Hamburg-based startup Wyrld has secured €1 million in pre-Seed funding to launch its innovative social commerce platform and blend traditional ecommerce with the engagement of the creator economy.
Among the investors are Jochen Krisch and Sven Rittau, e-commerce entrepreneurs and organisers of the K5 conference; Kevin Tewe, founder of ALL IN – Artist Management GmbH; and Matthias Schrader, a digital pioneer and the founder of SinnerSchrader. Their backing not only provides financial support but also strategic connections in an industry that is rapidly evolving.
The company is tackling the issue of bridging the gap between influencer marketing and online retail. As Sascha Lobo, author and SPIEGEL columnist, put it: “E-commerce in Germany still looks like it did 20 years ago. The entertainment factor of Amazon, Zalando, or Otto is somewhere between a train station waiting room and an Excel spreadsheet.”
The company, founded in 2024 by Jakob Neise and Paul Scherz, aims to blend the seamless service and security of traditional e-commerce with the engagement of the creator economy.
Neise brings extensive experience in social media-driven advertising, having Co-founded PlayTheHype, a 40-person agency that worked with Adidas, L’Oréal, funny-frisch, and Sparkasse Group to execute influencer campaigns. Scherz, meanwhile, previously founded Be A Creator, an influencer management agency that represents over 50 top-tier influencers with a combined reach of more than 200 million followers.
Set to launch this year, Wyrld is currently being tested by influencers and select brands, targeting Gen Z and Gen Alpha, demographics increasingly disengaged from conventional online shopping, according to Wyrld.
The platform is designed to create an immersive shopping experience, offering content creators and brands a direct and streamlined way to market and sell products while Wyrld handles logistics and customer support.
With this fresh funding, Wyrld is gearing up for a full-scale launch, focusing on building a network of top influencers, strengthening its supply chain, and enhancing its platform’s user experience. Additionally, the company plans to expand its management team to support its ambitious growth.
Looking ahead, Wyrld is already planning its next funding round, expected to close around the time of its platform launch. With strong investor backing and a clear vision, the startup is positioned to disrupt the e-commerce space and redefine how younger generations engage with online shopping.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/02/wyrld-lands-e1-million-to-shake-up-e-commerce-with-content-creators-and-influencers/
