Sourcing Playground

Name

Sourcing Playground

Legal name

Sourcing Playground Limited

Website

https://sourcingplayground.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supply Chain Intelligence Software

akta.pro primary industry

Procurement & Strategic Sourcing (BPAHAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

B2B Marketplaces & Wholesale Platforms (BPAMAGAD)

Keywords

• Supplier intelligence platform
• Procurement analytics software
• AI sourcing tools
• Supply chain data
• ESG supplier data

Headquarters

HQ city

Wimborne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. SaaS Platform Subscription: Software-as-a-service (SaaS) application providing access to the supplier intelligence platform, including data on suppliers, import/export insights, competitor analysis, and AI-powered sourcing tools. Operates on a subscription basis with a 7-day free trial.
2. AI Consulting Services: Expert guidance and consulting services to help companies implement AI in their procurement processes, leveraging existing data to unlock actionable insights. Custom development of tailored software solutions and data product development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sourcing Playground operates a B2B SaaS procurement intelligence platform that aggregates verified third-party supply chain data (trade data, certification bodies, government sources, shipping organisations) into digital supplier profiles for fashion brands, retailers, and sourcing teams. The platform enables users to discover and qualify global manufacturers, conduct competitor sourcing analysis, perform import/export analysis, and verify ESG certifications, supplemented by AI Consulting and Custom Development services.

Product overview

Sourcing Playground is a UK-based SaaS procurement intelligence platform founded in 2017, consisting of a core Supplier Intelligence Platform with AI-powered supplier discovery capabilities, combined with a Pricing Insights module for strategic cost analysis. The platform also offers a Supplier Dashboard for supplier-facing profile management. Services include Custom Development for tailored software solutions, AI Consulting for implementing AI in procurement workflows, and Data Product Development for transforming data into procurement tools. The product portfolio is designed to serve fashion brands and retailers with global supply chain visibility and supplier qualification capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supplier Intelligence Platform A SaaS platform providing market intelligence and verified supplier insights, enabling procurement teams at fashion brands and retailers to discover, qualify, and analyse global suppliers using import/export data, competitor analysis, and AI-powered search capabilities.
• Pricing Insights Strategic insights module providing pricing information per product per country, helping buyers make informed sourcing decisions with cost analysis across different markets.
• AI Consulting Service Expert guidance service helping companies implement AI in their procurement processes, leveraging existing data to unlock valuable insights for procurement teams.
• Custom Development Tailored innovative software solutions addressing unique procurement challenges for individual client needs.
• Data Product Development Transforming client data into high-impact procurement tools, helping businesses build custom data-driven solutions for sourcing and supply chain optimization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduce supplier discovery and qualification timeline from 3 months to 3 days
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Industry Certification Bodies (WFTO, WRAP, SAI, and others)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2019Sourcing Playground works with globally recognised industry certification bodies including the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), Social Accountability International (SAI), and others to verify and display supplier certifications on its platform. This ensures certification claims can be trusted and verified rather than self-asserted.
• The Forest TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder Scott Poynton of The Forest Trust has given a testimonial endorsement for Sourcing Playground: 'After more than 20 years supporting responsible sourcing, I'm thrilled to see Sourcing Playground in the game. They do exceptional work.' The Forest Trust works with companies on supply chain transparency and sustainability.
• Avantex ParisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSourcing Playground founders (Heather Williams and Fred Russias) were invited to participate in a round table panel discussion at Avantex Paris in February 2020 on the topic of 'Chains analysis: new tools, ecological and social dimensions are essential.' Avantex Paris is a fashion tech trade show at Le Bourget Exhibition Centre near Paris.
• REFASHIOND VenturesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSourcing Playground team, including CEO Heather Williams, spoke at the REFASHIOND Ventures Miami Fashion Tech Meetup in October 2024, sharing insights on fashion and supply chain technology with the startup ecosystem.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Alibaba: Alibaba is the largest global B2B sourcing marketplace connecting buyers with manufacturers. It is a broad incumbent that Sourcing Playground explicitly differentiates against by not relying on factory self-submitted profiles, but both serve fashion brands seeking manufacturers globally.
• SAP Ariba: SAP Ariba is the enterprise procurement and supply chain platform owned by SAP, serving large global organisations with supplier discovery, sourcing, and contract management. It is a broad incumbent competing for the same enterprise procurement budgets that Sourcing Playground targets.
• Coupa Software: Coupa is a cloud-based business spend management platform offering sourcing, procurement, and supplier management capabilities. It competes at the broader enterprise procurement software level rather than as a fashion-vertical specialist.

Direct peers

• ThomasNet: ThomasNet is a leading North American industrial sourcing platform and supplier directory, helping buyers discover and qualify manufacturers. It overlaps directly with Sourcing Playground's supplier discovery and qualification use case, particularly for US-based procurement teams.
• Kompass: Kompass is a global B2B directory with a strong European presence providing company and supplier intelligence across industries. It overlaps with Sourcing Playground's supplier profiling and market intelligence offering for fashion and consumer goods buyers.
• Global Sources: Global Sources is a Hong Kong-based B2B sourcing platform focused on Asia, particularly apparel and consumer goods. It is a direct competitor in connecting fashion brands with verified overseas manufacturers, similar to Sourcing Playground's core proposition.

Emerging players

• Sourcify: Sourcify is a US-based platform connecting brands with manufacturers, with a focus on US and nearshore suppliers. It targets a similar buyer persona (brands seeking manufacturing partners) but emphasises domestic and nearshore sourcing rather than Sourcing Playground's global coverage.
• Higg Co: Higg Co provides sustainability measurement and supply chain transparency tools, particularly for the apparel and footwear industry. It overlaps with Sourcing Playground's ESG/certification focus and serves similar fashion brand customers seeking supplier sustainability intelligence.
• Maker's Row: Maker's Row is a US-based platform connecting brands with American manufacturers, primarily for apparel and consumer goods. It is an emerging player in the supplier discovery space with overlap on the fashion/apparel buyer persona.

Regional players

• Bluebook International: The Blue Book is a US-focused construction and building products supplier directory. It operates in the broader supplier intelligence space but is regional to North America and serves a different vertical (construction rather than fashion).

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUOu9IgpbbnObkqPAx48WrQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/sourcingplayground
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sourcing-playground
• Xx.com/SourcingPG

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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 Sourcing Playground