After reviewing thousands of decks, meeting with 100+ industry experts, and backing 9 new companies across the Future of Commerce in 2025, here are some of our core bets for 2026 đź”®
1. The agentic commerce stack is starting to take shape. A number of players are reaching real maturity, and we believe conversational and agentic commerce will become a reality in 2026.
2. Could Shopify emerge as a category leader in agentic commerce? After building one of the biggest supply and pushing its payment layer (Shopify Payments / Shop App), Shopify now appears to be moving closer to the end customer.
3. DTC brands have faced significant pressure from rising CACs over the past few years. We’re starting to see community ownership and monetization as a potential unlock to make brand-building a VC play again.
4. The shift from SEO to GEO5. Why 2026 could be the breakout year for Physical AI6. How AI may reshape: (i) compliance, (ii) logistics, and (iii) customs & trade complianceWe are more committed than ever to backing the companies shaping the Future of Commerce. If you’re building in this space, don’t hesitate to reach out or apply on daphni.com
