Softcorner

What Softcorner does

Softcorner SAS is a French B2B e-commerce marketplace founded in 2013 and headquartered in Paris, operating what it describes as the first B2B platform dedicated to the secondary software license market in Europe. The company facilitates the purchase and sale of both new and second-hand perpetual software licenses across publishers including Microsoft, Oracle, VMware, SAP, Citrix, BMC, and BitTitan, with a catalog of more than 100,000 license references and over €100 million of licenses listed for sale. Its core differentiator is regulatory compliance: Softcorner enforces CJEU C-128/11 by collecting original purchase invoices, uninstallation commitments, and complete chain-of-ownership documentation for every second-hand transaction, providing a compliance guarantee that purports to address a known legal risk in cross-border software resale. The platform is restricted to the European Economic Area, where the CJEU ruling applies.

The business operates three revenue streams: (1) transaction fees on new and second-hand license sales through the marketplace, supporting both direct purchase and "purchase option" (brokerage) models; (2) consulting services covering audit preparation, IT asset management, and software license optimization; and (3) professional training sessions on license management and compliance, delivered as workshops, seminars, and webinars. Pricing on second-hand licenses offers savings of 30–70% versus new list prices (e.g., Oracle Diagnostics Pack at €1,800 vs. €7,500 new; SQL Server 2025 Enterprise 2 Core at €9,900 used vs. €14,800 new). Go-to-market is dual: a self-serve e-commerce flow with personalized quote requests on softcorner.eu, complemented by direct enterprise sales and expert consultation for large accounts, mid-market firms, SMEs, and public sector buyers.

Softcorner is privately held as a SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) with €11,916 of share capital, registered in Paris under RCS 800 643 629, with no disclosed venture funding beyond a ~€57K EISMEA grant in 2016 and an IMT Starter investment in 2021. The company employs 11–50 people, lists 3,000+ trusted customers, holds a registered SOFTCORNER trademark, and is GDPR-compliant. Leadership is led by Habibou M'BAYE (Publication Director / CEO) and Gilles Goulay (COO). The market positioning is defensible through regulatory moats but constrained by limited external capital, narrow AI/technology investment, and a marketplace model that competes primarily on trust, documentation, and price rather than on proprietary technology.

Name

Softcorner

Legal name

SOFTCORNER, SAS

Website

https://softcorner.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Softcorner is a French B2B marketplace (founded 2013, Paris) that buys and sells new and second-hand perpetual software licenses across Microsoft, Oracle, VMware, SAP, Citrix, BMC, and BitTitan, serving enterprises, mid-market firms, SMEs, and public sector buyers in the EEA with CJEU C-128/11-compliant documentation and added consulting and training services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Software License Resale Marketplace

SIC

Retail-Computer & Computer Software Stores (5734)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRAFAHAF

Office Supplies, IT & Workplace Procurement Marketplaces

Consumer Products & Retail/E-commerce & Marketplaces/Wholesale/B2B E-commerce Marketplaces

SECONDARYBPAMAGAD

B2B Marketplaces & Wholesale Platforms

Business & Public Services/Web, Mobile & Digital Platforms/E-commerce Marketplaces & Shopping Platforms

Keywords

• Software license marketplace
• Second-hand software licenses
• Software asset management
• IT license consulting
• Enterprise software resale

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. License Transaction Fees: Softcorner facilitates the purchase and sale of new and second-hand software licenses through its B2B marketplace, earning transaction-based fees on each completed sale. Both direct purchase and purchase option (when a buyer is identified) models are supported.
2. Consulting Services: Expert consulting services for audit preparation, IT asset management, and software license optimization.
3. Professional Training: Professional training sessions for software license management compliance and optimization, including workshops, seminars, and webinars.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Softcorner operates a B2B e-commerce marketplace platform that enables businesses to buy and sell both new and second-hand (pre-owned) perpetual software licenses from publishers such as Microsoft, Oracle, VMware, SAP, Citrix, BMC, and BitTitan. The platform covers more than 100,000 license references and includes expert consulting and training services for IT asset management, license optimization, and audit preparation.

Product overview

Softcorner operates as a B2B marketplace platform for trading software licenses in Europe. The platform facilitates the purchase and sale of both new and second-hand (pre-owned) perpetual software licenses across multiple publishers including Microsoft (Office, Windows, SQL Server, Exchange, SharePoint, Visio, Project, Visual Studio), Oracle (Database, WebLogic, partitioning and database options), VMware (vSphere, vCenter Server), SAP (S/4HANA Enterprise Management, Disclosure Management), Citrix (Virtual Apps and Desktops), and BMC (Control-M). The offering combines an e-commerce marketplace for browsing and purchasing licenses with professional services including consulting for IT asset management and license optimization, plus training for compliance and software asset mastery. The platform supports over 100,000 product references and facilitates secure transactions between buyers and sellers of unused software licenses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Software License Marketplace Platform A B2B e-commerce platform at softcorner.eu enabling businesses to buy and sell new and second-hand perpetual software licenses from publishers including Microsoft, Oracle, VMware, SAP, Citrix, BMC, and BitTitan, with over 100,000 license references and verified license documentation.
• Consulting Services Expert advisory services for audit preparation, IT asset management, and software license optimization aimed at helping businesses reduce software costs and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Professional Training Services Training sessions, workshops, seminars, and webinars covering software license management, compliance, and software asset optimization tailored to business needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 50% savings on second-hand licenses compared to new license prices
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Crayon: Norwegian-headquartered software licensing and cloud economics specialist with a marketplace component and SAM services. Directly comparable B2B software licensing model with deeper financial scale.
• LicenseSquare: German-headquartered B2B marketplace for buying and selling used and new software licenses across major publishers. Closest direct competitor to Softcorner in the European secondary software market with a similar compliance-led value proposition.
• Livingstone Technology: UK/European IT asset disposition and used software license broker. Direct peer in the European secondary software market focused on enterprise license resale and IT asset recovery.

Broad incumbents

• Flexera: Global software asset management and IT visibility vendor (acquired Snow Software). Comparable as a broad incumbent in license optimization, audit support and IT asset management adjacent to Softcorner's consulting arm.
• SoftwareOne: Swiss-listed global leader in software and cloud licensing services with extensive SAM capabilities and a marketplace for new and used licenses. A much larger incumbent that overlaps with Softcorner's resale and advisory offering.
• USU Software: German software asset management and license optimization vendor serving large enterprises. Comparable through its license optimization consulting and SAM platform that intersects with Softcorner's services offering.
• SHI International: Large US-headquartered IT reseller and software licensing provider. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering enterprise software procurement services at much larger scale, primarily in North America.

Regional players

• Software Express: Dutch software license reseller offering new and second-hand Microsoft and enterprise software licenses. Comparable business model in Europe with primary geographic focus on Benelux rather than France.

Emerging players

• HonestWave: European B2B marketplace for buying and selling used software licenses from publishers such as Microsoft, Oracle and Adobe. Emerging peer with similar compliance and value proposition focus.
• Eracent: US-based IT asset management and software license compliance vendor serving mid-market and enterprise. Comparable through SAM and license optimization consulting, though primarily US-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thesoftcorner
• Facebookfacebook.com/softcorner.fr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/softcorner

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 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 Softcorner