Invaluable
Invaluable is an online auction marketplace connecting 6,937+ auction houses with millions of collectors across 180+ countries, offering live and timed auctions in fine art, antiques, jewelry, furniture, collectibles, and Asian art via web and mobile platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Invaluable does
Invaluable is a privately held, two-sided online auction marketplace operating since 1986 that connects thousands of auction houses with millions of collectors across more than 180 countries. The platform enables both live and timed auctions across a broad inventory taxonomy spanning fine art, decorative art, jewelry, furniture, Asian art, collectibles, and extended categories including automobiles, real estate, wines and spirits, and firearms. Auction houses list inventory through the platform's "Sell on Invaluable" service, while bidders access auctions via the Invaluable.com website and dedicated iOS and Android mobile applications that deliver real-time bidding, outbid alerts, and auction reminders.
The platform's core technology stack supports live-streamed real-time bidding and time-windowed auction formats, complemented by an Artist Database covering over 500,000 international artists and 2 million+ works of art, a historical Price Archive, an Advanced Search engine, and the curated "Invaluable Picks" feature highlighting premium lots. The 2021 acquisition of Artmyn added computer-vision and digital imaging capability, though no AI-native product features have been publicly disclosed. Distribution combines a global website, native mobile apps, email subscription and notification services, and category-specific content marketing via buyer guides across Fine Art, Jewelry, Decorative Art, Furniture, and Asian Art.
Invaluable operates as Invaluable, LLC, an LLC domiciled in the United States with headquarters in Allston, MA. Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining marketplace commissions on transactions processed through the platform with quote-based annual subscription fees paid by auction houses to list inventory. The business has been capitalized with approximately $46.75 million in disclosed funding across two rounds in 2009 and 2014, with no parent company or public listing. Brett Malone serves as CEO following his June 2026 full-time appointment, having led the company to record Q1 2026 gross merchandise volume of $125 million (up 17% year-over-year) and an all-time high 14.7% share of gavel.
Invaluable firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Invaluable
- Legal name
- Invaluable, LLC
- Website
- https://invaluable.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Invaluable is an online auction marketplace connecting 6,937+ auction houses with millions of collectors across 180+ countries, offering live and timed auctions in fine art, antiques, jewelry, furniture, collectibles, and Asian art via web and mobile platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Invaluable industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Auction Marketplace
- NAICS
- Art Dealers (45992), Used Merchandise Retailers (459510), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), Jewelry Retailers (458310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Auction-based Generalist Marketplaces (CRAFAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Collectibles, Trading Cards & Memorabilia Marketplaces (CRAFAGAE), Online Collectibles Marketplaces & Auction Retail (CRALAGAO)
Keywords
Where Invaluable is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Invaluable business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Marketplace Commission: Invaluable earns revenue by facilitating online auctions between auction houses and buyers, taking a commission on transactions processed through the platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Auction House Subscription |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Invaluable product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Invaluable operates an online auction marketplace that connects thousands of auction houses with millions of collectors worldwide. The platform supports both live and timed auctions across fine art, decorative art, jewelry, collectibles, furniture, and Asian art, with mobile apps for iOS and Android, an artist database of 500,000+ international artists and 2M+ works, real-time bidding infrastructure, and global reach across 180+ countries.
Product overview
Invaluable is a unified online auction marketplace that connects thousands of auction houses with millions of collectors globally. The platform operates as a multi-category marketplace offering both live and timed auction formats across art, antiques, jewelry, furniture, Asian art, and collectibles. Key products include the Live Auction Platform and Timed Auction Platform as core offerings, supported by an Artist Database containing over 500,000 international artists and 2 million works of art, an Auction House Directory, Price Archive, and Advanced Search functionality. The platform also provides mobile applications for iOS and Android, subscription-based email notifications, and the curated Invaluable Picks feature. Auction houses can use the Sell on Invaluable service to list items, reaching a worldwide bidder audience through a hybrid online-offline commerce ecosystem serving live, telephone, and digital participation channels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Live Auction Platform Real-time online auction platform enabling bidders to participate in live-streamed auctions from auction houses worldwide, with live bidding, registration, and outbid alerts.
- Timed Auction Platform Time-based auction format where bids are placed during a specified window, allowing extended bidding periods for sellers and flexible participation for buyers.
- Artist Database Research database containing information on over 500,000 international artists and over 2 million works of art sold or upcoming at auction, including biographies, genres, notable sold lots, and related artists.
- Auction House Directory Directory of thousands of auction houses worldwide, filterable by country and alphabetical index, connecting buyers with the auction sellers that list on Invaluable.
- Mobile App (iOS and Android) Native mobile applications for iOS and Android enabling users to bid on live and timed auctions on-the-go, with push notifications for outbid alerts and auction reminders.
- Email Subscriptions and Notifications Email notification subscription service delivering curated items, auction updates, and personalized alerts to bidders' inboxes, supporting engagement and retention.
- Price Archive Historical database of past auction prices enabling collectors, buyers, and researchers to research item values, comparable lots, and pricing trends across categories.
- Sell on Invaluable Subscription-based service enabling auction houses to list and sell items through Invaluable's marketplace, connecting sellers with millions of global collectors and providing the technology infrastructure for online bidding.
Quantifiable outcome
- Record Q1 with $125 million GMV, up 17% year-over-year
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Invaluable
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Invaluable technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Invaluable partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- 6,937 Auction HousescoreInvaluable partners with thousands of auction houses globally that list their auctions on the platform. These auction houses span 6,937 results in the directory, including major houses across the US, UK, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and other countries. Examples include Bonhams, Christie's, Sotheby's, Lyon & Turnbull, Roseberys, Artcurial, and many regional auction houses.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Invaluable competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sotheby's: Global fine art auction leader; both a current Invaluable supply partner and a competing platform operator with its own online bidding infrastructure and Sotheby's Online marketplace.
- Heritage Auctions: Largest US collectibles auction house covering coins, comics, sports memorabilia, and fine art. Operates its own auction platform with proprietary inventory — both a supply-side partner candidate and a competitive incumbent.
- eBay: Generalist e-commerce marketplace with a long-standing auction format covering art, antiques, jewelry, and collectibles. Massive buyer base, but a low-curation, peer-to-peer model rather than an auction-house aggregator.
- Christie's: One of the world's two largest fine art auction houses; lists on Invaluable but has invested heavily in its own proprietary online bidding platform. Represents both a major channel partner and disintermediation risk.
- Bonhams: International fine art and luxury auction house listed on Invaluable as a supply partner, but also operates its own direct online bidding platform — a hybrid partner/competitor relationship.
Direct peers
- Barnebys: Auction aggregator and search engine for art, antiques, and collectibles across European and US auction houses. Comparable in providing buyers with a unified discovery layer over multiple auction houses.
- The Saleroom: UK-based online auction platform operated by Auction Technology Group, aggregating hundreds of auction houses across art, antiques, and collectibles — a direct functional competitor focused on the UK/European market.
- Bidsquare: Online aggregator for premier auction houses across art, jewelry, and antiques. Closely mirrors Invaluable's two-sided marketplace model with a curated set of high-end auction house partners.
- LiveAuctioneers: Direct online auction marketplace competitor in art, antiques, and collectibles, offering live and timed auctions globally. Most head-to-head comparable to Invaluable in business model and supply-side (auction house) relationships.
Emerging players
- Whatnot: Fast-growing livestream auction marketplace primarily for trading cards, collectibles, and memorabilia. Represents the leading mobile-first/livestream format challenger to traditional online auction UX in adjacent collectibles categories.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Invaluable social profiles
Digital presenceInvaluable financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Invaluable leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Invaluable funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Invaluable M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Invaluable
What does Invaluable do?
Invaluable operates an online auction marketplace that connects thousands of auction houses with millions of collectors worldwide. The platform supports both live and timed auctions across fine art, decorative art, jewelry, collectibles, furniture, and Asian art, with mobile apps for iOS and Android, an artist database of 500,000+ international artists and 2M+ works, real-time bidding infrastructure, and global reach across 180+ countries.
Is Invaluable a public or private company?
Invaluable is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Invaluable founded?
Invaluable was founded in 1986. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Invaluable based?
Invaluable is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Invaluable make money?
One revenue line is on record: marketplace Commission.
Who are Invaluable's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sotheby's, Heritage Auctions, eBay, Christie's and Bonhams. Direct peers are Barnebys, The Saleroom, Bidsquare and LiveAuctioneers. Whatnot is listed as an emerging player.
Does Invaluable have an API?
No public API is recorded for Invaluable.
What industry is Invaluable in?
Invaluable's product category is Online Auction Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAAAC, Auction-based Generalist Marketplaces, with a secondary code of CRAFAGAE, Collectibles, Trading Cards & Memorabilia Marketplaces. Its NAICS code is 45992.