Shopkick
Shopkick was a US mobile shopping rewards app (a Trax subsidiary) that let consumers earn cashback and loyalty points on online and in-store purchases via location-based technology, monetizing through affiliate commissions and brand advertising before ceasing operations in 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersSan Mateo, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Shopkick does
Shopkick, Inc., founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Mateo, California, operated a mobile shopping rewards application that enabled US consumers to earn points, cashback, and rewards on both online and in-store purchases. The app used location-based marketing technology to allow shoppers to accumulate rewards without receipt scanning, targeting individual consumers through horizontal segmentation across general retail categories. Following its acquisition by Trax, a retail computer vision company, Shopkick operated as a Trax subsidiary and was described as a leading shopping rewards app at the time of closure.
The product surface consisted of a single consumer mobile app distributed through the iOS App Store and Google Play. Core technology was a personalization engine layered over consumer shopping behavior and location data. In December 2025, Shopkick launched 'My Shopkick,' a platform-wide personalization enhancement aimed at deepening engagement for shoppers and improving customer acquisition and retention outcomes for brand partners, with a nationwide US rollout. Business model combined two revenue streams: (i) affiliate marketing and referral commissions earned when users purchased through merchant partnerships, and (ii) in-app advertising and sponsored promotional offers from brands seeking reach into an engaged shopping audience. Pricing was not publicly disclosed, and customer logos were not enumerated; marketing relied on organic visibility through third-party cashback app comparison content.
Shopkick abruptly shut down in March 2026 and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on May 29, 2026 (Case No. 26-10877), initiating liquidation. The company had disclosed approximately $26.7M in cumulative funding across rounds from 2009–2014, led by Greylock, Kleiner Perkins, Citi Ventures, SV Angel, Simon Property Group, and SevenVentures, and had completed at least one acquisition (Theneeds, December 31, 2015). The entity is currently closed to new users and has ceased operations.
Shopkick firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shopkick
- Legal name
- Shopkick, Inc.
- Website
- https://shopkick.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Shopkick was a US mobile shopping rewards app (a Trax subsidiary) that let consumers earn cashback and loyalty points on online and in-store purchases via location-based technology, monetizing through affiliate commissions and brand advertising before ceasing operations in 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shopkick industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Shopping Rewards
- NAICS
- Retail Trade (44-45)
- SIC
- Retail-Nonstore Retailers (5960)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Omnichannel Commerce & Click-and-Collect Platforms (BPAMAGAL)
Keywords
Where Shopkick is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Mateo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Shopkick business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Affiliate Marketing and Referral Commissions: Shopkick earned revenue through affiliate marketing partnerships with merchants, earning commissions when users made purchases through the app. The app also leveraged referral programs to acquire new users.
- In-App Advertising and Sponsored Offers: Revenue generated from in-app advertising and sponsored promotional offers from brands seeking to reach the app's engaged shopping audience.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Shopkick product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shopkick was a mobile shopping rewards application that allowed consumers to earn points and rewards for online and in-store purchases through location-based check-ins, in-app activities, and partner retailer purchases, without requiring receipt scanning. The app generated revenue through affiliate marketing commissions from merchants and in-app advertising from brands seeking to reach its engaged shopping audience.
Product overview
Shopkick was a single mobile rewards application that operated as a cashback and loyalty platform. The company offered one core product—the Shopkick mobile app—which enabled consumers to earn points and rewards for shopping activities. The company launched its 'My Shopkick' feature in December 2025 to enhance personalization and engagement for both brands and shoppers before the company filed for bankruptcy in May 2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Shopkick
Companies that use Shopkick
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Shopkick technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Shopkick partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- TraxminorShopkick collaborated with Trax, a retail computer vision company, to conduct a consumer survey on Halloween candy spending trends. The survey of 6,000+ shoppers found that 79% had scaled back Halloween candy spending due to rising prices, with 86% noticing candy price increases.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Shopkick competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat3 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Shopkick social profiles
Digital presenceShopkick financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shopkick leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Shopkick funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shopkick M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shopkick
What does Shopkick do?
Shopkick was a mobile shopping rewards application that allowed consumers to earn points and rewards for online and in-store purchases through location-based check-ins, in-app activities, and partner retailer purchases, without requiring receipt scanning. The app generated revenue through affiliate marketing commissions from merchants and in-app advertising from brands seeking to reach its engaged shopping audience.
Is Shopkick a public or private company?
Shopkick is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently closed.
When was Shopkick founded?
Shopkick was founded in 2009. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Shopkick based?
Shopkick is headquartered in San Mateo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Shopkick make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Affiliate Marketing and Referral Commissions are the primary driver. The others are in-App Advertising and Sponsored Offers.
Does Shopkick have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shopkick.
What industry is Shopkick in?
Shopkick's product category is Mobile Shopping Rewards. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAGAL, Omnichannel Commerce & Click-and-Collect Platforms. Its NAICS code is 44-45 and its SIC code is 5960.