Hello from the founders of Oversee! We're excited to share with you not just our story, but a narrative of an industry in flux and how Oversee came to be in response to these transformative changes.
Understanding the Market Shift
Our journey began after seeing a dramatic shift in the retail industry. Following the pandemic lockdowns, an unprecedented surge in online shopping caused the number of Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) brands to 3x in 2 years. With VC money pouring in and customer acquisition cost remaining low, the market was ripe with opportunity, but this was just the beginning of an even larger wave of change.
The Ripple Effect of Privacy Laws and Market Dynamics
The introduction of stringent privacy laws and the iOS 14 privacy update broke down the engines of E-Commerce. The cost of customer acquisition spiked, leaving many brands scrambling to adjust. This was a pivotal moment for the industry, signaling the need for new, innovative ways to grow.
The Wholesale Marketplace Conundrum
In this evolving landscape, many brands turned to wholesale marketplaces. While this provided a new avenue for growth, it came with its own set of challenges. High transaction fees (15-25%!) and the lack of direct customer relationships made us question the sustainability of this model. It was clear the industry needed a different approach.
Founding Oversee: A Direct-To-Retail Solution
In light of these industry shifts, we founded Oversee. Our vision was to create a platform that circumvented the limitations of existing models. We are building a Direct-To-Retail approach by offering brands a more sustainable and profitable way to operate by removing costly intermediaries.
Meet the Founders
Alex, CEO: With a background in Computer Science from UT Austin, I grew my love of commerce as an early engineer at a Shopify competitor, building the B2B admin consoles for MLB and Petco. As a previous founder of a venture-backed HR startup, I am bringing the power of search & AI to B2B commerce.
Jun, CTO: Holding degrees in Computer Science and Psychology from Yale, my expertise lies in developing systems that harness location analytics and data visualization, a skill I enhanced at Snap, Google, and Robinhood. This background shapes our product vision at Oversee, enabling brands to tackle the new challenges of offline retail.
Our Mission and Vision
At Oversee, we're dedicated to empowering brands in the ever-changing retail landscape. Our mission is to simplify and amplify how brands manage and expand their offline operations. Born from the need for innovation in a dynamic market, Oversee reflects our commitment to guiding the retail industry through its evolution, providing new avenues for growth and success.
Interested in being part of our journey? We're a small, driven team tackling big problems in B2B commerce, based in Long Island City.