Amsterdam-based Catawiki raises €150 million in Permira-led round for its 'curated online marketplace'
Summary
The Netherlands-based online auction platform Catawiki has scored €150 million in growth funding in a round led by private equity firm Permira through its ‘Growth Opportunities Fund’. Prior backer Accel also participated in the round – its partner Martin Gibson serves as chairman of Catawiki’s board – and it is said the financing comes with liquidity for a number of the Dutch scale-up’s early investors and employees. Catawiki, which calls its platform a ‘curated online marketplace for special objects’ these days, was founded back in 2008 and now boasts over 10 million users. The company says it now employs more than 240 in-house experts who are specialised in collectables, art, design, jewellery, watches, classic cars and more, and that 65,000 special objects are put up for auction on its platform on a weekly basis. Ravi Vora, CEO of Catawiki, said: “Our mission is to become the most popular destination for special objects across the globe, starting with Europe.