RETAIL NXT

What RETAIL NXT does

RETAIL NXT GmbH is a Hamburg-based B2B conference organizer, founded in 2023 as a wholly-owned brand of FLEET Events GmbH, that runs an annual retail-technology conference exclusively for retailers and brands in the DACH region. The flagship event targets 1,500 attendees (70% retailers and brands, 30% C-level) and is structured around three thematic pillars for the 2026 edition — Umsatz & Monetarisierung, Operations & Resilienz, and Data Platform & Trust — with the 2026 theme 'From Firefight to Future – Operating Retail in the Age of AI'. The company enforces a strict vendor-exclusion policy: solution providers cannot purchase tickets and may only participate through paid partnership tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Content), which is the primary revenue stream alongside phased conference ticket sales (€249–€699 across Super Early Bird, Early Bird, Late Bird, and Regular pricing).

The technology stack is event-operations oriented: an owned ticketing storefront (tickets.retail-nxt.com) with identity verification, a matchmaking app and platform that facilitates 10,000+ curated 1-on-1 meetings per edition, and content surfaces including the RETAIL NXT Insights Blog and the NEXT STOP: RETAIL podcast. There is no public API, no SDK, and no software product for license; the matchmaking platform is operated as an event-internal networking tool rather than a standalone product. Notable assets include 100+ branded retail use cases, an Advisory Council of executives from MediamarktSaturn, ANWR Group, Breuninger, and Hornbach, and a sponsor ecosystem anchored by REWE digital, Schwarz Digits, ServiceNow, Adobe, Capgemini, Salesforce, AWS, and SAP.

The business is event-driven and community-led. Go-to-market combines content marketing (podcast, blog), direct email with phased pricing, industry PR, and cross-promotion with peer DACH events (EuroCIS, OMR, DMEXCO, EHI Connect, K5). The customer base is bifurcated: a distributed audience of senior retail and brand executives (speakers and attendees from Deichmann, METRO, REWE, IKEA, Breuninger, Würth, Coolblue, Thalia, Rossmann, Primark, JD.com, and Weleda) supplies ticket revenue, while a concentrated roster of enterprise technology vendors supplies the larger share of revenue through partnership packages. Management is led by CEO Ruben Doppelstein alongside Managing Directors Dr. Thomas Köhl and Christoph Rénévier; the company is private, German-domiciled (HRB 189907, Amtsgericht Hamburg), and does not disclose revenue, headcount, or external funding.

Name

RETAIL NXT

Legal name

RETAIL NXT GmbH

Website

https://retail-nxt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

RETAIL NXT is a Hamburg-based B2B conference organizer, founded in 2023 under FLEET Events, that runs an annual retailer-only retail-technology event in the DACH region targeting 1,500 senior retail and brand decision-makers, funded by ticket sales and tiered enterprise sponsorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Technology Conferences & Events

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Retail technology conference
• B2B event management
• Retail digital transformation
• Industry networking events
• Retail tech solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Conference Tickets: RETAIL NXT generates revenue primarily through ticket sales for its annual conference. Tickets are sold in phases (Super Early Bird, Early Bird, Late Bird, Regular) with two tiers: Conference Pass (basic) and Conference Pass Plus (with catering and premium amenities).
2. Partnership Sponsorship: Technology companies and solution providers pay for partnership packages at various tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Booth, Start-ups, Benchmark Bar, Content) to gain visibility and access to retail decision-makers. This is the primary revenue model given tickets are restricted to retailers only.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RETAIL NXT organizes the leading user-only B2B conference for retail technology decision-makers in the DACH region, complemented by the NEXT STOP: RETAIL podcast, masterclasses, and a matchmaking platform/app. The conference features 100+ speakers, masterclasses, curated networking, and an exhibition ("Shop of the Future") and is exclusively reserved for retailers and brands — solution providers participate only through tiered partnership packages.

Product overview

RETAIL NXT is a B2B conference and event company focused on retail technology, organized by FLEET Events. The primary offering is the annual RETAIL NXT Conference, a retail-only event (Anwenderkongress) where technology decision-makers from retailers and brands gather. The product portfolio includes the main conference event featuring multiple stages (Main Stage, XPO Stage), an associated podcast series called NEXT STOP: RETAIL, a networking matchmaking platform/app, and curated masterclasses. The company does not offer software products but rather serves as a content and networking platform for the retail technology ecosystem. Event themes focus on AI in retail, omnichannel, e-commerce, and digital transformation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NEXT STOP: RETAIL: Podcast series bringing the RETAIL NXT stage directly into retail companies, featuring weekly episodes with industry decision-makers discussing retail trends and technology.
• RETAIL NXT Connect RUN
• Shop of the Future

Products and services

• RETAIL NXT Conference (Annual) The annual two-day B2B conference for retail technology decision-makers (CIOs, CTOs, CDOs, CMOs, CEOs) from retailers and brands, featuring multiple stages, 100+ speakers, masterclasses, curated networking, an exhibition area, and a matchmaking platform. Ticket access is restricted exclusively to retailers and brands; solution providers must participate through partnership packages.
• NEXT STOP: RETAIL Podcast A podcast series featuring interviews with retail executives (from Küche&Co, Braun Büffel, MediaMarktSaturn, Warsteiner, Cyberport, Fielmann, OTTO, ANWR Group, Breuninger, and others) discussing digital transformation, AI adoption, retail media, and industry trends, extending the RETAIL NXT brand year-round.
• Matchmaking Platform & App A networking tool and mobile app that enables conference attendees to connect, schedule 1-on-1 meetings, and access curated business matching before and during the RETAIL NXT event. The platform has facilitated 10,000+ 1-on-1 meetings across the conference editions.
• Conference Masterclasses Exclusive, hands-on sessions conducted in small groups for in-depth knowledge transfer on specific retail technology topics with industry experts; included as part of the Conference Pass experience.
• Partnership & Sponsorship Packages Tiered partnership packages (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Booth, Start-ups, Benchmark Bar, Content) available to technology vendors and solution providers to gain visibility, access retail decision-makers, and integrate into the conference program (e.g., 'Shop of the Future' showcase). Platinum partners include REWE digital, Schwarz Digits, and ServiceNow; Gold partners include Adobe, Capgemini, Salesforce, Forter, ESW, and Zebra Technologies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1500+ retail decision-makers in attendance
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• EuroCIS: EuroCIS is Europe's leading trade fair for retail technology, held annually in Düsseldorf. It targets the same retail-tech decision-maker audience as RETAIL NXT and is explicitly mentioned as a cross-promotion partner, indicating overlap in audience and content scope.
• EHI Connect: EHI Connect is a retail industry conference organized by the EHI Retail Institute, covering retail technology and digital transformation topics. It targets a similar German retailer audience and competes for the same C-level retail attendees as RETAIL NXT.
• Shoptalk (Shoptalk Events): Shoptalk is the leading US-based retail and e-commerce technology conference, covering AI, omnichannel, supply chain, and retail media. It is the most direct international comparable in terms of audience, content focus, and retailer-only positioning strategy.
• K5 Future Retail Conference: K5 is one of the largest retail and e-commerce conferences in the DACH region, directly competing with RETAIL NXT for the same retailer and brand decision-maker audience. Both events focus on digital transformation, omnichannel, and retail technology, making them the closest direct competitor in the German-speaking market.

Others

• FLEET Events GmbH (parent brand portfolio): FLEET Events GmbH is the parent event management company operating RETAIL NXT alongside other vertical conferences. Comparable as an enabler/parent operator rather than a competitor; relevant for benchmarking operational scale and event-production capability backing RETAIL NXT.

Emerging players

• Money 20/20: Money 20/20 is a large fintech and payments industry conference that uses a similar invitation/curated-audience model targeting C-level executives. It is comparable in go-to-market structure (curated attendee access, premium sponsorship tiers) though focused on fintech rather than retail.

Broad incumbents

• Web Summit: Web Summit is one of the largest global tech conferences, with significant retail-tech and e-commerce content. While broader than RETAIL NXT, it competes for enterprise tech sponsorship budgets and overlapping brand and retailer attendees.
• DMEXCO: DMEXCO is a major digital marketing and tech event in Cologne covering digital economy, marketing, and ad-tech. It overlaps with RETAIL NXT on retail media, e-commerce, and customer experience topics and competes for brand-side marketing budgets.
• OMR Festival: OMR is a large digital marketing and tech conference in Hamburg covering digital business, marketing, and e-commerce. While not retail-specific, OMR attracts retail and brand decision-makers and overlaps with RETAIL NXT's audience on digital transformation and retail media topics.
• NRF (National Retail Federation Big Show): NRF's Big Show is the world's largest retail industry conference held annually in New York, covering retail technology, operations, and digital transformation. It serves as the global benchmark for retail-tech events and represents both a competitor and a ceiling on RETAIL NXT's international expansion potential.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/retail-nxt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RETAIL NXT