GoKwik, an AI-powered platform that gives retailers and their customers frictionless e-commerce, has announced a $13 million growth round. Led by RTP Global and with participation from Z47, PeakXV Partners and Think Investments, the funding will be used to support GoKwik’s expansion, particularly into the UK and European markets.
The platform is already well-established, with over 12,000 brands and sales with a Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of more than $3 billion. We asked Abhishek Chandra, GoKwik’s Chief Revenue Officer who will be leading the European expansion, more about the platform that will soon be a familiar part of our shopping experience.
From no-cash-on-delivery to solving conversion problems
GoKwik was founded in 2020 after the CEO and co-founder, Chirag Taneja, was working for a direct-to-consumer brand, and realised there were multiple problems with the customer journey. “Some challenges were uniquely Indian, like the high dependence on cash-on-delivery, which has an abuse problem leading to major revenue leakage,” Chandra explained. “As the founding team dug deeper, they discovered even more friction points across the funnel — inefficiencies that were waiting to be solved.”
The founding team, Chirag Taneja, Ankush Talwar, and Vivek Bajpai combined their backgrounds in machine learning and engineering, to create GoKwik. They quickly discovered that many of the problems, like high return rates and poorly performing sales funnels, were faced by retailers everywhere. The result was a set of products to address those issues. “GoKwik was born from real, on-ground insight to blend technology, AI, and commerce to build scalable, merchant-friendly solutions that simplify shopping and boost conversions,” Chandra told us.
From first click to conversion
The suite of products GoKwik offers helps brands engage with their customers. By engaging with customers before the purchase, they increased conversion and minimised abandoned shopping carts, while also smoothing the customer journey after the transaction, reducing product returns while encouraging repeat transactions. Their latest product uses WhatsApp Business to create conversational commerce and build lasting connections with customers.
GoKwik’s products have quickly proved their value to both retailers and their customers. Their product has proven it can cope technically, with 130 million shoppers processing $3 billion GMV. However, their challenges are not purely technical. “Consumer behaviour in the UK and Europe differs significantly from India. We had to deeply understand the local ecosystem to adapt our solutions effectively,” said Chandra.
GoKwik has also had to build its profile with retailers. “Perhaps the biggest challenge was trust,” Chandra explained. “Even if our product has a strong fit, establishing that level of trust is not immediate. It’s delicate, and it takes time.” To address that, GoKwik has been building local teams to develop relationships with brands. They have helped more than 100 brands, including Blaupunkt, Jacques of London, and Levi’s to onboard their KwikEngage product.
Making WhatsApp the next high street
GoKwik’s WhatsApp integration presents an untapped opportunity for retailers. In the UK, 86% of all adults use WhatsApp and e-commerce is expected to form 38% of UK retail this year. With inbox fatigue growing, the potential for WhatsApp to fill the gap has largely been ignored.
They also gained significant insights into consumer behaviour from the extensive business they have already helped to deliver, which they are ready to use to help new clients increase sales and revenue.
“Chirag, Ankush, and Vivek have built an outstanding team with a clear sense of purpose and a deep understanding of what brands need to succeed in an AI-first world,” said Galina Chifina, partner and CEO at lead investor RTP Global. “Their data-led approach and ability to anticipate market shifts have made them a vital partner for the D2C ecosystem.”
GoKwik’s immediate priority is to build on their successful start in Europe, but further expansion is not off the table, “Our broader global strategy follows a simple playbook: identify regions where we can solve real problems, earn merchant trust through results and expand thoughtfully,” said Chandra. “We’re here to partner, not just to launch.”
Customers in the UK will soon be introduced to GoKwik’s new shopping experience. “We’ll empower D2C brands to make highly data-driven decisions through advanced AI and insights,” Chandra said. “The goal is simple: give every brand the tools to scale with empathy, trust, and relevance — and create shopping experiences that feel as intuitive and human as the best offline ones.”
