Operator runs a conversational shopping app that combines chatbots and human product experts to sell US goods to Chinese consumers. Users browse via iOS, Android beta, and Facebook Messenger and can message a chatbot that connects them to a commission-earning human expert. The service aims to bridge ecommerce and brick-and-mortar by offering personalized shopping guidance and sourcing products from the closest, cheapest sources. Operator is expanding in China, opening a logistics and marketing office in Shanghai led by Yolanda Xue and adding Hugo Barra to the board for China expertise. Financially, the two-year-old company closed a $15M Series B at a $100M pre-money valuation and had previously raised $10M in an April Series A at a $40M pre valuation. Management says it must educate consumers on this new buying model while pursuing viral growth for broader adoption. Operator is an app built as a messaging-based shopping concierge that routes user requests to a network of human Operators who research options, present choices, and complete purchases on behalf of customers. The product is currently in private beta with a waitlist for new users and emphasizes high-consideration purchases that benefit from human judgment. Operator was developed inside Garrett Camp’s Expa studio and is led by CEO Robin Chan; the team positions the service as bridging in-store expertise and mobile convenience. The company partners with retailers (including allowing retailer staff to respond) and is exploring same- or next-day local delivery partnerships rather than building its own logistics. Operator is intentionally deferring monetization to prioritize building scale, though potential future revenue paths mentioned include revenue share on sales, retailer fees, selling customer insights, and sponsored placement. Expa’s backing and resources are cited as sufficient to keep the company operating while it focuses on product and growth.

Total raised

$25M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Sep 2016