Catawiki

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.

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

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

• Online auction marketplace
• Curated collectibles platform
• Special objects auctions
• Expert-led online bidding
• Collectibles and antiques marketplace

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core 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

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• The Eames OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2025The 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

Broad 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

• Xx.com/Catawiki
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catawiki

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors8 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Catawiki