Grovara

Grovara operates as a B2B online marketplace focused on facilitating international trade for consumer packaged goods (CPG), particularly within the natural, organic, and wellness sectors. The company was founded in 2010 by Peter Groverman and Abu Kamara. Kamara, a native of Sierra Leone and a Rutgers University graduate in International Economics, serves as the CEO, bringing experience from a previous e-commerce startup and a business development group focused on export markets. Groverman, the Chief Innovation Officer, is an entrepreneur and lawyer with a background in marketing from the University of Miami and a J.D. from Villanova University. His prior ventures include the internet advertising startup TapInko and the nonprofit RELIEF Foundation.

The Philadelphia-based company aims to simplify the complexities of exporting for American brands. Its platform connects U.S. consumer brands with a network of vetted international buyers, including retailers and distributors, across more than 72 countries. Grovara has established a physical presence with offices in Mexico and Dubai to support its expansion in Latin America and the Middle East. The business model revolves around its technology platform, which streamlines the entire export process, from product discovery and order processing to payments and fulfillment. The platform features tools like a proprietary Pallet-Builder, which algorithmically calculates and visualizes pallet orders to simplify logistics, and offers a subscription model for recurring orders. For revenue, the company does not charge onboarding fees but offers premium data packages and facilitates transactions through its marketplace.

Grovara serves as an intermediary, acting as an extension of a brand's sales team to manage the intricacies of global trade. The platform provides automation, data-driven insights, and transparency to both brands and buyers. For brands, it offers a channel to access foreign markets, while buyers gain access to a curated portfolio of American wellness products. Notable brands that have used the platform include GT's Kombucha, Horizon Organic, and Waterloo Sparkling Water, connecting with retailers like Walmart Mexico and Costco Taiwan. Since its inception, Grovara has secured total funding of $7.07 million over nine rounds, including a significant $5.5 million seed round in March 2021. Key investors include Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Siddhi Capital, and Bluestein Ventures.

Keywords: B2B marketplace, CPG exporting, international trade platform, natural and organic products, wellness brands, export management, global wholesale, supply chain technology, food and beverage import, cross-border e-commerce, US consumer brands, vetted global buyers, export logistics, digital trade, Peter Groverman, Abu Kamara, Philadelphia startup, online wholesale, B2B e-commerce, international distribution