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Soldsie provides a social commerce platform that facilitates direct product purchases through comments on major social media channels like Facebook and Instagram. The company’s core offering enables businesses to convert social engagement into sales by allowing customers to buy items simply by commenting on posts, effectively streamlining the path from discovery to transaction. This approach integrates shopping directly into the social media experience, offering a novel way for retailers to reach consumers.
The company was co-founded by Chris Bennett, serving as CEO, and Arrel Gray, the CTO. Both met within the dynamic startup community, where they likely identified the nascent opportunity to bridge social interaction with e-commerce functionality. Their insight revolved around leveraging the inherent virality and engagement of social media to create a frictionless buying process directly within these platforms, thereby addressing a significant need for modern digital retailers.
Soldsie primarily serves modern retailers seeking to expand their sales footprint and engagement within social media ecosystems. The platform empowers these businesses to foster growth and enhance their presence by transforming passive followers into active purchasers. Looking forward, Soldsie aims to remain at the forefront of social shopping, continuously supporting businesses in unlocking new avenues for creativity and innovation in their online sales strategies.
Soldsie has raised $4.0M across 1 funding round.
Soldsie has raised $4.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Soldsie has raised $4.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Soldsie's investors include Matt Ocko, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Precursor Ventures, Social Starts, Jeff Hammerbacher, Kenny Van Zant, Richard Chen, William Boebel.
# Soldsie: Social Commerce Pioneer
Soldsie is a social eCommerce platform that enables retailers to sell directly through Facebook and Instagram by leveraging comments as a purchasing mechanism.[1] Founded in 2012, the company pioneered what it calls "social shopping"—a model that transforms social media feeds into points of sale rather than requiring customers to navigate to separate storefronts. The platform serves modern retailers seeking to monetize their social presence and reach customers where they already spend time, addressing the friction between social engagement and transaction completion.
The company operates in the broader social commerce space, which has grown increasingly relevant as platforms like Instagram and Facebook have become primary retail channels. Soldsie's core value proposition is simplicity: retailers post product photos with pricing, customers comment "Sold," and the platform handles inventory management, payment processing, and invoicing in the background.[3]
Soldsie was founded in May 2012 by Chris Bennett (CEO) and Arrel Gray (CTO), who met through Silicon Valley's startup community in 2011.[1] The timing was significant—the company launched when f-Commerce (Facebook commerce) was still viewed skeptically by the industry. Rather than building another tab on a retailer's Facebook page, the founders demonstrated that social commerce could be genuinely viable by embedding transactions directly into the social experience.
The early traction was notable. By May 2014, Soldsie had processed over $25 million in transactions, representing a threefold increase from 2013.[1] This growth trajectory validated their thesis that social shopping could drive real commercial value. The company raised $1 million in seed funding from sources including 500 Startups and e.ventures, plus $425,000 from 72 investors through FundersClub, followed by a $4 million Series A in May 2014.[1]
Soldsie emerged at an inflection point when social platforms were beginning to recognize commerce as a core use case. The company rode the wave of Instagram's rise as a visual commerce platform and Facebook's dominance in user engagement. Their success helped validate the broader thesis that social commerce—selling within the social experience rather than redirecting users elsewhere—represents the future of retail.
The platform's approach influenced how retailers think about social media strategy, shifting from "build a Facebook store" to "monetize your existing audience." This philosophy aligns with broader trends toward direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands leveraging owned audiences and the increasing integration of payment infrastructure into social platforms themselves.
Soldsie positioned itself ahead of a major industry shift. As of 2014, the company had demonstrated strong unit economics and transaction volume, but the social commerce landscape has evolved significantly with native shopping features from Instagram and Facebook themselves. The company's future likely depends on whether it can maintain differentiation as platforms build competing capabilities, or pivot toward serving niche retail segments where its specialized social selling tools provide unique value.
The broader trend—commerce moving into social feeds—has proven correct. Whether Soldsie remains a standalone platform or becomes absorbed into larger commerce ecosystems will shape its long-term trajectory in a market where the giants are increasingly competitive.
Soldsie has raised $4.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $4.0M Series A in May 2014.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2014 | $4.0M Series A | Matt Ocko, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Precursor Ventures, Social Starts, Jeff Hammerbacher, Kenny Van Zant, Richard Chen, William Boebel |