E-commerce startup PrettyDamnQuick raises $25 million in Series A funding to speed up online checkout

PrettyDamnQuick (PDQ), an e-commerce startup focused on helping retailers tailor and test shipping and checkout flows, is carving out a niche as a viable alternative to Amazon.

By offering brands a way to personalize these critical aspects of the shopping experience, PDQ aims to empower businesses with tools that drive revenue and enhance customer loyalty. PDQ is already gaining momentum, and the 3-year-old startup has just secured a multimillion-dollar war chest to fuel its expansion efforts.

Today, PrettyDamnQuick announced it raised $25 million in Series A funding, led by Peakspan Capital, with participation from existing investors TLV Partners and Moneta, bringing its total funding to $38 million.

The funding will fuel PDQ’s expansion and accelerate the development of its personalization engine, a tool designed to help mid-sized direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands improve checkout conversions and revenue. Since its founding in 2021, PDQ has worked with over 200 e-commerce brands, processing 30 million orders monthly and driving $4 billion in annualized gross merchandise volume (GMV). The company expects to process 300 million orders by the end of 2025.

Avi Moskowitz, PDQ’s co-founder and CEO, emphasized the startup’s mission:

“We founded PDQ in 2021 with the aim of harnessing data from every touchpoint in the customer journey to optimize the customer experience at checkout. Since then, we have empowered hundreds of e-commerce businesses to increase their conversions and improve their profitability, while simultaneously enhancing the value of their brands.”

Avi Moskowitz, PDQ’s CEO and founder, drew inspiration for the startup from his experience launching and managing a craft brewing business in Israel.

The business, BeerBazaar, debuted in 2015, and by early 2020, Moskowitz decided it was time to establish an online presence—unaware of the dramatic shifts the year would bring. To make it happen, the company turned to Shopify to build its website.

The funding comes at a critical time for e-commerce. While global brands like Amazon and Walmart have set high standards for checkout and shipping, smaller D2C brands often struggle to compete. With over 70% of online shopping carts abandoned at checkout, the opportunity for optimization is immense. PDQ’s platform aims to integrate supply chain, payments, and commerce technology to create a seamless shopping experience, leveling the playing field for mid-sized retailers.

The e-commerce industry has faced a mixed outlook in recent years. Post-pandemic, demand for online shopping has cooled as consumers return to physical stores, and inflation has dampened spending. However, PDQ is well-positioned to help brands navigate these challenges by providing tools to offer better discounts and improved experiences without eroding margins.

While holiday shopping data has shown inconsistent growth, PDQ’s solutions could prove invaluable for retailers seeking to retain customers and drive profitability in a competitive market.

By addressing the checkout experience, PDQ tackles a fundamental pain point for independent retailers, offering them a fighting chance against industry giants and a path to long-term growth.