Cherry Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm led by a team of entrepreneurs with experience building fast-scaling companies such as Zalando and Spotify. The firm backs Europe's boldest founders, usually as their first institutional investor, and supports them in everything from their go-to-market strategy and the scaling of their businesses. Cherry Ventures has previously invested in the seed stage of over 50 companies across Europe, including FlixBus, Auto1 Group, Infarm, Rows, Forto, and TourRadar. Cherry Ventures is based in Berlin and invests across Europe with operations in London, Paris, and Stockholm.

Cherry Ventures

TQ Ventures LLC is a venture capital firm led by Schuster Tanger and Andrew Marks based in New York City.  The firm seeks out extraordinary founders across the software complex in businesses with durable competitive advantages. We’re involved in primarily business-to-business (B2B) models, but also some business-to-consumer (B2C) models.  Across our more than 80 global investments, we believe the differentiated support and networks we provide our founders have fueled our track record and our reputation. Founded in 2018, TQ now has around $1 billion under management and is currently investing out of our third $500m fund.  The TQ Ventures investment philosophy:  The overarching ethos of TQ Ventures is: Backing founders building the future. we judge all startups by the same simple rubric:  · Do the founders demonstrate exceptional talent and vision? · Are they solving a problem or delivering an experience that provides substantial value to customers? · Are there enough customers to constitute a large market? · Is there a compelling go-to-market motion to effectively reach those customers? · If successful, will the company have high margins, low capital intensity, scalability with minimal friction and low incremental costs and, crucially, durable competitive advantages? · Are we investing at a valuation that, if the business succeeds, will deliver returns exceeding our fund’s committed capital net of dilution?  Bottom-up Approach versus Thematic or Vertical-Focused  Our investment firm looks for opportunities across a wide range of industries and sectors, with a bottom-up business-model-driven approach. Current investments cover industries including:  · Infrastructure · Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning · Enterprise · Development Tools · Software as a Service (SaaS) · Consumer Tech · Fintech and Blockchain · Healthcare · Geography  While TQ is based in New York City, some of its team is in San Francisco. TQ has a strong presence in top American venture markets, such as the Bay Area and NYC, but also has invested prolifically in Europe, including CEE. Once in a while, TQ finds a business that fits its investment framework in an emerging market as well.  Our global reach helps TQ Ventures find the best possible businesses to invest with. TQ Ventures leadership team  The TQ Ventures team is led by Schuster Tanger and Andrew Marks, two NYC-based investors with backgrounds from some of the top investing firms globally. Schuster worked at Third Point (Dan Loeb) and Goldman Sachs (Special Situations Group with Josh Easterly), before breaking away to launch TQ Ventures in 2018. He was named in the 2013 Forbes 30 under 30.  Andrew was a managing director at Blue Ridge Capital and previously worked at Blackstone before launching TQ Ventures in 2018. Our team members include talented investment professionals Jana Iris (ex-Hashicorp), Alexis Vitenas (ex-sales), Elisabeth Rulke (Princeton physics), Finbarr Timbers (Midjourney, ex-DeepMind), Elliot Graebert (ex-Palantir) and Michael Kilberry (AI / ML Google).  TQ Venture success stories  With more than 80 portfolio companies under the TQ Ventures umbrella and our third investment fund well under way, TQ Ventures has a track record of successful partnerships. Recent TQ Venture partner companies include: · log10: An AI company based in San Francisco that offers large language model (LLMOps) support for machine learning applications. · nsave: A fintech company that brings secure banking to people from emerging economies. · Cleanlab: An AI firm that automates data science testing and repair to endeavor to make sure AI-derived data is error free. · Plenful: A healthcare software provider that makes pharmaceutical workflows more efficient using AI.  Partner with TQ Ventures  The team at TQ Ventures is always looking for emerging companies with a differentiated business model and an exciting outlook on the future. Our bottom-up generalist philosophy, enthusiasm for innovative businesses, and ability to help with B2B customer introductions make us the ideal investor for early-stage businesses on the rise.  To explore opportunities with T! Ventures LLC, please visit tqventures.com.  TQ Ventures FAQs  Who owns TQ Ventures? TQ Ventures is owned by partners Schuster Tanger and Andrew Marks. They co-founded the company in 2018 and now lead a team of investors overseeing 80 partner companies and over $1 Billion in investment funds.TQ is made up of external limited partners, but no external partners own any of the general partner.  What is TQ Ventures III? TQ Ventures III is the third vintage of TQ, a $500 million investment fund round complex operated by TQ Ventures. This portfolio took the overall funds managed by TQ Ventures to over $1 Billion. TQ Ventures III Early focuses on seed-stage companies while TQ Ventures III Growth focuses on Series B-stage companies.  What are the investment focus areas of TQ Ventures? While TQ Ventures is a generalist investment firm and operates in a wide spectrum of industry sectors and geographical locations, it does focus on early-stage investment, primarily seed through Series B. The firm believes in business-model-driven investments, with particular interest in durable competitive advantages.  What industries does TQ Ventures invest in? TQ Ventures is industry vertical agnostic. That means the investment firm invests in a wide range of industries, including fintech, healthcare, AI and machine learning, blockchain, crypto, and infrastructure.

TQ Ventures

Expedite Ventures is a business angel group of CTOs and CPOs. We invest in tech founders and help them to create sustainable businesses through both capital and in-depth, hands-on mentoring. We are nerds at heart and passionate founders ourselves - many of us are still running startups. Our true hands-on mentoring approach is based on decades of collective experience in building and scaling technology companies – which we think is at least as valuable as funding. We encourage those who are already engineering today’s technology to get into the driver’s seat and become first-time founders. Our goal is especially to support underrepresented groups in tech, including female and immigrant entrepreneurs.

Expedite Ventures

Zalando is a European online fashion platform- offering a broad assortment of fashion for men, women and children. It carries over 1.500 brands and over 150.000 product choices for over 17 million customers in 15 countries.  By constantly optimising its processes and platform offerings, using its e-commerce expertise and lots of can-do spirit, Zalando have become Europe's leading online fashion retailer in only a few years. Its goal is to create the world’s best online fashion experience. The cores of its business are what the company focuses on, always striving to be cutting-edge in fashion, technology, marketing, and logistics.  Zalando SE in Berlin is the group’s centrepiece which focuses on the development of its core product: the online shopping experience. Zalando SE operates the international business and takes care of their business development. Zalando SE comprises functions like the management, marketing, administration, and technology.

Zalando

Target Global is a prominent European technology investment firm with a significant presence in the venture capital landscape, boasting over €3 billion in assets under management.  The firm operates out of key tech hubs including London, Berlin, Tel Aviv, and Abu Dhabi, and has a rich portfolio featuring some of Europe's most successful tech companies such as Revolut, Auto1, Copper, Delivery Hero, Docplanner, and Rapyd. Founding and Growth Target Global was established in 2015 by Shmuel Chafets and Yaron Valler, who brought a wealth of experience from their tenure at Hasso Plattner Ventures. Their professional partnership dates back 15 years to their time at Giza Venture Capital, a trailblazer in Israel's investment ecosystem, where they honed their investment acumen and industry foresight. Investment Philosophy and Impact Target Global stands out in the European tech industry for its diverse team and its ability to identify and capitalize on unique opportunities. The firm's knack for recognizing potential in the early stages of Germany's tech economy led to the emergence of several unicorns in the 2010s. As the European tech industry evolves, Target Global remains at the forefront, seeking out innovative companies like Robovision, Saleor, and Finom. These recent investments reflect the firm's commitment to supporting cutting-edge technology and business models. Fundraising Successes Target Global's fundraising prowess is evident in its six investment funds, which have collectively raised significant capital. The funds range from Early Stage Funds, focusing on nascent startups, to Growth Funds that support more mature companies scaling their operations. The firm's co-investment strategy has led to over €1 billion in capital deployment across a diverse array of partnerships. Backing and Achievements With the backing of investors such as FERI, UBS, Allianz X, Mubadala, and Hermes GPE, Target Global has cemented its reputation as a trusted and successful investment firm. Its portfolio spans over 140 companies at various development stages, with a focus on those targeting trillion-dollar markets. Just a few of the many notable companies in the firm’s portfolio include: - Tarabut, MENA’s leading open banking platform, which was recently featured in Forbes Middle East’s list of Top 50 Fintech Companies. - Flo Health, an AI-driven women’s health product, which is the world’s top health and fitness app by downloads. - Robovision, an easy-to-use AI-driven computer vision platform for users to develop their own deep-learning-based solutions. - Enter, a German company that helps homeowners and businesses reduce their carbon footprint. Target Global's track record includes support for 15 unicorn companies, over 20 exits, and 7 IPOs, showcasing its ability to drive growth and success in the European tech ecosystem. The team, comprised of individuals with founder and operator backgrounds, continues to pursue exceptional opportunities to expand the firm's portfolio and influence. Target Global's journey from its inception to its current status as a key player in European venture capital is marked by strategic investments, a commitment to diversity, and a deep understanding of the tech industry's dynamics. With a clear vision for the future, Target Global is poised to continue its role in shaping the next wave of European tech giants.

Target Global

Saleor Commerce

The next-generation, open-source, headless e-commerce platform. Fast. Open. Maintainable.

Saleor is a headless, GraphQL-first, open-source ecommerce platform that enables businesses to create lightning-fast, dynamic, and personalized online shopping experiences. It provides a lightweight front-end driven by a GraphQL API, compiled with React and TypeScript. Saleor allows for seamless integration with preferred CRM, CMS, delivery, and fulfillment services.

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Marketplaces and related solutions for selling goods and services online

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Saleor is a headless, GraphQL-first, open-source ecommerce platform that enables businesses to create lightning-fast, dynamic, and personalized online shopping experiences. It provides a lightweight front-end driven by a GraphQL API, compiled with React and TypeScript. Saleor allows for seamless integration with preferred CRM, CMS, delivery, and fulfillment services.
Developed in Python and Django, Saleor offers a powerful product configuration system with flexible product types, unlimited product attributes, and the ability to create product bundles and collections. It supports multi-currency, multi-language, and multi-warehouse capabilities, catering to global businesses from day one. Saleor's architecture ensures high performance, SEO efficiency, and accessibility across devices.
The platform provides an intuitive admin dashboard for managing products, orders, and fulfillment processes. It leverages technologies like machine learning for data-driven marketing and upselling. As a Progressive Web App (PWA), Saleor delivers an app-like experience, enabling offline browsing, push notifications, and faster checkout times.
Key customers and partnerships
Saleor has been adopted by renowned brands such as Lush, a leading retailer of handcrafted cosmetics, Breitling, a luxury watchmaker, and PrettyGreen, a fashion brand founded by Liam Gallagher. It has also partnered with companies like Zalando, a leading European ecommerce destination, to explore joint initiatives focused on multi-market commerce scalability. The platform has also collaborated with Content Management Systems like Strapi and Contentful for seamless integration.

Vestiaire Collective is a leading global online marketplace for pre-owned luxury fashion items. Founded in 2009 in Paris, France, the company aims to transform the fashion industry into a more sustainable model by promoting circular fashion and reducing overconsumption and waste.
Vestiaire Collective operates a platform where buyers and sellers can buy, sell, and trade authenticated pre-owned luxury fashion items, including clothing, handbags, shoes, and accessories from renowned brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, and Prada. As of 2023, the platform had over 3 million items listed and a community of around 23 million members across 78 countries.
The company's core value proposition lies in its rigorous authentication process. All items listed on the platform undergo meticulous quality and authenticity checks by a team of trained experts, ensuring the legitimacy of the products sold. This process involves thorough examination of materials, craftsmanship, branding elements, and serial numbers, as well as the use of advanced technologies like image recognition software.
Vestiaire Collective's business model is commission-based, with the company charging a percentage fee on successful transactions. The fee structure varies based on the sale price, ranging from 15% for items sold between USD 80 and USD 13,000 to a fixed fee for higher-priced items.
In recent years, Vestiaire Collective has undertaken various sustainability initiatives, such as launching the "Brand Approved" program, which allows luxury brands to integrate circularity into their business models by facilitating the buyback and resale of their pre-owned items. The company aims to become carbon neutral by 2026 and has implemented measures to reduce its environmental footprint, including offering green shipping options and eco-friendly packaging.

Vestiaire Collective

Trendyol is a leading ecommerce platform based in Turkey that was founded in 2010 by Demet Mutlu. It operates as a marketplace connecting buyers with a wide range of sellers offering products across various categories including fashion, electronics, beauty, and groceries. Trendyol has evolved from a single shopping site to a comprehensive ecommerce ecosystem, offering complementary services such as logistics (Trendyol Express), instant delivery (Trendyol Go), digital payments (Trendyol Pay), and a secondhand marketplace (Dolap).
Initially bootstrapped with USD 300,000 by Mutlu, Trendyol witnessed rapid growth, reaching over a million customers within its first year. As of 2023, the platform boasts over 30 million customers, 250,000 sellers, and delivers more than 1 million packages daily. Trendyol's success can be attributed to its focus on affordable pricing, a diverse product range, and a sustainable business model that supports digitization of local manufacturers and small businesses.
In 2018, Alibaba Group acquired a majority stake in Trendyol, valuing the company at USD 728 million. This strategic partnership provided Trendyol with technological expertise and helped position it as Turkey's first "decacorn" (a startup valued over USD 10 billion) after raising USD 1.5 billion in 2021, reaching a valuation of USD 16.5 billion.
Trendyol's commitment to creating a positive impact is evident through its support for local talent, sustainable sourcing, and initiatives promoting women's participation in the digital economy. The company has generated significant economic impact, contributing to the growth of over 90% of its sellers and enabling over 50,000 female entrepreneurs to establish ecommerce businesses.
Key customers and partnerships
Trendyol has established notable partnerships to enhance its technological capabilities and expand its reach. In 2018, Alibaba Group secured a significant stake in Trendyol, providing expertise and resources to support the platform's growth. This strategic partnership aims to boost Turkey's e-exports by enabling Turkish SMEs to leverage Alibaba's global network for exporting their products.
Additionally, Trendyol has partnered with EVS, aligning with their shared values of positively impacting people's lives and maintaining a startup spirit. This collaboration has allowed Trendyol to contribute further to Turkey's economy and leverage EVS's expertise in areas such as mobile payments, logistics, and exports.
Trendyol has also formed a partnership with AGH, a company rich in ecommerce experience. This alliance has enabled Trendyol to absorb knowledge and best practices in areas like logistics, mobile payments, and facilitating the growth of SMEs through the platform economy.

Trendyol

SidelineSwap is the world's largest online marketplace for buying and selling new and used sporting goods. It was founded in 2015 with the mission of making sports more affordable and accessible to everyone. The platform allows athletes, fans, and sports families to safely buy and sell a wide range of sports gear across various categories, including baseball, basketball, football, hockey, golf, lacrosse, skiing, snowboarding, and tennis. SidelineSwap has enabled athletes to earn over USD 250 million to date by reselling the extra gear they have at home.
The marketplace operates on a peer-to-peer model, where sellers can create free listings, and buyers can browse through the inventory to find great deals, often at up to 70% off retail prices. Sellers receive payment through SidelineSwap's secure platform once the buyer receives and approves the item. As of April 2024, SidelineSwap had helped over 2 million athletes resell over USD 250 million worth of used sports gear, keeping 180,000 pounds of gear out of landfills annually.
In addition to its core marketplace, SidelineSwap has developed a Trade-in Platform, which provides pop-up events, in-store, and online trade-in options for brands and retailers. This platform leverages SidelineSwap's proprietary marketplace technology and resale data, enabling sellers to choose between direct resale or instant trade-in value. The Trade-in Platform has been adopted by major retailers like DICK'S Sporting Goods and MonkeySports, allowing their customers to trade in used gear for store credits.

SidelineSwap

OnBuy is an online marketplace that was founded in 2016 with the aim of providing a fair and transparent platform for retailers and consumers alike. Unlike other major marketplaces, OnBuy does not hold its own inventory or compete with sellers by offering its own product lines. Instead, it acts as a pure online marketplace connecting independent retailers and brands with customers.
The platform offers a wide range of products across various categories, including electronics, entertainment, home and garden, office supplies, and more. As of March 2024, OnBuy hosts over 35 million products from 11,000 brands and retailers. The company has witnessed rapid growth, recording a 600% year-on-year increase in sales between 2018 and 2021.
OnBuy's unique selling proposition lies in its commitment to treating all sellers equally, regardless of their size or relationship with the platform. It operates on a transparent fee structure, charging a flat commission rate of 5% on consumer electronics and 9% for all other categories, with no listing fees. This approach has resonated well with retailers, attracting hundreds of new sign-ups each month.
In July 2023, OnBuy introduced a pioneering cashback rewards program, becoming the world's first cashback marketplace. Customers can earn uncapped cashback on every purchase, which can be spent instantly on the platform or withdrawn after 30 days. This innovative loyalty program aims to disrupt the online retail landscape and provide customers with tangible rewards for their loyalty.
OnBuy's growth has been fueled by its commitment to ethical practices, fair treatment of sellers, and a focus on customer needs. The platform's success has been recognized by various accolades, including being listed in the Financial Times' 1000 fastest-growing companies in Europe and Deloitte's Fast 50.
In December 2021, OnBuy announced its plans for an anticipated IPO within the next two years, as well as international expansion into over 140 countries. The company also acquired a new headquarters in central Bournemouth in March 2022 to support its growth ambitions.

OnBuy

OpenStore is a platform that provides instant liquidity for ecommerce entrepreneurs, primarily those selling on Shopify. Founded in 2021, the company allows merchants to sell their businesses quickly by providing a cash offer within 24 hours after connecting to their Shopify store and providing relevant data. OpenStore uses proprietary algorithms and data science to analyze a merchant's historical financials, order history, and marketing data to determine a valuation for the business.
The company acquires Shopify brands with USD 1 million to USD 10 million in gross merchandise volume, with a focus on US-based, direct-to-consumer brands. After the acquisition, OpenStore takes over operations of the businesses with the intention of growing them long-term. The company has acquired dozens of brands since late 2021 and aims to streamline the mergers and acquisitions process for ecommerce businesses through automation.
OpenStore differentiates itself from other ecommerce aggregators by its rapid turnaround time and focus on direct-to-consumer Shopify brands rather than Amazon marketplace sellers. The company closed a USD 32 million funding round in September 2022, valuing it at USD 970 million. As of July 2024, OpenStore had over 100 employees and had raised over USD 150 million in equity funding from investors including Lux Capital, Atomic, Founders Fund, General Catalyst, and Khosla Ventures.

OpenStore

C2C and B2C ecommerce platforms that enable users to sell a range of goods and services via their online marketplace (e.g., eBay, Amazon).

B2B ecommerce platforms that enable businesses to sell a range of goods and services aimed mainly at other businesses. These companies mostly provide wholesale/bulk purchases (e.g., DHgate, Lightinthebox).

B2C ecommerce platforms that enable businesses to sell specialized product categories (including electronics, fast fashion, or books) via their online marketplace (e.g., Trendyol, Asos, Bookshop).

Ecommerce solutions providers that offer software for customizable ecommerce and other websites or specific modules embedded in websites such as digital experience intelligence and ecommerce management support (e.g., Shopify, CommerceIQ).

Companies that buy and grow ecommerce brands on ecommerce marketplaces (e.g., Thrasio, OpenStore, Moonshot Brands).

Companies that use GenAI as a core part of their product offering for ecommerce platforms

Some companies in the "ecommerce website solutions" segment provide B2B SaaS solutions

GenAI-based Ecommerce Platform operators offer Generative AI as a part of their core offering

Ecommerce website solutions provide services to build customized platforms/experiences for ecommerce

Saleor Commerce

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