Avalara automates the complexity of calculating, collecting, reporting and remitting taxes–streamlining an increasingly regulated environment.

Background:

Prior to Battery’s 2012 investment in Avalara, the company was not actively seeking financing. However, with a customer base consisting of tens of thousands of users and calculated sales, VAT and use taxes on nearly a billion transactions per year, Avalara faced an opportunity to reach into additional verticals and expand its customer base. Battery convinced the Avalara management team that by partnering with the firm and taking on additional capital it could solidify its leadership position in the market–both through investing more heavily in organic growth and by continuing its acquisition program.

Battery’s Impact:

• Since Battery’s investment, Avalara has completed more than 15 acquisitions, which expanded the company’s customer base and functionality into adjacent verticals.
• Ahead of its 2018 IPO, Battery helped Avalara coordinate two additional rounds of financing in 2014 and 2016 to further accelerate growth.
• Battery continues to actively engage with Avalara, holding a board seat and leveraging its portfolio-services team to find key management hires and prospective customers.

Outcome:

Avalara completed an IPO in 2018 (NYSE: AVLR); as of 2020, the company’s market cap was roughly $12 billion. Since Battery’s initial investment, Avalara has experienced more than 16 times growth in its yearly revenue–from about $30 million in 2012 to over $500 million in 2020.