Returned and overstocked inventory specialist Buywander raises $21 million in Series A funding
Buywander, an auction-based marketplace for returned and overstocked retail inventory, has announced a $21 million Series A funding round, bringing the company's total funding to date to $28 million. The round was led by Madrona Venture Group and Inspired Capital. Previous backers include Triple Impact Capital, Silence Ventures, Data Tech Fund and Animal Capital, along with a group of angel investors.
"Retailers are sitting on billions of dollars in returned and overstocked inventory every year, and buyers are hungry for a better way to access it," says Jordan Allen, Co-Founder and CEO of Buywander. "We've seen that appetite play out in every market we've entered. This funding lets us bring that experience to more cities, faster, and introduce Buywander to more people who are excited to discover great products, compete for a win, and give returned goods a second life."
Buywander will use the cash to accelerate expansion across the US, invest in technology, and grow its leadership team, building on its eight locations including recent market launches in Denver, Chicago, and an upcoming opening in Minneapolis.
"Scaling this model market by market takes real infrastructure from warehouse operations to reverse logistics and retailer relationships," says Brock Kowalchuk, Co-Founder at Buywander. "This round lets us build that foundation ahead of demand, so every new market opens with the same reliability customers already expect from us in our existing markets."
Buywander also recently expanded its leadership team. This includes: Laura Sasser, Chief Operating Officer; Mani Sundaram, Chief Product Officer; Daniel Kiepfer, VP of Data and AI; Abu Marcose, Senior Director of Warehouse Technology; and Roger Ling, Director of Marketing. They join Srinivas Paluri, Chief Technology Officer; Brent Hendricks, VP of Strategic Operations; Rett Clevenger, VP of Merchandising; and Ark Rozycki, Chief Architect. As part of the round, Scott Jacobson, Alexa von Tobel, and Greg Greeley have joined Buywander's board of directors, while Charlotte Ross has joined as a board observer.
"Buywander is solving a problem that's only getting bigger. Retailers are drowning in returned and overstocked inventory, and there's never been a good local solution for moving it," says Alexa von Tobel, Founder and Managing Partner at Inspired Capital. "What stood out to us is how much traction the model has already found in every market it's entered. Jordan and Brock have built something that works for buyers, works for retailers, and scales city by city without losing the local warehouse experience that makes the model work."
"We've watched affordability go from a discount seeker habit to just how most people shop, and this shift isn't reversing anytime soon,” says Scott Jacobson, Managing Director at Madrona. “Jordan and Brock have built the first model that actually turns the trillion-dollar problem of retail returns into a scalable opportunity for value oriented shoppers. Almost every major retailer is sitting on this same supply problem, and there are just as many shoppers on the other side hunting for exactly this kind of deal, which is what Buywander serves so effectively."
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
Inventory management will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Check out our 2025 winners here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
