Gooten raises $11M in funding to provide on-demand manufacturing to e-commerce brands and retailers

Gooten, a New York-based tech startup that provides automated fulfillment to e-commerce brands and retailers, today announced it has raised $11 million in Series A funding to fuel the growing demand for its on-demand manufacturing solutions. The round was led by KEC Ventures, with participation from INX International, Tech Pioneers Fund, and other existing investors.

As part of this funding announcement, Gooten also revealed that Will Geiger from Touchdown Ventures will join the company as a board observer, representing INX International. This addition to the board further strengthens Gooten’s expertise and strategic insights as it continues to expand and meet the needs of its customers in the on-demand manufacturing space.

Founded in 2015 by Austen Bernstein, Micah Smith, and Nick Anderson, Gooten offers smart supply chain solutions to brands seeking to enhance their eCommerce operations through print-on-demand manufacturing. With a workforce of over 100 employees, Gooten has successfully fulfilled over 4 million orders within the past 18 months, showcasing its commitment to growth and its expanding global presence.

“As the on-demand industry continues to see rapid adoption, our Series A round positions Gooten to continue to deliver a best-in-class on-demand order management platform,” said Brian Rainey, CEO. “This capital will allow us to continue in our mission to address the high costs and economic and environmental issues of traditional inventory-based merchandising by increasing the adoption of on-demand manufacturing. We are excited to partner with KEC Ventures and INX International, both of whom share our vision of disrupting the industry with technology-driven solutions.”

In addition to driving customer growth, Gooten has ambitious plans to expand its international presence by establishing new fulfillment partnerships in key markets such as Korea, Japan, India, Latin America, Brazil, and Western Europe. This expansion will enable Gooten to provide enhanced services to a broader customer base across the globe. Furthermore, Gooten aims to further improve its suite of technology tools and services, allowing businesses to optimize their order management processes and tap into the vast potential of on-demand manufacturing.

“The Gooten solution fills a unique gap in the market,” says Maddy Alcala, President. “Order management technology has existed for over twenty-five years for the traditional pick-pack-ship fulfillment model. The Gooten team is bringing enterprise-grade software to the on-demand production industry and this capital raise accelerates our ability to deliver new functionality to our customers, helping them grow sales and streamline business operations.”

Since its inception eight years ago, Gooten has developed its own cloud-native software and analytics that streamline the production and fulfillment process, eliminating uncertainty and guesswork. By leveraging its proprietary technology, Gooten is able to help brands, including Fortune 100 retailers, global creator and merchandising platforms, and high-growth independent brands, to concentrate on their core strengths of selling and expanding.

The startup also collaborates with a wide range of eCommerce businesses, retailers, and global merchandising companies, offering them the opportunity to minimize or eliminate their inventory holdings. Instead, they can rely on Gooten’s on-demand, high-quality, and scalable production capabilities, ensuring efficient and flexible manufacturing wherever it’s required.

“Gooten’s innovative approach to order management aligns perfectly with our investment thesis,” said Jeff Parkinson, Gooten board member and Partner at KEC Ventures. “The company’s commitment to leveraging technology and creating seamless, efficient processes has allowed it to build the largest on-demand manufacturing network in the world by capacity, servicing the largest brands, merchandising platforms, and the creator economy. We are excited to support Gooten’s growth as it continues to empower businesses with on-demand manufacturing capabilities.”