Live shopping startup Tilt nabs $18 million in Series A funding round led by Balderton Capital

Tilt, a real-time shopping platform founded by ex-Revolut employees, has closed an $18 million Series A funding round led by Balderton Capital.

There was also participation from existing investors TQ Ventures, Earlybird and Seedcamp.

Founded by Neil Shah and Abhi Thanendran, Tilt focuses on the fashion space and claims to address several key problems in the current e-commerce landscape.

Traditional online shopping can feel impersonal and disconnected, the company says.

This leads to a passive, often frustrating experience for buyers. Additionally, the static nature of most e-commerce platforms lacks the urgency and engagement required to really drive sales for sellers.

Tilt lets buyers engage directly with sellers through real-time streams, Similar to in-store shopping, deals and offers are available only while users are actively engaged on the app.

Along with features such as auctions, boosts and interactive events, Tilt has attracted over half a million users since its launch just a year ago. 

"Tilt has an incredibly exciting journey ahead. We are thrilled to have the backing of the exceptional team at Balderton Capital, along with our existing investors in this round. This support will enable us to scale the Tilt platform, expand the team, and deepen our engagement with our growing community," says Thanendran.

"Our vision goes beyond simply enhancing the resale shopping experience; we are committed to building the most vibrant community in live commerce worldwide. This funding will ensure we innovate further, making each live stream not just a transaction, but a truly engaging and enjoyable experience,” says Shah.

Daniel Waterhouse, Partner at Balderton Capital, says: "Tilt has cracked live shopping in the UK: Adding over half a million users within their first year of launch - something which many of the big players have failed at despite successes in Asia.”

“With Neil and Abhi's relentless focus on innovative features and community engagement to deliver the best experiences for buyers and sellers alike, we're excited to work with the team to take Tilt to the next level.”

2024 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Innovative startups are a key focus area for the sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards, which is now open for entries.

The awards, sponsored by CADS, 3D Cloud, Retail Technology Show 2025, and Business France, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

It’s free to enter and you can do so across multiple categories.

Key 2024 dates

Friday, 25th October: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 29th October: 2024 shortlist revealed

30th October-6th November: Judging days

Thursday, 21st November: Winners announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, to be held at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London.