, 273 have secured funding. Among them, 133 have reached Series A or higher, and 97 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 1,134
Funded - 273
Series A+ - 133
Series B+ - 97
Series C+ - 87
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 1,134 |
Funded | 273 |
Series A+ | 133 |
Series B+ | 97 |
Series C+ | 87 |
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Funding Trends in the Retail sector in Austin
Total funding year-on-year in the Retail sector in Austin
The Retail sector in Austin saw a total funding of more than $2.19B in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding was in 2025 at more than $531M. There has been a total funding of $32.5M in 2026 till date.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2026 | $32.5M |
2025 | $531M |
2024 | $73.6M |
2023 | $192M |
2022 | $413M |
2021 | $336M |
2020 | $40.3M |
2019 | $192M |
2018 | $240M |
2017 | $136M |
Recent Funding Rounds in Retail in Austin
In the year 2026, till July 2026, Retail companies in Austin have raised $32.5M in equity funding across 6 rounds.
In the same period last year (i.e. till June 2025), Retail companies in Austin had raised $54.3M across 6 rounds.
So, 2026 has seen a 40.22% drop in funding in Retail companies in Austin as compared to 2025.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Retail companies in Austin:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Seed | 2366 | Jul 07, 2026 | - | |
Seed | 6017 | May 29, 2026 | - | |
Series A | 6568 | Feb 10, 2026 | - | |
Seed | 4864 | Feb 09, 2026 | - | |
Series A | 5549 | Feb 05, 2026 |
Top Investors in Retail in Austin
Capital Factory is the top investor in Retail companies in Austin based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Retail companies in Austin:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Austin (United States) | ||
New York City (United States) | ||
Austin (United States) | ||
Austin (United States) | ||
San Francisco (United States) | - |
M&A activity in Retail sector in Austin
In the year 2026, till June 2026, 2 acquisitions happened in Retail sector in Austin. Last year, in 2025, a total of 4 acquisitions happened in Retail sector in Austin.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Retail sector in Austin:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Acquisition | Jun 23, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jan 12, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Oct 22, 2025 | ||
Business Acquisition | Oct 01, 2025 | ||
Business Acquisition | Aug 21, 2025 |
Acquisition trends in Retail sector in Austin
Here are the acquisition trends in Retail sector in Austin:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 2 |
2025 | 4 |
2024 | 6 |
2023 | 2 |
2022 | 5 |
2021 | 11 |
2020 | 7 |
2019 | 1 |
2018 | 5 |
2017 | 7 |
IPOs in Retail in Austin
In the year 2020, till August 2020, 1 IPO happened in Retail sector in Austin.
Here are some recent, important IPOs in Retail sector in Austin:
Company | IPO Date | Exchange Symbol |
|---|---|---|
Aug 05, 2020 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) | |
Jul 19, 2013 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) | |
Feb 24, 2012 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) | |
Jan 08, 1999 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) |
Colleges which produce the most Retail companies in Austin
Companies founded by alumni from top colleges in the Retail in Austin
Most number of Retail startups in Austin have been founded by alumni from Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Business School.
College | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Stanford University | 7 |
University of Pennsylvania | 5 |
Harvard Business School | 4 |
Harvard University | 4 |
Columbia Business School | 3 |
Wharton School | 3 |
Columbia University | 2 |
Cornell University | 2 |
Stanford Business School | 2 |
University of California (Berkeley) | 2 |
Total funding in Retail companies founded by alumni from top colleges in Austin
In the last 10 years, University of Pennsylvania graduates' Retail companies in Austin have raised the most funding among top colleges. Columbia Business School and Columbia University alumni are second.
College | Total Funding |
|---|---|
University of Pennsylvania | $231M |
Columbia Business School | $181M |
Columbia University | $181M |
Wharton School | $131M |
Stanford Business School | $66M |
Stanford University | $66M |
Harvard Business School | $65.5M |
Harvard University | $42.2M |
Tel Aviv University | $6.74M |
Cornell University | $6M |
Top News in Retail in Austin
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BigCommerce Launches PayPal Store Sync to Connect Merchants with AI Shopping SurfacesThe Retail Bulletin•Jul 08, 2026•PayPal, BigCommerce
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ShipStation® Bridges the Ecommerce Expertise Gap with New Implementation Partner ProgramBusiness Wire•May 14, 2026•ShipStation
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BigCommerce Expands PayPal Partnership to Integrate AI Agentic Commerce FeaturesPYMNTS.com•Apr 29, 2026•PayPal, BigCommerce
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InMarket Announces Partnership for Real-Time, Visit-Based Optimization Solution with Yahoo DSPBusiness Wire•Apr 23, 2026•Yahoo, InMarket
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Mountain Warehouse partners with BigCommerce for new eCommerce platformDirect Commerce•Apr 21, 2026•Mountain Warehouse, BigCommerce
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SEON Launches Global Partner Program for Fraud Prevention and AMLGlobeNewswire•Feb 04, 2026•Playtech, SEON
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dhango Partners with FNBO to Bring Fast, Scalable Embedded Payments to SaaS PlatformsGlobal Fintech Series•Jan 28, 2026•Reddit, First National Bank, Dhango
