Topsort Lets E-Commerce Run Ads That Actually Respect Privacy (No Creep Factor)

Two years in, Topsort’s founders have discovered what truly works in retail media. Regina Ye and Francisco Larrain built their startup to fix a real headache. Setting up ads on Meta, Amazon, or Google simply takes too much time. Worse, it often feels invasive. So they created a tool that respects privacy and still delivers results.

What Topsort Actually Does

Most small and mid-sized retailers know the pain. Ad platforms demand heavy data lifting. They also make you guess what works. Topsort took a different path.

The company built a clean API. Any marketplace can plug it in without a team of engineers. When users launch a campaign, they add sponsored listings, banner ads, or videos. After that, they control how ads appear. They also decide who runs campaigns and how quality gets measured. There is no hidden algorithm guessing on their behalf.

From Startup to Enterprise Contender

The product’s simplicity caught on fast. Marketplaces of all sizes discovered it just works. In fact, Topsort now serves names like Poshmark and Youtravel.me. It operates across 35 countries.

Ye spoke plainly about the journey. “We’ve tried many things since then and found what works. Last year was incredible growth for us. We grew almost 10 times in terms of revenue. We have a similar scale of ambition for this year.”

Investors noticed the momentum. The company first raised an $8 million seed round in 2022. That deal valued Topsort at $110 million. Then, after nearly 10x revenue growth, the team secured more funding. A $20 million Series A round was led by Upload Ventures. Existing backers Quiet Capital and Pear Ventures joined again. As a result, the valuation climbed to $150 million post-money. Total funding now stands at $28.6 million.

Revenue growth isn’t the only headline, however. Topsort also shifted gears to attract large enterprises. It built advanced features that pulled in major brands. P&G, General Mills, and Danone are now on the client list. So the same tool that powers a niche marketplace also serves global consumer giants. The core promise stays the same—effective ads without the creep.

The Cookie Problem, Solved Without the Creep

Third-party cookies are disappearing. Consequently, the ad industry is holding its breath. Everyone is asking the same question. What will targeting look like when the old tracking dies?

Topsort believes it has a genuine answer. The solution doesn’t rely on rebuilding user identities through hidden backdoors. Instead, the team built a Cleanroom feature. This tool combines data sets without crossing into invasive territory. No shady cross-referencing occurs. No “we saw what you browsed” footprints remain. The matching stays aggregated and safe for privacy.

Ye explained the vision directly. “Everyone’s wondering what’s going to happen to advertising after cookies. We think we have the answer to the clean advertising solution. We’ve spent three years making a very solid offering. Today, we probably have the most comprehensive offering of that in the market.”

Why Clean Advertising Matters Now

Digital ads have an image problem. Users feel watched. Scandals pile up. Meanwhile, regulations keep tightening. For online store owners, this creates a dilemma. They want to grow. However, they don’t want to make customers uncomfortable.

Topsort’s approach sidesteps the slimy factor. It relies on first-party data and auction dynamics. A marketplace already knows what shoppers do on site. That information alone powers relevant sponsored listings. There is no need to stitch together creepy off-site profiles. Furthermore, the auction mechanism ensures fair ad placement. It rewards value without demanding invasive personal data.

What’s Next for Topsort

Fresh capital changes the game. A customer list that spans from startups to Fortune 500 brands opens new doors. As a result, the company is chasing another year of fast growth. The mission remains clear. Topsort wants to make retail media open to everyone. Any platform should be able to earn ad money while keeping user trust intact.

As the cookie era fades, tools that measure results without being creepy become essential. They are no longer just a nice extra. Topsort is betting the market is heading precisely that way. Judging by the revenue curve and big brands signing on, that bet already looks smart.