Catawiki
Catawiki operates a curated online auction marketplace for special objects across 200+ categories, serving 10 million weekly users in 60 countries through expert-vetted listings, buyer-protected transactions, and a 9% + €3 Buyer Protection fee.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Catawiki does
Catawiki is a privately held online auction marketplace founded in 2008 and headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The company operates a curated, digital-first platform where collectors and enthusiasts buy and sell "special objects" across more than 200 categories, including art, jewellery, watches, fashion, coins and stamps, classic cars, wine and spirits, comics, trading cards, and archaeological artifacts. Its core differentiator is an Expert Curation System in which 240+ in-house specialists review and appraise every listing before auction, addressing authenticity and quality concerns that limit trust in generalist online marketplaces. The platform supports both web and mobile applications, processes tens of thousands of auctions per week, and serves 10 million weekly users across 60 countries with customer support in 17 languages.
The underlying technology combines a digital bidding infrastructure with expert-vetted listings, buyer protection systems (payment is held until the object arrives), and behavior-driven personalization features including a "For you" feed and trending auctions. Bids start at €1 and are binding once placed. Catawiki generates revenue primarily through a Buyer Protection fee of 9% of the final bid plus €3 (including VAT), supplemented by seller transaction fees; shipping costs are set by sellers based on carrier and handling requirements. Distribution is entirely digital via catawiki.com and the iOS/Android apps, with international shipping enabled for cross-border transactions.
Catawiki serves two primary segments: collectors and enthusiasts seeking unique items (primary) and sellers ranging from individual collectors to dealers seeking global audience reach. The company's go-to-market motion is product-led growth — self-serve bidding supported by editorial-style curated collections, featured expert selections, and integrated marketing/analytics cookie infrastructure for personalized recommendations. With 501-1000 employees, marquee investors including Accel, Permira, Lead Edge Capital, and Northzone across five disclosed funding rounds, and recent premium collaborations (e.g., The Eames Office in October 2025), Catawiki is positioned as a scaled specialist in the fragmented online collectibles market.
Catawiki firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Catawiki
- Legal name
- Catawiki
- Website
- https://catawiki.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Catawiki operates a curated online auction marketplace for special objects across 200+ categories, serving 10 million weekly users in 60 countries through expert-vetted listings, buyer-protected transactions, and a 9% + €3 Buyer Protection fee.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Catawiki industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Auction Marketplace
- NAICS
- All Other Miscellaneous Retailers (459999), Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459), Used Merchandise Retailers (4595)
- SIC
- Retail-Miscellaneous Shopping Goods Stores (5940), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945), Retail-Catalog & Mail-Order Houses (5961)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Online Collectibles Marketplaces & Auction Retail (CRALAGAO)
Keywords
Where Catawiki is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Catawiki business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Buyer Protection Fee: Catawiki charges buyers a Buyer Protection fee of 9% of the final bid amount plus €3, which includes VAT. This is the primary revenue stream from buyers.
- Seller Transaction Fees: Sellers pay fees to list and sell items through the platform, with shipping costs calculated by sellers based on shipping company, method, packing and handling.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Buyer Protection Fee: 9% + €3 per transaction |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Catawiki product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Catawiki operates a curated online auction marketplace where individual sellers list special objects (collectibles, art, antiques, jewellery, luxury goods, etc.) and buyers bid in weekly timed auctions. Each lot is reviewed and selected by in-house category experts prior to going live, and the platform provides integrated payments and a Buyer Protection program on every successful transaction.
Product overview
Catawiki operates as a curated online auction marketplace featuring weekly auctions of special objects across over 200 categories including art, jewellery, watches, fashion, coins, stamps, classic cars, wine, comics, trading cards, toys, archaeology, and books. The platform distinguishes itself through expert curation, with hundreds of in-house specialists reviewing every object before auction. Core offering includes the Catawiki Online Marketplace (web and mobile app), Buyer Protection services (9% + €3 fee), and curated category-specific auctions. The marketplace operates across 60 countries in 17 languages, connecting buyers with sellers of specialty collectibles and luxury goods.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Catawiki Online Auction Marketplace
Quantifiable outcome
- 10 million people using Catawiki every week
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Catawiki
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Catawiki technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Catawiki partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- The Eames OfficeminorThe Eames Office partnered with Catawiki to auction around 30 pieces of Charles and Ray Eames' work, including furniture, sculptures, and textiles. The partnership runs from October 3, 2025 to early 2026, representing a curated collection of iconic mid-century modern design pieces.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Catawiki competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- eBay: Global generalist online marketplace with auction-format listings. Competes with Catawiki in collectibles, watches, jewellery, and fashion resale categories, though eBay lacks dedicated expert curation and authentication infrastructure.
- Christie's: Major traditional auction house with growing digital sales platform. Competes in art, watches, jewellery, and luxury — categories where Catawiki also operates — though Christie's skews toward higher-value consignments.
- Bonhams: International auction house with growing online presence. Competes in art, jewellery, watches, classic cars, and collectibles — categories where Catawiki also operates via weekly curated auctions.
- Sotheby's: Historic auction house that has aggressively expanded online bidding. Overlaps with Catawiki in fine art, watches, jewellery, and luxury collectibles, but focuses on the high-end of the market with house-led authentication.
Direct peers
- The RealReal: Authenticated luxury resale marketplace for fashion, watches, jewellery, and home. Directly comparable to Catawiki's luxury fashion and accessories categories, with similar expert authentication as a core value proposition.
- Etsy: Online marketplace specializing in unique, curated, and collectible goods. Overlaps with Catawiki in vintage items, collectibles, and handcrafted special objects, though Etsy focuses on handmade/vintage rather than expert-authenticated auctions.
- StockX: Authenticated marketplace for sneakers, trading cards, collectibles, and watches. Overlaps with Catawiki in trading cards, watches, and sneakers categories, with a similar authentication-as-differentiator model.
- Vestiaire Collective: Global authenticated pre-owned luxury marketplace focused on fashion, bags, watches, and accessories. Comparable to Catawiki in luxury resale mechanics, authentication-led trust, and global cross-border seller base.
- Heritage Auctions: Largest US-based collectibles auction house covering coins, comics, sports cards, art, and luxury. Directly comparable auction-based model with expert grading (similar to Catawiki's NGC/PMG grading partnerships) across collectibles categories.
- 1stDibs: Online marketplace for luxury furniture, art, jewellery, and fashion. Comparable to Catawiki in curated high-end collectibles and design categories, with a similar dealer/seller-driven marketplace model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Catawiki social profiles
Digital presenceCatawiki financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Catawiki leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Catawiki funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Catawiki M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Catawiki
What does Catawiki do?
Catawiki operates a curated online auction marketplace where individual sellers list special objects (collectibles, art, antiques, jewellery, luxury goods, etc.) and buyers bid in weekly timed auctions. Each lot is reviewed and selected by in-house category experts prior to going live, and the platform provides integrated payments and a Buyer Protection program on every successful transaction.
Is Catawiki a public or private company?
Catawiki is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Catawiki founded?
Catawiki was founded in 2008. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Catawiki based?
Catawiki is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Catawiki make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Buyer Protection Fee is the primary driver. The others are seller Transaction Fees.
Who are Catawiki's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are eBay, Christie's, Bonhams and Sotheby's. Direct peers are The RealReal, Etsy, StockX, Vestiaire Collective, Heritage Auctions and 1stDibs.
Does Catawiki have an API?
No public API is recorded for Catawiki.
What industry is Catawiki in?
Catawiki's product category is Online Auction Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAGAO, Online Collectibles Marketplaces & Auction Retail. Its NAICS code is 459999 and its SIC code is 5940.