The Store Of The Future: 133 Startups Transforming Brick-And-Mortar Retail In One Infographic

Startups are outfitting retailers with augmented reality, beacons, wearables, and more to bridge the gap between digital and physical shopping.

Brick-and-mortar retail is a high-stakes business. And, while it might seem as if e-commerce has taken over, Americans still do over 90% of our shopping in physical stores. In fact, one of the latest trends in retail is the launch of physical stores by online e-commerce companies, including Amazon, Warby Parker, and Birchbox.

To help retailers bridge the gap between digital and physical commerce, and keep up with e-commerce competitors, dozens of startups have developed in-store technology ranging from shelf-stocking robots, to augmented reality displays, to Wi-Fi-based beacons that collect data on shopper behavior.

Many companies focus on optimizing existing store operations with the injection of cloud-based software and mobile apps, helping retailers manage things like employee scheduling, mobile payments, coupons, and shelf stocking. Others have paved entirely new paths for data collection and shopper engagement. Many even leverage frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented/virtual reality, and Internet of Things connectivity.

Using CB Insights data, we identified startups enhancing the in-store experience with digital tools. Scroll down to view the infographic and read more about the categories we identified.

This infographic is not exhaustive of companies in the category. We included private, active companies only.