Directory

Retail startup ecosystem

We track 20 organisations in this sector across 6+ countries.

20 entries.

Alex Baldock

London, GB · Person

Alex Baldock is the Chief Executive Officer of Currys plc, the United Kingdom's leading consumer electronics retailer listed on the London Stock Exchange. He has overseen the company's strategic shift toward agentic AI and omnichannel customer service innovation. Baldock is a confirmed keynote speaker at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show Europe in Paris, addressing the pillar of agentic AI and customer services.

Ankorstore

Paris, France · Startup

Ankorstore is a Paris-based B2B wholesale marketplace founded in 2019 that connects independent brands and makers with independent retailers across Europe, handling discovery, ordering, payment terms and logistics. It aims to help local shops compete with large chains and reached unicorn status in 2022.

Answear.com

Krakow, Poland · Startup

Answear.com is a Krakow-based online fashion retailer founded in 2011 that sells apparel, footwear, and accessories from over 500 international brands across Central and Eastern Europe. The company operates in Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Ukraine, and went public on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in 2021. Answear focuses on mid-to-premium fashion with strong logistics and localization for each market. It has become one of the leading multi-brand fashion e-commerce platforms in CEE, competing with Zalando and About You in the region.

Birmarket

Baku, Azerbaijan · Startup

Birmarket (formerly Umico, founded 2019) is Azerbaijan's largest e-commerce marketplace, rebranded in July 2025 as part of PASHA Holding's Bir digital ecosystem. The platform offers over 500,000 products, express 2-hour delivery, 900+ pickup points, and integrated installment financing through Birbank. It operates across electronics, fashion, food, home, and multiple other retail categories.

Brieane Olsen

Los Angeles, US · Person

Brieane Olsen is the Chief Executive Officer of PacSun (Pacific Sunwear), a leading American lifestyle fashion brand and retail chain centered on youth culture. Under her leadership, PacSun has become a recognized pioneer in community-driven retail and influencer-commerce integrations. She is a confirmed keynote speaker at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show Europe in Paris, speaking on creating community and embracing influencers.

Comexposium

Paris, France · Event Organisator

One of the world's leading event organisers, headquartered in the Paris region, running trade shows across retail, food, agriculture and technology. Comexposium organises Paris Retail Week / NRF Retail's Big Show Europe at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in partnership with the National Retail Federation.

E-Commerce Conference 2026 (Sept 2026)

Budapest, Hungary · Event

For over two decades the most important annual gathering of Hungary's e-commerce sector, held just before the Q4 sales peak. The two-day programme at Europa Event Center features keynotes, panels, an expo, networking, and an evening awards dinner, with the 2026 guest country of honour being China and a strong international and cross-border focus.

E-Kereskedelmi Konferencia

Budapest, Hungary · Event Organisator

Organiser of Hungary's long-running E-Commerce Conference (E-Kereskedelmi Konferencia), the country's most important annual gathering for the online retail sector. The two-day programme features keynotes, panels, an expo, networking, and an awards dinner, with a strong cross-border and international focus.

eCommerce Expo 2026

London, United Kingdom · Event

A two-day commerce event at ExCeL London for B2C and B2B online-retail professionals, with 200+ solution providers and CPD-accredited content across ten theatres on AI-driven shopping, fulfilment and growth. Co-located with Technology for Marketing and Parcel & Post Expo.

Inventoro

Prague, Czech Republic · Startup

Inventoro provides AI-driven sales forecasting and inventory optimization for SMB retailers. The platform recommends what to order, when to reorder, and how to reduce dead stock, helping merchants improve margins. It integrates with POS and ecommerce systems to automate demand planning without enterprise complexity. By 2026, Inventoro is a fast-growing Czech AI retail-tech company.

Laura Fernández Plaza

Madrid, ES · Person

Laura Fernández Plaza is the Chief Executive Officer of AWWG (All We Wear Group), a Madrid-headquartered global fashion group managing brands including Pepe Jeans London, Hackett London, and Façonnable, as well as distribution partnerships for Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger in Iberia. She was appointed CEO in March 2026, succeeding Marcella Wartenbergh, and brings nearly two decades of experience at the group including prior roles as CFO and Chief Transformation Officer. Fernández Plaza is a confirmed speaker at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show Europe.

Marc Lolivier

Paris, FR · Person

Marc Lolivier is the General Delegate (Délégué Général) of FEVAD, the Fédération du E-Commerce et de la Vente À Distance, which is France's principal trade federation for e-commerce and distance selling. He is a prominent voice in French and European digital commerce policy, representing the sector at national and international forums. Lolivier is a confirmed speaker at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show Europe in Paris, addressing agentic AI and customer services.

Mister Spex

Berlin, Germany · Startup

Mister Spex is Europe's leading digitally native omnichannel optician, founded in Berlin in 2007 and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker: MRX) since 2021. The company sells prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses online across five European countries and operates 65 physical stores in Germany alongside a network of over 300 partner opticians. Mister Spex serves over 8 million customers and employs around 1,000 people. It pioneered the online-to-offline model in European eyewear retail.

Morele.net

Krakow, Poland · Startup

Morele.net is a Krakow-based e-commerce platform specializing in electronics, computing hardware, gaming equipment, and consumer goods. The company operates one of Poland's largest online electronics retail operations with a broad catalog, competitive pricing, and a nationwide logistics and fulfillment network. Morele.net has built a loyal customer base among tech-savvy Polish consumers and competes with x-kom and MediaExpert in the domestic market. The platform also operates several niche vertical storefronts and has invested in warehouse automation to support growing order volumes.

National Retail Federation

Washington, US · Event Organisator

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is the world's largest retail trade association, headquartered in Washington D.C. and representing retailers across more than 100 countries. NRF organizes the global Retail's Big Show event series, including its flagship New York show and the European edition in Paris. NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show Europe is co-organized with Comexposium and is the rebranded successor to Paris Retail Week, bringing together over 12,000 retail professionals from 60 countries.

Ömer Barbaros Yiş

Istanbul, Turkey · Person

CEO of Karaca International, leading global expansion for the Turkish homeware and lifestyle brand. He is an announced speaker at the IGEXX Istanbul Global E-Export Summit 2026.

Paris Retail Week 2026

Paris, France · Event

Paris Retail Week, held as NRF Retail's Big Show Europe at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, is a major gathering for the future of retail in Europe. Organised by the National Retail Federation with Comexposium, it brings retailers, brands and technology partners together around retail innovation and commerce tech.

Paymove

Sopot, Poland · Startup

Paymove is a Sopot-based fintech that digitises unattended and offline commerce, replacing legacy physical payment hardware with secure QR-based payments that need no app download. The company is also building payment infrastructure for autonomous AI agents. It is active in more than 2,000 locations in Poland and reaches over 600,000 users.

Péter Takács

Budapest, Hungary · Person

Marketing and consumer-behaviour specialist at Diverzum, focusing on Generation Z shopping behaviour and how younger consumers engage with online retail brands. He is an announced speaker at the XXII E-Commerce Conference 2026 in Budapest.

Pigu / Hobby Hall Group

Vilnius, Lithuania · Startup

Pigu / Hobby Hall Group is a Vilnius-headquartered Baltic e-commerce marketplace group operating localized online retail platforms across Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland under brands including Pigu.lt and Hobby Hall. The group sells electronics, home goods, fashion, and sporting equipment, combining marketplace and first-party retail models. It is one of the largest e-commerce operators in the Baltic states, with strong brand recognition and logistics infrastructure tailored to the region. The group competes with Amazon and local players by offering local-language customer service, fast regional delivery, and curated assortments.