Sotira raised a $2 million pre-seed round, TechCrunch reported on February 4, 2025, to expand its software and services for redirecting surplus goods. The San Francisco company connects suppliers with secondary-market buyers and, in its current positioning, helps route eligible excess inventory to nonprofits. The funding report described plans to expand into the Midwest and Southeast; it did not establish whether that expansion has since happened.
What Sotira does
Brands and other suppliers can have more goods than they can sell through their usual channels because of over-ordering, limited storage capacity or approaching expiration dates. Sotira offers a way to move some of that inventory through a secondary-market sale or a nonprofit donation rather than leaving it in storage or disposing of it.
The two routes have different goals. A sale seeks revenue recovery and gives a buyer control of the goods after purchase. A donation prioritizes distribution to a nonprofit, with recipient qualifications and documentation as part of the process. Sotira describes both routes, but the available information does not provide a neutral study comparing their financial or community outcomes.
How the secondary-market sales process works
TechCrunch’s February 2025 account described suppliers submitting inventory or storage information so Sotira could match goods with verified buyers, including brick-and-mortar stores. Buyer preferences such as UPC codes could help with matching. Buyers arranged pallet pickup from supplier warehouses, while Sotira handled compliance, transactions and logistics. The company’s stated goal at the time was to clear surplus within a few days after receiving inventory data; that was a goal, not a service guarantee. TechCrunch’s funding report describes that model.
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Sotira’s current buyer page describes browsing matched offers, making offers and negotiating, then arranging pickup with freight and purchasing paperwork. The company says it provides access to discounted shipping rates through middle-mile freight marketplace partners but does not name those partners.
How the nonprofit donation route works
Sotira’s current homepage describes a donation workflow in which suppliers upload an inventory spreadsheet or connect a warehouse management system. Sotira says it matches products with qualified nonprofits based on product type, location, quantity, expiration dates and distribution requirements. Suppliers can approve recipients before Sotira coordinates the donation and related documentation.
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- EASY TO USE ORGANIZER BINS: Wide hopper front on the storage bin lets you grab contents without unstacking; Large molded-in handles make carrying easier for kitchen storage, closet storage, and more
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The company says it works with qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits and provides records intended to support eligible deductions, audits and impact reporting. That description is not a determination that a particular donation qualifies for a tax deduction. Suppliers should confirm eligibility and documentation requirements with a tax professional.
What inventory and categories Sotira covers
The 2025 funding report described goods nearing expiration, over-orders and inventory constrained by storage capacity. It highlighted grocery, health and wellness, and cosmetics, and said Sotira was interested in expanding into apparel. That apparel interest was a historical plan, not confirmation of current coverage.
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Today, Sotira’s homepage describes excess, short-dated and obsolete goods for nonprofit donation, while its buyer page emphasizes branded overstock purchased by lot or pallet. The reviewed pages do not establish a complete, fixed list of categories available at all times; suppliers and buyers should confirm whether a particular product and lot can be handled.
Funding, founders and reported business model
TechCrunch reported that Sotira closed a $2 million pre-seed round with Unusual Ventures, Night Capital, K5 Global and Ritual Capital among the participants, along with others. It named Amrita Bhasin as CEO and Gary Kwong as CTO and co-founder. The company said it planned to use the funding to expand nationally, particularly in the Midwest and Southeast; the report did not verify the company’s current geographic reach.
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- DURABLE ORGANIZATION: These storage bins are made from industrial-grade polymers, offering a strong, long-lasting alternative to weak cardboard bins; Each storage bin is easy-to-clean and can be used indoors or outdoors; Shelf bins are waterproof
- SPILL-FREE RETRIEVAL: Lip design allows effortless forward tilting of the bin on racks, ensuring spill-free retrieval; Heavy duty plastic storage bins are great for parts storage, kitchen utensils, kitchen cabinet organization, closet storage, and more
- CUSTOMIZABLE SHELF ORGANIZER: Optional bin cups, dividers, and label holders (sold separately) let you tailor the heavy duty storage bins to your specific needs; Bins come in a variety of colors to color code your storage; Empty bins can be nested
- DIMENSIONS: Outside Dimensions - 17-7/8" x 4-1/8" x 4"; Inside Dimensions - 16-1/2" x 3" x 4"; Curved-bottom hopper front makes it easy to retrieve small parts; Weight capacity is limited to shelf weight capacity; Proudly made in the USA; Storage bins are NOT stackable
The same report said Sotira charged a monthly access fee and took a percentage of transaction revenue. The company’s current pages reviewed here do not confirm whether those terms still apply, so they should not be treated as current pricing. Suppliers considering the platform need to ask Sotira directly about present fees and terms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to interpret Sotira’s figures
- Surplus inventory estimate: TechCrunch cited NetSuite for an estimate that 20% to 30% of U.S. inventory is surplus. The report did not provide the estimate’s methodology or the original NetSuite publication year, so it is an attributed estimate rather than a verified measure of every sector.
- Company-reported case study: Sotira’s homepage features a case-study headline saying more than 200,000 Aura Bora units were monetized in under a week. The page does not supply a publication date, and the outcome is presented by Sotira rather than independently verified.
- Buyer-page savings claim: Sotira advertises “up to 80% below wholesale” for premium overstock. This is a company marketing claim, not evidence that buyers generally achieve that saving.
TechCrunch quoted Bhasin describing the market as manual and saying that affordable access to goods matters to buyers in rural and lower-income communities. These are the founder’s views in a reported interview, not independent measurements of the market or consumer impact.
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What brands should weigh before choosing a route
| Question | Secondary-market sale | Nonprofit donation |
|---|---|---|
| Primary aim | Recover revenue by selling goods to secondary-market buyers. | Distribute eligible goods to qualified nonprofits. |
| Product fit | Sotira’s buyer page emphasizes branded overstock sold by lot or pallet; confirm product and lot availability. | The company describes excess, short-dated and obsolete inventory matched against recipient and distribution requirements. |
| Destination control | Buyers browse offers, negotiate and purchase; the reviewed pages do not describe a supplier approval step for each buyer. | Sotira says suppliers can approve proposed nonprofit recipients. |
| Logistics and records | Pickup, freight and purchase paperwork are part of the buyer workflow; current freight partners are not named. | Sotira says it coordinates donation logistics and provides documentation for eligible deductions, audits and impact reporting. |
| Outcome evidence | Sotira publishes a case-study claim, but the reviewed pages do not provide independent verification or a neutral comparison of recovery outcomes. | The company describes impact reporting, but no independent comparative outcome study is provided. |
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