About Retail sector in United States
The Retail sector in United States comprises 83.9K companies, including 11.8K funded companies having collectively raised $315B in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 6.89K are Series A+ funded, and 118 have achieved unicorn status.
Retail sector in United States has seen 4.2K acquisitions and 786 IPOs. This represents almost 5.9% of all such companies - which is higher than the 4.0% 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 United States
There are 83,887 Retail startups in United States which include PayPal, Rover, Stripe, Carvana, Amazon. Out of these, 11,790 startups are funded, with 6,891 having secured Series A+ funding, and 118 achieving unicorn status.
2026 has seen the creation of 501 Retail startups in United States. Over the past 10 years, an average of 3,373 new companies have been launched annually. Notably, several of these startups have been founded by alumni of Stanford University, Harvard University and University of Pennsylvania.
Here is the list of top Retail startups in United States
1. PayPal
Provider of online payment solutions, money transfers, and virtual wallets. It facilitates online transactions for individuals and businesses. It offers tools for online checkout, payment links, and invoicing. The platform provides risk management, dispute management, and reporting tools. It allows users to send and receive payments.
Key facts about PayPal
- Founded Year: 1998
- Location: United States
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $216M
- Investors: Credit Agricole, MDP and 29 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Jul 26, 2022, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 87/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 8,139 Competitors
2. Rover
App-based pet sitting marketplace. The platform connects dog owners with dog sitters who look after pets at owners own homes. It allows users to find other pet-care service providers and book using the platform by making an online payment. Its service offerings include dog boarding, house sitting, dog walking, pet grooming, and more. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.
Key facts about Rover
- Founded Year: 2011
- Location: Olympia (United States)
- Stage: Acquired
- Total Funding till date: $409M
- Investors: Menlo Ventures, Foundry and 32 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Venture Debt, May 24, 2018, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 86/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 732 Competitors
3. Stripe
Provider of financial infrastructure solutions for revenue growth and payment processing. It offers tools designed for individual or combined use to grow businesses. These tools enable payment acceptance and optimisation globally, both online and in person. The company facilitates various billing models and provides access to borderless money movement. It also offers resources for startups and platforms to build and scale their operations.
Key facts about Stripe
- Founded Year: 2010
- Location: San Francisco (United States)
- Stage: Series I
- Total Funding till date: $9.81B
- Investors: General Catalyst, Sequoia Capital and 135 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series I, Apr 08, 2024, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 85/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 2 of 8,139 Competitors
4. Carvana
Online dealer of pre owned cars. The platform offers personalized financing services for vehicles. Buyers can browse vehicles, answer a few questions, calculate loans and get an estimated value for the vehicle. The users can browse by models, brands, body styles, and locations.
Key facts about Carvana
- Founded Year: 2012
- Location: Phoenix (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $460M
- Investors: Ally, Dundon Capital Partners and 2 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Feb 18, 2024, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 85/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 2,681 Competitors
5. Amazon
Online marketplace and cloud computing provider. It provides a platform for purchasing diverse goods, from digital media and devices to apparel and food items. The platform offers options such as subscription services, digital content, and various shopping programs. It also facilitates transactions through different payment methods and gift options.
Key facts about Amazon
- Founded Year: 1994
- Location: Seattle (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $8M
- Investors: Kleiner Perkins, AOL and 49 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Mar 22, 2013, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 85/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 3 of 14,346 Competitors
Companies founded year-on-year in the Retail sector in United States
501 new startups have been founded so far in 2026 in the Retail sector in United States. 6,303 Retail startups in United States were founded in 2020 - 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 | 501 |
2025 | 550 |
2024 | 1,261 |
2023 | 2,753 |
2022 | 3,740 |
2021 | 4,960 |
2020 | 6,303 |
2019 | 5,004 |
2018 | 4,860 |
2017 | 3,806 |
Stage-wise distribution of Retail sector companies in United States
Out of the total 83,887 Retail companies in United States, 11,790 have secured funding. Among them, 6,891 have reached Series A or higher, and 5,791 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 83,887
Funded - 11,790
Series A+ - 6,891
Series B+ - 5,791
Series C+ - 5,381
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 83,887 |
Funded | 11,790 |
Series A+ | 6,891 |
Series B+ | 5,791 |
Series C+ | 5,381 |
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Funding Trends in the Retail sector in United States
Total funding year-on-year in the Retail sector in United States
The Retail sector in United States saw a total funding of more than $223B in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding was in 2021 at more than $48.8B. There has been a total funding of $6.83B in 2026 till date.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2026 | $6.83B |
2025 | $7.94B |
2024 | $9.64B |
2023 | $15.7B |
2022 | $20.8B |
2021 | $48.8B |
2020 | $25.3B |
2019 | $31.4B |
2018 | $41.6B |
2017 | $14.8B |
Recent Funding Rounds in Retail in United States
In the year 2026, till September 2026, Retail companies in United States have raised $4.65B in equity funding across 231 rounds.
In the same period last year (i.e. till September 2025), Retail companies in United States had raised $3.59B across 307 rounds.
So, 2026 has seen a 29.44% rise in funding in Retail companies in United States as compared to 2025.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Retail companies in United States:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Seed | 3864 | Sep 23, 2026 | - | |
Seed | 3085 | Sep 23, 2026 | ||
Series A | 8248 | Sep 21, 2026 | ||
Series A | 9568 | Sep 15, 2026 | ||
Series A | 5327 | Sep 15, 2026 |
Top Investors in Retail in United States
Y Combinator is the top investor in Retail companies in United States based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Retail companies in United States:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Mountain View (United States) | ||
Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) | ||
New York City (United States) | ||
Palo Alto (United States) | ||
Menlo Park (United States) |
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M&A activity in Retail sector in United States
In the year 2026, till September 2026, 119 acquisitions happened in Retail sector in United States. Last year, in 2025, a total of 193 acquisitions happened in Retail sector in United States.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Retail sector in United States:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Acquisition | Sep 15, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Sep 12, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Sep 10, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Sep 08, 2026 | - | |
Business Acquisition | Sep 04, 2026 |
Acquisition trends in Retail sector in United States
Here are the acquisition trends in Retail sector in United States:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 119 |
2025 | 193 |
2024 | 279 |
2023 | 316 |
2022 | 447 |
2021 | 461 |
2020 | 294 |
2019 | 303 |
2018 | 335 |
2017 | 290 |
IPOs in Retail in United States
In the year 2026, till July 2026, 8 IPOs happened in Retail sector in United States.
Here are some recent, important IPOs in Retail sector in United States:
Company | IPO Date | Exchange Symbol |
|---|---|---|
Jul 30, 2026 | New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) | |
Jul 01, 2026 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) | |
May 07, 2026 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) | |
Apr 20, 2026 | Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) | |
Mar 02, 2026 | New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) |
Colleges which produce the most Retail companies in United States
Companies founded by alumni from top colleges in the Retail in United States
Most number of Retail startups in United States have been founded by alumni from Stanford University, Harvard University and University of Pennsylvania.
College | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Stanford University | 421 |
Harvard University | 393 |
University of Pennsylvania | 256 |
Harvard Business School | 255 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 251 |
University of California (Berkeley) | 230 |
University of California (Los Angeles) | 228 |
Cornell University | 177 |
Columbia University | 160 |
Wharton School | 124 |
Total funding in Retail companies founded by alumni from top colleges in United States
In the last 10 years, Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates' Retail companies in United States have raised the most funding among top colleges. Stanford University alumni are second, and Harvard University alumni are third.
College | Total Funding |
|---|---|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $19.5B |
Stanford University | $18.2B |
Harvard University | $11.9B |
Stanford Business School | $10B |
University of California (Berkeley) | $6.77B |
Harvard Business School | $6.47B |
University of California (Los Angeles) | $5.79B |
University of Pennsylvania | $5.35B |
Duke University | $4.34B |
Yale University | $4.12B |
Top News in Retail in United States
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Outform Named a 2026 Industry Icon for Reinventing the Physical Retail ExperienceNewswire•Sep 29, 2026•Outform
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Inmar Intelligence Launches Intelligent Inventory Platform for Healthcare NetworksPR Newswire•Sep 29, 2026•Inmar
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Waldencast plc Announces First Half 2026 Financial Results and Business UpdateGlobeNewswire•Sep 29, 2026•Milk Makeup
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WithIt Appoints Cheryl Dobbins Hege Director of Advancement & MarketingHfbusiness•Sep 28, 2026•Withit
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