b8ta Launches Ark And Closed $50 Million In Series C Equity Funding

b8ta has launched Ark marketplace  to enable retailers and retail landlords to operate their physical marketplaces.

FREMONT, CA: b8ta has closed $50 million in Series C equity funding, led by Evolution Ventures as a new investor, alongside participation from existing investors, including Macy’s, Khosla Ventures, Peak State Ventures, and others. B8ta was formed in 2015 and is known today as Retail-as-a-Service as it operates the most significant experiential retail footprint in the world. Here brands can access physical retail as quickly as they buy digital advertising, and consumers can discover, try, and buy the world’s most innovative products in real life.

b8ta’s retail footprint has launched over 1,000 brands on its platform and has also witnessed more than 50 million product engagements. According to the reports, by the end of this year, they will operate flagship locations worldwide. Its first international location will be in Dubai opening this December, which will be equal to more than 45,000 square feet of experiential retail space.

Co-founder and CEO of b8ta Vibhu Norby say that today, stores are serving as story-telling platforms for brands rather than sales channels. He also mentioned that they are at the very beginning of the age of experiential retail, a post-e-commerce era that will change the way we all shop for decades to come. Their latest round will allow them to meet the global demand for our stores and software.

B8ta is also about to launch Ark, and its flagship product in coordination with its series C. its product Ark Marketplace is a technology platform which will help retailers and retail landlords to operate their own Retail-as-a-Service concept. Through this platform, any landlord or retailer will be able to apply the same technology platform found in b8ta stores today to monetize the marketing value of their floor space.

In the last four years, b8ta has been expanding and perfecting the software behind Ark Marketplace across its retail footprint. At present, Ark, Marketplace powers b8ta’s 19 flagship locations.

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