What is Curbside?
Founded in 2013 and operating as Rakuten Ready since its acquisition by Rakuten in 2018, Curbside specializes in predictive arrival technology designed to enhance order-for-pickup (O4P) services. The company empowers leading retailers such as Kroger, Applebee's, and Nordstrom to streamline demand generation and deliver superior O4P experiences. Leveraging its origins from former location innovation leaders at Apple, Curbside's technology is crucial for businesses aiming to optimize their last-mile logistics and customer convenience in an increasingly digital retail landscape. The company's focus on predictive analytics for arrival times is a key differentiator in the competitive retail technology sector.
How much funding has Curbside raised?
Curbside has raised a total of $34.9M across 4 funding rounds:
Angel/Seed
$1.5M
Series A
$8M
Series B
$25M
Debt
$350K
Angel/Seed (2013): $1.5M with participation from TenOneTen, AME Cloud, WGI Group, Innovation Endeavors, and Chicago Ventures
Series A (2014): $8M led by WGI Group, Innovation Endeavors, TenOneTen, AME Cloud Ventures, Chicago Ventures, Index Ventures, and Ou2019Reilly AlphaTech Ventures
Series B (2015): $25M supported by AME Cloud Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, Sutter Hill Ventures, and Index Ventures
Debt (2020): $350K featuring PPP
Key Investors in Curbside
AME Cloud Ventures
AME Cloud Ventures, led by Yahoo! co-founder Jerry Yang, focuses on seed to later-stage companies building data infrastructure and value chains. The firm invests in technology-heavy companies that gather or create unique data, aiming to support entrepreneurs with resources and operational experience.
Qualcomm Ventures
Qualcomm Ventures is the venture capital arm of Qualcomm Incorporated, a global leader in wireless technologies. They invest in companies that align with Qualcomm's strategic interests in mobile, connectivity, and related technology sectors.
Sutter Hill Ventures
Sutter Hill Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Palo Alto that specializes in financing technology start-ups. They provide entrepreneurs with capital, operational experience, and strategic guidance to build market-leading companies.
What's next for Curbside?
With its recent major strategic investment, Curbside is poised for accelerated expansion and technological advancement. The company's trajectory suggests a focus on deepening its partnerships with existing enterprise clients and potentially broadening its service offerings to new market segments. Future developments are likely to center on enhancing the predictive accuracy of its arrival technology, integrating more sophisticated data analytics, and further scaling its global reach under the Rakuten Ready brand. This strategic financing will undoubtedly fuel innovation in the O4P space, solidifying its position as a critical enabler of seamless retail operations.
See full Curbside company page
