Ankorstore is a technology company.
Ankorstore is a wholesale marketplace that connects independent brands and retailers across Europe, offering a wide selection of products without commission fees for brands.
Ankorstore has raised $417.6M across 5 funding rounds.
Ankorstore has raised $417.6M in total across 5 funding rounds.
Ankorstore has raised $417.6M in total across 5 funding rounds.
Ankorstore's investors include Alven, Anthemis Group, Bond, Global Founders Capital, Index Ventures, Kima Ventures, Lakestar, Prime Ventures, WndrCo LLC, Diego Berdakin, Frederic Montagnon, Justin Mateen.
Ankorstore is a Paris-based technology company operating a B2B online marketplace that connects independent retailers—such as grocery stores, coffee shops, and concept stores—with unique, contemporary brands across Europe and beyond.[1][2][5][6] It serves over 300,000 retailers and 30,000 brands in 28-33 countries, solving the challenge of product sourcing for small retailers competing against e-commerce giants by offering curated, efficient access to niche products via cutting-edge tools for payments, logistics, and data analytics.[1][2][3][6] The platform drives growth through a two-sided marketplace model, with features like Stripe-powered payments, automated onboarding, and AI-enhanced product-led development, enabling 400% transaction growth in its early years and lean operations with minimal staff.[1][2][6]
Ankorstore was founded in July 2019 by Nicolas Cohen and Pierre-Louis Lacoste, both with deep retail industry experience.[1][4] The idea emerged from their observations of independent retailers' struggles against dominant e-commerce platforms, leading to discussions on simplifying sourcing and diversification without traditional overheads.[1] Early traction was rapid: post-launch, it expanded to 28 European countries, integrated complex payment systems via Stripe, and achieved 400% transaction growth in the first two years, fueled by digital investments and partnerships like Sigma Software for platform scaling.[1][2][3]
Ankorstore stands out in the B2B wholesale space through these key strengths:
Ankorstore rides the wave of B2B marketplace digitalization and the resurgence of independent retail amid e-commerce consolidation, empowering small businesses with tech typically reserved for giants.[1][4][5] Its 2019 timing capitalized on post-pandemic supply chain shifts and demand for localized, authentic products, aligning with Europe's fragmented retail market where giants like Amazon dominate direct-to-consumer but overlook wholesale niches.[1][2] Market forces like rising logistics costs and sustainability preferences favor its curated, efficient model, while integrations reduce friction in cross-border trade.[3] It influences the ecosystem by "rewilding retail"—promoting symbiotic retailer-brand ties, scaling via tech partnerships (Stripe, Amplitude), and enabling thousands of independents to thrive digitally.[2][4][6]
Ankorstore is poised for continued hypergrowth, leveraging AI for faster feature delivery and data-driven experiments to expand beyond Europe into global markets while deepening its 300K+ retailer network.[3][6] Trends like AI-powered personalization, embedded finance, and sustainable supply chains will shape its path, potentially integrating more fintech (e.g., B2B payments) and logistics automation.[2][3] Its influence may evolve from European disruptor to global standard-setter for indie retail tech, sustaining momentum as it transforms sourcing from hassle to competitive edge—just as it began by arming small shops against wholesale giants.[1][4]
Ankorstore has raised $417.6M across 5 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $280.0M Series C in January 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2022 | $280.0M Series C | Alven, Anthemis Group, Bond, Global Founders Capital, Index Ventures, Kima Ventures, Lakestar, Prime Ventures, WndrCo LLC, Diego Berdakin, Frederic Montagnon, Justin Mateen, Yaron Valler | |
| May 1, 2021 | $100.0M Series B | Alven, Anthemis Group, Global Founders Capital, Index Ventures, Kima Ventures, Prime Ventures, Frederic Montagnon | |
| Nov 1, 2020 | $30.0M Series A | Alven, Anthemis Group, Index Ventures, Kima Ventures, Prime Ventures | |
| Dec 1, 2019 | $7.0M Seed | Alven, Anthemis Group, Global Founders Capital, Prime Ventures, Frederic Montagnon | |
| Oct 1, 2019 | $600K Seed | Alven, Anthemis Group, Prime Ventures |