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Based in Spokane, Washington, BuyWander operates an e-commerce platform that hosts daily, no-reserve online auctions for returned and overstocked retail merchandise. The company utilizes artificial intelligence to inspect, sort, and sell discounted consumer goods from major technology brands like Apple, offering curbside pickup across its physical warehouse network. The enterprise currently manages four warehouse locations across regional markets including Seattle and Salt Lake City, processes six semi-trucks of merchandise weekly, and maintains a workforce of 120 employees. Following a $2 million seed funding round in 2025, the business surpassed 10,000 registered users at its primary Spokane facility and projects $70 million in annual revenue by August 2026. BuyWander was founded in 2024 by co-chief executive officers Jordan Allen and Brock Kowalchuk, who previously held executive leadership roles at the venture-backed startups Stay Alfred and Kaspien.
BuyWander has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round.
BuyWander has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
BuyWander has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
BuyWander's investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Chemistry VC, Contrary Capital, Forefront Venture Partners, Gaingels, Geek Ventures, Next Play Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Pareto Holdings, Reshape Ventures, Streamlined Ventures, Tribe Capital.
BuyWander has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Seed in April 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2025 | $2M Seed | — | Andreessen Horowitz, Chemistry VC, Contrary Capital, Forefront Venture Partners, Gaingels, Geek Ventures, Next Play Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Pareto Holdings, Reshape Ventures, Streamlined Ventures, Tribe Capital, Unpopular Ventures, Y Combinator, Charlie Songhurst, Francis Santora, Jonathan Wasserstrum, Paul Forster, Ravi Grover, Vishal RAO | Announced |
BuyWander is a Spokane, Washington-based technology startup that operates an e-commerce marketplace for retail returns, using AI and other tech to scan, sort, and auction thousands of new and like-new products daily.[1][4] It serves bargain-hunting consumers seeking discounted name-brand items across categories like electronics, clothing, home goods, and automotive, solving the problem of excess retail returns that often end up in warehouses or landfills by reselling them through no-reserve online auctions with curbside pickup.[1][2][4] Launched in February 2024, the company has shown strong growth momentum: it raised $2 million in seed funding, expanded to four warehouses (Spokane Valley, Portland, Kent near Seattle, and West Valley City, Utah), processes six semi-trucks of merchandise weekly, surpassed 10,000 registered users in Spokane, hit $370,000 in March revenue with 1 million+ page views, and projects $70 million in annual revenue by August 2026 while employing about 120 people.[1][2]
BuyWander was founded in February 2024 by co-CEOs Jordan Allen and Brock Kowalchuk in Spokane Valley, Washington.[1][2] Allen, with prior experience leading Stay Alfred (a short-term rental startup that shut down in 2020) and Doorsey (an online real estate bidding platform acquired by Auction.io in 2023), spotted the opportunity after his Doorsey exit: countless quality retail returns were going to waste, inspiring a platform to give them a second life.[1][2][3] Kowalchuk, former CEO of Kaspien (a Spokane e-commerce sales firm that closed in 2023), brought expertise in online marketplaces.[1] Early traction came quickly—the Spokane location outgrew three spaces before settling into a 36,000-square-foot facility, listed over 3,000 items daily, and drew 200 curbside pickups per day, fueling rapid expansion.[1][2][3]
BuyWander rides the wave of e-commerce return surges—exacerbated by lenient retail policies post-pandemic—turning a $800+ billion global problem into opportunity by leveraging AI for reverse logistics and marketplaces.[1] Timing is ideal amid rising sustainability demands and economic pressures on consumers, as market forces like high return rates (up to 30% for apparel) favor efficient resellers over landfills.[1][4] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering local, tech-driven reuse models that cut emissions from shipping/shipping returns, compete lightly with big retailers via exclusive auction dynamics, and scale nationally (aiming for 200-300 U.S. stores in five years).[2][3]
BuyWander's hyper-growth—from startup to four warehouses and $70M revenue projection—positions it to dominate retail returns resale, with national expansion via new sites and seed funding fueling warehouse builds.[1][2] Trends like AI logistics advancements, circular economy mandates, and thrift-tech booms (e.g., Depop, ThredUp) will accelerate its path, though scaling culture and supply consistency pose challenges.[3] Its influence could evolve into a nationwide network redefining "bargain hunting" as sustainable tech commerce, bridging savvy shoppers and retailers in a waste-averse future—proving returns aren't rejects, but real deals.
