Social commerce explodes in 2025. TikTok Shop drives billions in GMV. Live shopping becomes mainstream.
Gen Z shops through creators. Instagram checkout converts. Group buying returns. Social proof drives purchases.
This guide lists 35+ investors funding social commerce innovation. Live shopping platforms. Creator commerce tools. Social-first marketplaces.
Track your social commerce pitch deck
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Top 35 social commerce investors
1. Forerunner Ventures
Consumer-first VC betting big on social shopping evolution.
Investment focus: Next-gen social commerce, creator economy platforms
Investment range: Seed to Series B, $1M-$20M
Notable investments: Glossier, Warby Parker, social-first brands
Contact: forerunnerventures.com
2. Bessemer Venture Partners
Multi-stage investor with dedicated social commerce thesis.
Investment focus: Live shopping, social marketplaces, creator tools
Investment range: Series A-D, $5M-$100M
Notable investments: Pinterest, Shopify, social commerce platforms
Contact: bvp.com
3. Accel
Global VC embracing social commerce transformation.
Investment focus: Social-first marketplaces, live commerce platforms
Investment range: Seed to growth, flexible sizing
Notable investments: Facebook (early), Spotify, social platforms
Contact: accel.com
4. Streamlined Ventures
E-commerce specialist investing in social shopping future.
Investment focus: Live commerce, social marketplaces, logistics for social
Investment range: Seed to Series B, $1M-$15M
Notable investments: Flip ($28M), DoorDash, Rappi
Contact: streamlinedventures.com
5. Mubadala Capital Ventures
Abu Dhabi fund active in social commerce globally.
Investment focus: Social shopping platforms, creator economy
Investment range: Series A+, $10M-$50M
Notable investments: Flip, social commerce leaders
Contact: mubadala.com
6. Fifth Wall
PropTech leader expanding into social commerce.
Investment focus: Social shopping for home, lifestyle social commerce
Investment range: Series A-C, $5M-$50M
Notable investments: Social commerce x real estate plays
Contact: fifthwall.com
7. ICONIQ Growth
Growth investor backing social commerce winners.
Investment focus: Proven social commerce platforms at scale
Investment range: Series C+, $50M-$500M
Notable investments: Whatnot, social selling platforms
Contact: iconiqcapital.com
8. a16z (Andreessen Horowitz)
Mega-fund with cultural commerce thesis.
Investment focus: Creator economy, social shopping infrastructure
Investment range: Seed to growth, up to $100M+
Notable investments: Clubhouse, creator platforms
Contact: a16z.com
9. Lightspeed Venture Partners
Multi-stage investor in social commerce transformation.
Investment focus: Global social commerce, live shopping
Investment range: Seed to growth
Notable investments: Snapchat, social platforms
Contact: lsvp.com
10. Index Ventures
Transatlantic VC backing social commerce leaders.
Investment focus: European and US social commerce
Investment range: Seed to growth
Notable investments: Faire, social-first marketplaces
Contact: indexventures.com
11. GGV Capital
Cross-border investor understanding Asian social commerce.
Investment focus: Live commerce, social shopping platforms
Investment range: Series A-D, $5M-$100M
Notable investments: Wish, Poshmark, social marketplaces
Contact: ggvc.com
12. WEH Ventures
Leading social video commerce investor.
Investment focus: Live shopping, social streaming commerce
Investment range: Seed to Series B
Notable investments: Top investor by deal count in social video
Contact: wehventures.com
13. Sequoia Capital
Legendary firm investing in social commerce infrastructure.
Investment focus: Platform plays, social commerce enablers
Investment range: Seed to growth
Notable investments: Instagram (early), YouTube, WhatsApp
Contact: sequoiacap.com
14. Mayfield
Early-stage investor in social commerce innovation.
Investment focus: Social shopping tools, creator platforms
Investment range: Seed to Series A, $1M-$15M
Notable investments: Social commerce infrastructure
Contact: mayfield.com
15. Shopify Ventures
Strategic investor from e-commerce leader.
Investment focus: Social commerce tools, creator economy
Investment range: Strategic investments
Notable investments: Social selling enablers
Contact: shopify.com/ventures
16. Catapult Capital
Growth investor in social commerce scale-ups.
Investment focus: Proven social commerce models
Investment range: Series B+, $10M-$50M
Notable investments: Social shopping platforms
Contact: catapultcapital.com
17. BDMI
Asian investor focused on social commerce.
Investment focus: Live commerce, social shopping
Investment range: Series A-C
Notable investments: Flip, Asian social commerce
Contact: bdmi.com
18. Tiger Global
Late-stage investor in social commerce winners.
Investment focus: Proven social commerce at scale
Investment range: Series C+, $50M+
Notable investments: Major social platforms
Contact: tigerglobal.com
19. NEA (New Enterprise Associates)
Large fund with social commerce practice.
Investment focus: Social marketplaces, creator tools
Investment range: All stages, up to $100M
Notable investments: Social commerce infrastructure
Contact: nea.com
20. Kleiner Perkins
Silicon Valley firm backing social innovation.
Investment focus: Next-gen social commerce platforms
Investment range: Seed to growth
Notable investments: Social shopping pioneers
Contact: kleinerperkins.com
21. Greylock Partners
Early investor in social platforms going commerce.
Investment focus: Social networks adding commerce
Investment range: Seed to Series B focus
Notable investments: Facebook, LinkedIn, social giants
Contact: greylock.com
22. Y Combinator
Accelerator funding social commerce startups.
Investment focus: Early-stage social shopping innovation
Investment range: $500K for 7%
Notable investments: Hundreds of social commerce startups
Contact: ycombinator.com
23. General Catalyst
Cross-stage investor in social commerce transformation.
Investment focus: Social shopping platforms, creator economy
Investment range: Seed to growth
Notable investments: Snap, Discord, social platforms
Contact: generalcatalyst.com
24. Craft Ventures
David Sacks' fund investing in social commerce.
Investment focus: Social shopping tools, marketplaces
Investment range: Seed to Series B, $1M-$20M
Notable investments: Social commerce enablers
Contact: craftventures.com
25. Founders Fund
Peter Thiel's fund backing social commerce contrarians.
Investment focus: Revolutionary social commerce models
Investment range: All stages
Notable investments: Facebook, social platform pioneers
Contact: foundersfund.com
26. Spark Capital
Early-stage investor in social commerce innovation.
Investment focus: Creator economy, social shopping
Investment range: Seed to Series B
Notable investments: Twitter, Discord, social platforms
Contact: sparkcapital.com
27. Redpoint Ventures
Silicon Valley firm investing in social commerce.
Investment focus: Consumer social commerce, marketplaces
Investment range: Series A-C, $5M-$50M
Notable investments: Social shopping platforms
Contact: redpoint.com
28. Shasta Ventures
Early-stage social commerce investor.
Investment focus: Social shopping innovation, creator tools
Investment range: Seed to Series A, $2M-$15M
Notable investments: Social commerce startups
Contact: shastaventures.com
29. SignalFire
Data-driven VC tracking social commerce trends.
Investment focus: Creator economy, social platforms
Investment range: Seed to Series B
Notable investments: Social commerce infrastructure
Contact: signalfire.com
30. Bullish
Consumer-focused VC betting on social commerce.
Investment focus: Next-gen social shopping experiences
Investment range: Seed to Series B
Notable investments: Warby Parker, Peloton, Harry's
Contact: bullish.com
31. 500 Global
Global accelerator funding social commerce worldwide.
Investment focus: International social commerce models
Investment range: $150K standard program
Notable investments: Social commerce across emerging markets
Contact: 500.co
32. Techstars
Accelerator with social commerce programs.
Investment focus: Early-stage social shopping startups
Investment range: $120K for 6%
Notable investments: Social commerce globally
Contact: techstars.com
33. LocalGlobe
European seed investor in social commerce.
Investment focus: European social shopping innovation
Investment range: Seed, £250K-£5M
Notable investments: TransferWise, social platforms
Contact: localglobe.vc
34. Balderton Capital
European growth investor in social commerce.
Investment focus: European social commerce scale-ups
Investment range: Series A-C, €1M-€50M
Notable investments: Depop, social selling platforms
Contact: balderton.com
35. Insight Partners
Growth investor backing social commerce leaders.
Investment focus: B2B social commerce tools, infrastructure
Investment range: Series B+, $10M-$200M
Notable investments: Shopify, e-commerce infrastructure
Contact: insightpartners.com
Pitching social commerce investors
What wins in 2025
Gen Z metrics: Average user age, time on platform, social sharing rate
Creator economics: GMV per creator, creator retention, commission structure
Live shopping data: Conversion during streams, average order value
Social proof: User-generated content volume, viral coefficient
Capital efficiency focus
Investors want efficient growth. Show:
- CAC through organic social
- Zero inventory models
- Creator-driven acquisition
- Community retention metrics
Avoid these mistakes
Calling it "TikTok for shopping" without differentiation.
No creator acquisition strategy.
Ignoring platform risk (TikTok bans, Instagram algorithm).
Alternative funding sources
Platform funds
TikTok for Business Fund: Grants for TikTok Shop partners
Meta Commerce Partnerships: Strategic support for Instagram Shopping
YouTube Shopping Initiative: Creator commerce funding
Pinterest Creator Fund: Social shopping innovation
Accelerators
Techstars Future of Ecommerce: Social commerce focus
Y Combinator: Strong social commerce track record
500 Global: International social commerce models
Antler: Pre-seed social shopping support
Strategic investors
Walmart Ventures: Social commerce partnerships
Amazon Alexa Fund: Voice + social commerce
Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund: Asian social commerce models
Success stories
Platform winners
Whatnot: $150M Series C for live auction platform. $1.5B valuation.
Flip: $28M for beauty social commerce. TikTok meets Amazon model.
Popshop Live: Leading US live shopping platform. Multiple funding rounds.
International models
Kuaishou: Chinese social commerce giant. Inspired US copycats.
Meesho: Indian social commerce. $570M funding. WhatsApp commerce.
Trell: Social video commerce. Struggled despite funding.
Why social commerce startups fail
Platform dependency kills. TikTok changes algorithm. Revenue drops 80%.
Creator churn high. Top 10% drive 90% of sales. They leave for better deals.
Unit economics broken. High return rates. Low repeat purchase.
How Ellty helps social commerce startups
Social commerce pitch decks need different focus. Creator metrics matter most. Platform strategy scrutinized.
Ellty shows:
- GMV slides get 3x more time
- Creator acquisition most forwarded
- Live shopping demos drive meetings
Social commerce founders report:
- Know which VCs understand creator economy
- See when forwarded to consumer partners
- Track competitor interest
FAQs
Q: Pre-revenue or wait for traction?
Most want $10K+ monthly GMV. Some pre-seed funds invest earlier.
Q: US-first or international?
Depends on model. Live shopping bigger in Asia. Test there first.
Q: Platform risk concerns?
Always. Show multi-platform strategy. Own customer data.
Q: B2B or B2C social commerce?
Both viable. B2B2C (selling to creators) hot model.
Q: Hardware for live shopping?
Most avoid hardware. Software/platform plays preferred.
