Live-shopping app Whatnot seeking $20 billion valuation
July 30, 2026 – 8:00 am
(Image by: Bangla press/Shutterstock)
Live commerce startup Whatnot, known for its livestream auctions of sneakers, trading cards, and vinyl, is in advanced talks to raise funds at a pre-money valuation of approximately $20 billion. This would represent a significant jump from its previous valuation of $11.5 billion just over a year ago in late 2024.
The rapid growth in Whatnot’s valuation underscores the rising allure of live shopping in the West, as demonstrated by its $8 billion in livestream sales during the past year across North America and Europe. This volume has caught the attention of prominent investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia, Lightspeed, and Google’s CapitalG, who have all backed the company.
While the concept is not new (livestream shopping has been popular in China for years), Whatnot claims to be leading a crossover of this format into Western markets. The company focuses on niche communities, like collectors and resellers, rather than attempting to be a general store.
Recent acquisitions, such as Shaped (a real-time recommendation system), hint at potential areas for future investment with a larger funding round. These could include:
- Enhancing its recommendation engine to guide viewers toward relevant streams and products.
- Expanding into Europe.
- Competing with social platforms that are also entering the live shopping space.
However, while the $20 billion valuation is being discussed, it’s still considered a preliminary term sheet. Startup valuations can fluctuate before finalization. Nevertheless, Whatnot’s ambition and momentum highlight the significant potential of live commerce in the future.