# CSC Generation

> CSC Generation is an AI-native retail holding company that acquires struggling store- and catalog-based brands and rebuilds them as profitable, digital-first businesses using its proprietary technology platform, Genesis. Founded in 2016 by Justin Yoshimura, the company operates a portfolio of more than a dozen consumer brands - including Sur La Table, One Kings Lane, Backcountry and Steep & Cheap - that together generate over $1 billion in combined revenue. Rather than liquidating distressed retailers, CSC folds them into a shared operating system of data, automation and AI operators, aiming to lift profitability quickly after each acquisition.

- **Founded:** 2016
- **Headquarters:** Merrillville, Indiana, United States
- **Founders:** Justin Yoshimura (Founder, Chairman & CEO)
- **Team size:** ~1,000-1,600 employees across portfolio brands (sources vary)
- **Products:** Genesis platform, Sur La Table, Backcountry, One Kings Lane, Home Consignment Center
- **Notable:** Built a portfolio of 13+ consumer retail brands generating $1B+ in combined revenue, Acquired Sur La Table out of bankruptcy in 2020 (JV with Marquee Brands, ~$89M), Acquired outdoor retailer Backcountry and its brands in 2024

## Products & services

- **Genesis platform** — An agent-orchestrated operating system that unifies acquisition data, workflow telemetry and AI operators into a shared retail execution layer covering inventory, pricing, demand forecasting and shared services.
- **Sur La Table** — Kitchenware and culinary retailer with cooking-class programming, acquired out of bankruptcy in 2020 in a joint venture with Marquee Brands.
- **Backcountry** — Online outdoor gear retailer acquired in 2024, along with sibling brands MotoSport, Competitive Cyclist and Steep & Cheap.
- **One Kings Lane** — Home decor and furnishings e-commerce brand, previously owned by Bed Bath & Beyond.
- **Home Consignment Center** — Furniture and home-goods consignment retailer in the CSC portfolio.

## Achievements

- Built a portfolio of 13+ consumer retail brands generating $1B+ in combined revenue
- Acquired Sur La Table out of bankruptcy in 2020 (JV with Marquee Brands, ~$89M)
- Acquired outdoor retailer Backcountry and its brands in 2024
- Developed the proprietary Genesis operating system for AI-native retail operations
- Raised approximately $263M from institutional and venture investors

## Latest updates

- **2024-09** — CSC Generation Enterprise acquired Backcountry from TSG Consumer Partners, adding MotoSport, Competitive Cyclist and Steep & Cheap to its portfolio.
- **2024-08** — Company reported its most recent funding round (Series E), bringing total funding to roughly $263M.
- **2023** — Portfolio company AmeriMark Interactive filed for bankruptcy; DirectBuy also wound down remaining stores - reflecting the risks of a distressed-retail roll-up strategy.

## Links

- Website: https://www.cscgeneration.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/csc-generation

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/csc-generation
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-21