What KLEKT does

KLEKT operates an authenticated online marketplace for sneakers, streetwear and collectibles, connecting individual buyers with private sellers across Europe. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Cologne, Germany (legal entity AuthenticatedBy Limited, registered in England and Wales), the company operates a take-rate revenue model in which sellers set prices that include a processing fee retained by KLEKT. The platform's central value proposition is counterfeit mitigation: every item is inspected by expert authenticators covering packaging, stitching, materials and shape before being shipped to the buyer, with condition grading (Deadstock, New with Defects, Used) standardizing inventory descriptions.

The product surface spans the KLEKT Marketplace web platform, native iOS and Android applications, the KLEKT Used category for pre-owned items, digital gift cards in fixed €50/€100/€250 denominations with auto currency conversion, and KLEKTIVE, an editorial blog covering sneaker culture, release reports and authentication guides. Underlying technology includes AI-assisted authentication, Hyperwallet for seller payouts (with mandatory identity verification), PayPal and Google Pay for buyer checkout, and Klaviyo for email communications, with marketing stack on Google Ads, Facebook Pixel and remarketing.

KLEKT was acquired by Belfast-based circular tech firm Responsible in 2024, after which a new leadership team was installed under CEO Mark Dowds with Sean Wotherspoon as Chief Community Curator. In April 2026, former H&M North America president and former Forever 21 CEO Daniel Kulle joined the board to support international expansion. The company is conducting a £1.8m equity crowdfunding round on Republic (May 2026), with proceeds dedicated to AI marketplace development and team expansion, against a stated GMV target of £128m by 2028.

Name

KLEKT

Legal name

AuthenticatedBy Limited

Website

https://klekt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KLEKT is a European online marketplace for authenticated sneakers, streetwear and collectibles, connecting individual buyers with private sellers under a take-rate model with expert-verified authentication. The Cologne-headquartered platform, acquired by Responsible in 2024, is now expanding globally under new leadership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Sneaker & Streetwear Resale Marketplace

NAICS

Shoe Retailers (45821), All Other Miscellaneous Retailers (45999)

SIC

Retail-Nonstore Retailers (5960), Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Collectibles Marketplaces & Auction Retail (CRALAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sporting Goods, Outdoor & Fitness Marketplaces (CRAFABAI)

Keywords

• Authenticated sneaker marketplace
• Streetwear resale platform
• Sneaker authentication service
• Collectible sneaker trading
• Peer-to-peer resale marketplace

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Marketplace Transaction Fees: Klekt charges a processing fee on each sale included in the sale price set by sellers. This is the primary revenue stream as a marketplace connecting buyers with private sellers.
2. Selling/Processing Fees: Processing fee on each sale. The fee is included in the sale price the seller sets, making it a take-rate model based on transaction value.
3. Gift Cards: Prepaid digital gift cards available in fixed denominations (€50, €100, €250) with currency conversion for cross-border gifting

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KLEKT operates an online marketplace where private sellers list sneakers, streetwear, and collectibles that are verified through a rigorous authentication process (combining AI tooling with expert inspection of packaging, stitching, materials, and shape) before being shipped to buyers. The platform surfaces authenticated inventory through category browsing, condition grading (Deadstock, New with Defects, Used), and bid/buy functionality, with payments processed through PayPal, credit/debit cards, Google Pay, and Hyperwallet for seller payouts.

Product overview

KLEKT is an authenticated sneaker and streetwear marketplace operating as a platform connecting buyers with private sellers across Europe, recently acquired by Belfast-based Responsible. The core offering consists of the KLEKT Marketplace for new and authenticated sneakers/collectibles, supplemented by KLEKT Used for pre-owned items. The ecosystem includes a native mobile app (iOS/Android), the KLEKTIVE editorial blog for sneaker culture content, and digital gift cards. A key differentiator is the authentication service where expert verifiers inspect all items before delivery to ensure authenticity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KLEKT Marketplace Europe's leading authenticated online marketplace for sneakers, streetwear, and collectibles that connects buyers with private sellers and provides product listings, bidding/buying functionality, and condition grading for pre-owned items. Targeted at individual collectors, resellers, and streetwear enthusiasts.
• KLEKT Used Pre-owned and authenticated sneaker section of the KLEKT Marketplace featuring used items in various conditions (Used, New with Defects) at varying price points, providing sustainable buying options for individual buyers.
• KLEKT Mobile App Native iOS and Android mobile application enabling users to browse, buy, sell, and manage sneaker and streetwear listings on the go, with account management, order tracking, and push notifications.
• KLEKT Authentication Service Rigorous item authentication service where expert verifiers inspect all aspects of items (packaging, stitching, materials, shape) before shipping to buyers to ensure counterfeit products are stopped.
• KLEKT Gift Cards Prepaid digital gift cards available in fixed denominations (€50, €100, €250) that can be purchased, sent to others, or activated on the marketplace, with automatic currency conversion for international gifting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rigorous authentication process that stops all counterfeit products at the door

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Daniel KullecoreOthers · 1 April 2026Former President of H&M North America and former CEO of Forever 21 appointed as Board Member. Brings extensive global retail experience with track record growing H&M North America from $1.5B to $5B and overseeing 600+ store openings.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sneaker Con: Sneaker-focused events and authentication services (including Sneaker Con Authentication) that compete with KLEKT's authentication value proposition and engage the same sneaker-collector community.
• Grailed: Peer-to-peer marketplace for curated menswear, streetwear, and high-end sneakers; directly comparable business model and customer base in the streetwear/sneaker resale vertical.
• StockX: Global online marketplace for authenticated sneakers, streetwear, and collectibles with a similar buy/sell model and authentication focus; the most direct and larger-scale competitor to KLEKT in the same product category.
• Vestiaire Collective: Global authenticated luxury and streetwear resale marketplace; comparable in authentication-led positioning and European base, with overlap in streetwear and high-end collectible apparel.
• GOAT: Authenticated sneaker and streetwear marketplace with global shipping and authentication centers; competes head-to-head with KLEKT in sneakers and streetwear, particularly as it expands in Europe.
• Laced: UK-based authenticated sneaker marketplace with direct overlap on European audience, authentication-led value proposition, and sneaker-collector target customer.

Broad incumbents

• eBay: Massive general online marketplace with significant sneaker and streetwear listings (including its own authentication program); competes with KLEKT in the same buyer demographic at the broadest level.
• The RealReal: Authenticated luxury consignment marketplace; comparable authentication-first positioning, though primarily US-focused and oriented toward luxury rather than sneakers/streetwear.

Emerging players

• Depop: Peer-to-peer fashion resale app with strong streetwear and Gen-Z overlap; comparable marketplace model but with less emphasis on rigorous authentication, owned by Etsy.
• Vinted: Large European peer-to-peer fashion resale marketplace; overlaps with KLEKT on community-driven resale but is broader (apparel-led) and lacks KLEKT's authentication-led positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 KLEKT