Another Secures $2.5M Seed Funding to Tackle Excess Inventory

For years, the retail industry has grappled with a costly and inefficient problem: what to do with unsold or excess inventory. Managing off-channel inventory is a complex challenge that often forces brands to sell products at a loss through discount retailers or bulk resellers, eroding profitability and contributing to significant waste. Recognizing this systemic issue, Corina Marshall leveraged over a decade of retail digital marketing experience to found Another, a software platform designed to bring modern data coordination to this outdated process. The startup has now secured $2.5 million in seed funding to advance its mission of transforming how brands handle surplus goods.

The traditional journey for excess inventory is fraught with delays and guesswork. Products languish across disparate warehouses, while teams struggle to assess an item’s accurate value or determine the optimal time to sell it. This inefficiency means brands frequently miss favorable market windows, ultimately settling for deep discounts that hurt their bottom line. Marshall observed that the technology supporting these secondary markets was not keeping pace with the need for speed and insight. “Too much time passes between each step of the off-channel inventory funnel,” she noted, highlighting the gap Another aims to fill.

Another’s software system integrates directly with a company’s existing infrastructure, such as returns management platforms, to centralize data and streamline workflows. This integration provides teams across the organization with a single source of truth, enabling more effective and coordinated decision-making. In fast-moving secondary markets like Nordstrom Rack, where pricing is dynamic and timelines are tight, this real-time access to information is critical. It allows retailers to move products from their primary channels to off-price destinations more efficiently, capturing better value.

The recent seed round was led by Anthemis FIL and Westbound. Marshall connected with these lead investors through an industry event last year. The new capital will primarily accelerate product development and support hiring efforts as the company scales. While marketplace platforms like Ghost operate in a similar space by helping brands sell unsold stock, Marshall positions Another differently. The platform focuses on intervention earlier in the process, aiming to help companies address excess inventory before they feel compelled to sell to bulk resellers, where discounts are often steepest and brand control is lost.

“The technology provides real-time data and insights that give teams confidence in when, where, and how to move inventory,” Marshall explained. This capability enables smarter decisions that prioritize value maximization over default liquidation. The broader vision extends beyond just profitability. By creating a more efficient pathway for excess goods, Another seeks to promote solutions that balance financial and environmental goals. A great deal of inventory that isn’t sold quickly enough is ultimately destroyed, representing both a economic loss and a sustainability failure.

Marshall believes her company’s approach creates a virtuous cycle. Consumers benefit from access to better prices and more options, while brands and retailers can improve their profitability and dramatically reduce waste. It’s a model designed to be a win for every party involved in the complex lifecycle of retail products.

(Source: TechCrunch)