Retail tech investment hit $55.6 billion in Q2 2024 alone. AI-powered checkout, inventory automation, and omnichannel platforms dominate funding.
In-store technology drives the shift. Checkout-free shopping scales beyond Amazon. Labor automation solves staffing crises. Real-time inventory prevents stockouts.
This guide covers 35+ retail tech investors. Not ecommerce platforms. Physical store technology, POS systems, inventory management, retail operations.
Track your retail tech pitch deck
Store pilots complete. ROI data solid. But VCs aren't responding.
Stop sending blind. Track every open. See which slides get studied. Know when they forward to partners.
Retail tech investors want proof. Show them you're tracking their interest too.
Retail tech investors
1. RevTech Ventures
Dallas-based specialist investing exclusively in retail technology.
Investment focus: Early-stage retail tech transforming physical retail
Investment range: $100K initial, up to 10x in follow-ons
Notable investments: Cart.com unicorn, retail concepts
Contact: revtechventures.com
2. Commerce Ventures
Leading retail tech investor with 181 portfolio companies.
Investment focus: Retail infrastructure, payments, commerce enablement
Investment range: Seed to Series C
Notable investments: 19 IPOs including Bill.com, Marqeta, Forter
Contact: commerceventures.com
3. Forerunner Ventures
Consumer-focused firm investing at culture and technology intersection.
Investment focus: Modern retail experiences, omnichannel solutions
Investment range: Seed to growth, $2M-$50M
Notable investments: Wonder, retail transformation companies
Contact: forerunnerventures.com
4. XRC Labs
NYC retail tech accelerator and fund.
Investment focus: Consumer goods tech, retail innovation
Investment range: Accelerator program + follow-on
Notable investments: 165 companies, 9 IPOs
Contact: xrclabs.com
5. FJ Labs
Marketplace specialist investing in retail tech infrastructure.
Investment focus: B2B retail tech, marketplace enablement
Investment range: Seed to Series B, $100K-$5M
Notable investments: Global retail tech portfolio
Contact: fjlabs.com
6. Index Ventures
Global firm with strong retail technology practice.
Investment focus: Retail transformation, European retail tech
Investment range: Series A to growth
Notable investments: Leading retail platforms
Contact: indexventures.com
7. Silicon Road Ventures
Commerce technology specialist.
Investment focus: Next-gen retail infrastructure
Investment range: Seed to Series A
Notable investments: Perch (unicorn), commerce enablement
Contact: siliconroadventures.com
8. District Ventures Capital
Food and retail tech focused fund.
Investment focus: CPG tech, retail innovation
Investment range: Seed to Series B
Notable investments: Food retail technology
Contact: district.ventures
9. Lerer Hippeau
NYC early-stage fund with retail tech portfolio.
Investment focus: Consumer retail tech, NYC ecosystem
Investment range: Seed to Series A, $1M-$10M
Notable investments: Retail innovation platforms
Contact: lererhippeau.com
10. Y Combinator
Top accelerator funding retail tech startups.
Investment focus: All retail tech categories
Investment range: $500K for 7%
Notable investments: Multiple retail tech unicorns
Contact: ycombinator.com
11. Techstars Retail
Retail-focused accelerator programs.
Investment focus: Early-stage retail innovation
Investment range: $120K initial + follow-on
Notable investments: Top investor by deal count
Contact: techstars.com
12. Brand Foundry Ventures
Consumer brand and retail tech investor.
Investment focus: Retail brands with tech differentiation
Investment range: $500K+ seed, $5M+ Series A
Notable investments: Consumer retail platforms
Contact: brandfoundry.vc
13. Slow Ventures
Silicon Valley fund with retail tech investments.
Investment focus: Technology intersecting retail
Investment range: Seed to Series B
Notable investments: 11+ retail tech deals recently
Contact: slow.co
14. Monashees
Latin America's leading retail tech investor.
Investment focus: LATAM retail transformation
Investment range: Seed to Series C
Notable investments: Regional retail leaders
Contact: monashees.com
15. AlphaLab
Pittsburgh accelerator with retail focus.
Investment focus: B2B retail software
Investment range: Accelerator + follow-on
Notable investments: Enterprise retail solutions
Contact: alphalab.org
16. QBVP
Strategic retail tech investor.
Investment focus: Consumer products tech intersection
Investment range: Co-investment model
Notable investments: Silicon Valley retail tech
Contact: qbvp.com
17. Florida Funders
Southeast US retail tech investor.
Investment focus: Early-stage retail innovation
Investment range: Angel to Series A
Notable investments: Regional retail tech leaders
Contact: floridafunders.com
18. Camber Creek
Real estate tech investor with retail focus.
Investment focus: Retail property technology
Investment range: Seed to growth
Notable investments: Smart retail spaces
Contact: cambercreek.com
19. Better Food Ventures
Food retail tech specialist.
Investment focus: Food retail innovation
Investment range: Seed to Series B
Notable investments: Afresh Technologies, Nima
Contact: betterfoodventures.com
20. Target Accelerators
Corporate program from retail giant.
Investment focus: Retail innovation partnerships
Investment range: Pilot programs + investment
Notable investments: Hydrow, Minnidip
Contact: corporate.target.com
21. Amazon Alexa Fund
Voice and AI retail technology.
Investment focus: Voice commerce, smart retail
Investment range: Strategic investments
Notable investments: Voice-first retail solutions
Contact: developer.amazon.com/alexa-fund
22. Tesco Labs
UK retail giant's innovation arm.
Investment focus: Checkout-free, autonomous delivery
Investment range: Pilots and strategic investment
Notable investments: Trigo, Starship Technologies
Contact: tescolabs.com
23. Foresight Group
UK investor with retail tech practice.
Investment focus: European retail technology
Investment range: Growth capital
Notable investments: 185 companies, 29 IPOs
Contact: foresightgroup.eu
24. Envision Retail Incubator
Retail-specific incubator program.
Investment focus: In-store technology, efficiency
Investment range: 6-12 month program + funding
Notable investments: 70% success rate, 50+ brands
Contact: envisionincubator.com
25. SignalFire
Data-driven fund with retail investments.
Investment focus: AI-powered retail analytics
Investment range: Seed to Series B
Notable investments: Retail data platforms
Contact: signalfire.com
26. NFX
Network effects focused, including retail.
Investment focus: Marketplace retail tech
Investment range: Pre-seed to Series A
Notable investments: Network-driven retail
Contact: nfx.com
27. Notable Capital (formerly GGV)
Global fund with retail tech portfolio.
Investment focus: Cross-border retail tech
Investment range: Series A to growth
Notable investments: Global retail platforms
Contact: notablecapital.com
28. Craft Ventures
David Sacks' fund with retail investments.
Investment focus: B2B retail infrastructure
Investment range: Seed to Series B
Notable investments: Enterprise retail tools
Contact: craftventures.com
29. RTP Global
International fund active in retail tech.
Investment focus: Scaling retail technology
Investment range: Series A to C
Notable investments: European retail tech
Contact: rtpglobal.com
30. High Alpha
Venture studio building retail tech companies.
Investment focus: B2B retail SaaS
Investment range: Company creation + funding
Notable investments: Enterprise retail solutions
Contact: highalpha.com
31. EU Innovation Council
European fund supporting retail innovation.
Investment focus: Deep tech retail solutions
Investment range: Grants + equity up to €15M
Notable investments: European retail breakthroughs
Contact: eic.ec.europa.eu
32. 500 Global
Global accelerator with retail track.
Investment focus: International retail expansion
Investment range: $150K initial investment
Notable investments: 2,800+ portfolio companies
Contact: 500.co
33. Antler
Global early-stage investor in retail tech.
Investment focus: Pre-seed retail innovation
Investment range: $100K-$500K initial
Notable investments: Global retail startups
Contact: antler.co
34. Sequoia Capital
Tier-1 VC with retail technology investments.
Investment focus: Category-defining retail tech
Investment range: Seed to growth
Notable investments: Market leaders
Contact: sequoiacap.com
35. Andreessen Horowitz
Leading fund with retail transformation thesis.
Investment focus: AI retail, future of shopping
Investment range: Seed to growth, all stages
Notable investments: Next-gen retail platforms
Contact: a16z.com
Pitching retail tech investors
Metrics that close deals
Store performance: Same-store sales lift, labor savings
Pilot results: Number of locations, conversion data
ROI timeline: Payback period under 18 months
Integration ease: Works with existing POS/ERP
What kills deals
No physical store pilots. All projections, no proof.
Complex integration requirements. Six-month deployment.
Competing with Amazon. Unless truly differentiated.
The winning approach
Lead with pilot data. "15 stores, 23% checkout time reduction."
Show labor savings. "2.5 FTEs saved per location."
Prove scale potential. "Compatible with 85% of POS systems."
Alternative retail tech funding
Corporate innovation programs
Walmart Luminate: Data ventures program
Home Depot Ventures: Store innovation
CVS Health Ventures: Retail health tech
Best Buy Ventures: Consumer electronics retail
Government support
Small Business Innovation Research: Up to $2M
State retail innovation grants: Varies by location
Economic development funds: Job creation focus
Retail tech accelerators
PSFK Retail Innovation: 6-month programs
Retail Tomorrow: European retail tech
Store No. 8 (Walmart): Incubation lab
Success stories
Checkout revolution
Trigo: $100M+ raised. Checkout-free for existing stores.
Standard Cognition: Computer vision checkout. Major chain deployments.
Grabango: Berkeley tech in real stores.
Inventory intelligence
Afresh Technologies: AI produce ordering. Reduces waste 25%.
Pensa Systems: Autonomous shelf scanning. Real-time OOS detection.
Simbe Robotics: Tally robot in 30+ chains.
Why retail tech startups fail
Solution looking for problem. Cool tech, no ROI.
Underestimating integration complexity. Retail IT moves slowly.
Pilot purgatory. Endless tests, no rollouts.
How Ellty helps retail tech startups
Retail tech investors want proof. Not promises. Not projections.
See exactly how they engage with your pilot data. Which ROI slides convert. When they share with ops teams.
Stop guessing. Start knowing.
FAQs
Q: Minimum pilot size for Series A?
10-25 locations typical. Need statistical significance.
Q: Hardware or software first?
Software scales faster. Hardware differentiates more.
Q: Direct to retailer or through partners?
Partners accelerate. Direct captures more value.
Q: How long for retail sales cycles?
6-18 months. Budget cycles matter.
Q: Best retail tech conferences?
NRF Big Show, Shoptalk, Groceryshop.
