NauticExpo

What NauticExpo does

NauticExpo operates a B2B online marketplace that catalogs 70,000+ nautical and maritime products and connects marine product manufacturers and suppliers with a global buyer audience of 680,000 monthly visitors. The platform is structured into 10 main verticals — Yachting, Motor boats, Sailing, Equipment, Water sports, Marinas, Ships and professional boats, Maritime equipment, Harbors and port terminals, and Ship and boat building — and supports discovery across luxury yachts, powerboats, sailboats, inflatable vessels, electric and hybrid boats, marine electronics, propulsion systems, and shipbuilding materials. Its core technology is a web-based marketplace with multi-language (8+) and multi-currency (10+) localization, an RFQ (Request for Quote) system for buyer-supplier communication, digital product catalogs, and supporting content platforms including a News & Trends portal and Buying Guides.

The company generates revenue primarily through subscription-based manufacturer exhibit fees and premium product/featured placement listings, billed annually on a quote-based model. NauticExpo serves both enterprise manufacturers (logos include Bénéteau, Dometic, John Deere Power Systems, SELDÉN MAST, HIGHFIELD BOATS, Sunreef Yachts, VETUS) and a long tail of smaller suppliers, with buyer-side audiences spanning yacht owners, commercial fleet operators, boat builders, and watersports facility operators worldwide. NauticExpo is a subsidiary of VirtualExpo Group, a diversified operator of specialized B2B marketplaces across industrial verticals that share technology and resources. The company is headquartered in Marseille, France, employs 101-250 staff, and was founded in 2003.

Name

NauticExpo

Legal name

NauticExpo

Website

https://nauticexpo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NauticExpo is a B2B online marketplace that catalogs 70,000+ nautical and maritime products from marine manufacturers and suppliers, serving 680,000 monthly visitors across 10 industry verticals globally. It operates as a subsidiary of VirtualExpo Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B Marine Marketplace

NAICS

Boat Dealers (441222)

SIC

Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Life-Saving Appliances & Safety Equipment (Davit Systems, Lifeboats, Firefighting) (IMAJAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine Safety & Navigation Electronics Retail (PFDs, EPIRBs, GPS, VHF) (CRAMAIAH)

Keywords

• B2B marine marketplace
• Boating industry platform
• Maritime equipment sourcing
• Nautical products catalog
• Marine vessel listings

Headquarters

HQ city

Marseille

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Manufacturer Subscription/Exhibit Fees: Manufacturers pay to exhibit their products on the platform, providing year-round visibility to the 680,000 monthly visitors
2. Product Listing and Featured Placement: Revenue generated from premium product placements, featured listings, and promotional visibility options for manufacturers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NauticExpo operates an online B2B marketplace that connects nautical and maritime product manufacturers with global buyers. Manufacturers pay subscription/exhibit fees to list their products year-round across comprehensive categories such as yachts, motor boats, sailboats, marine equipment, and water sports gear, while buyers browse, compare, and submit Requests for Quote (RFQs) directly to listed manufacturers. The platform is supported by multi-language and multi-currency functionality for international B2B trade.

Product overview

NauticExpo is a B2B online marketplace for the boating and maritime industry, offering a platform connecting buyers with manufacturers across 70,000+ nautical and maritime products. The platform serves 680,000 monthly visitors and provides multiple product categories including luxury yachts, motor boats (with cabin and open), sailboats (monohull and multihull), inflatable boats, electric/hybrid boats, sailing equipment, marine electronics, engines, propulsion systems, and deck fittings. The core offering consists of the NauticExpo Marketplace (product listings and manufacturer profiles), Product Catalogs (digital documentation), RFQ system (procurement requests), News & Trends (industry content), and Buying Guides (educational resources). The platform organizes products into 10 main verticals: Yachting, Motor boats, Sailing, Equipment, Water sports, Marinas, Ships and professional boats, Maritime equipment, Harbors and port terminals, and Ship and boat building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NauticExpo Marketplace B2B online marketplace connecting buyers with manufacturers of nautical and maritime products. Features 70,000+ products across boats, equipment, and maritime supplies, serving 680,000 monthly visitors worldwide.
• NauticExpo Product Catalogs Digital catalogs and product documentation repository for maritime industry manufacturers and products, hosted at pdf.nauticexpo.com.
• RFQ (Request for Quote) System Request for Quote system enabling buyers to submit procurement requests directly to manufacturers listed on the marketplace.
• NauticExpo News & Trends Industry news, trends, product announcements, people profiles, trade show and event coverage, and editorial content for the boating and maritime sectors.
• NauticExpo Buying Guides Educational buying guides helping buyers select appropriate maritime products and vessels (e.g., choosing stand-up paddleboards, sport catamarans, sailboats).

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• VirtualExpo GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of NauticExpo. VirtualExpo Group operates multiple specialized B2B marketplaces across different industrial sectors, providing shared technology platform and resources.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• YachtWorld: YachtWorld is the leading online marketplace for new and used yachts, connecting buyers with brokers and dealers globally. It is directly comparable to NauticExpo's yachting vertical as the dominant consumer-facing yacht listing platform, though focused on used yacht transactions rather than the full marine equipment B2B spectrum.
• Boat Trader: Boat Trader is a major online boat listing marketplace serving the U.S. and international recreational boating market. It is comparable to NauticExpo as a high-traffic B2B/B2C boat listing platform, although focused almost exclusively on vessels rather than marine equipment.
• Rightboat: Rightboat is an international boat listing marketplace that competes directly with NauticExpo's motor boat and sailboat categories. It targets both private buyers and dealers and offers similar listing/broker functionality in the recreational boat segment.
• ShipServ: ShipServ is a B2B e-procurement platform for the commercial maritime industry, connecting ship operators with marine equipment suppliers. It overlaps with NauticExpo's commercial maritime, maritime equipment, and ship/boat building verticals and is the closest direct peer in the professional/commercial marine B2B space.
• Boats Group (boats.com): Boats Group operates boats.com and Boat Trader, two of the largest boat listing marketplaces serving both consumers and dealers. It overlaps directly with NauticExpo's motor boat and sailboat verticals and is the most entrenched competitor for boat-buyer intent.

Broad incumbents

• Global Sources: Global Sources is a Hong Kong-based B2B sourcing marketplace connecting international buyers with Asian manufacturers across many verticals including marine equipment. It competes with NauticExpo for marine manufacturer listings and international buyer traffic.
• ThomasNet: ThomasNet is a long-established B2B industrial product sourcing platform serving North American manufacturers and buyers. It is comparable to NauticExpo as a horizontal B2B marketplace with subscription and listing-based monetization, though it focuses on industrial/MRO rather than marine.
• TradeKey: TradeKey is a global B2B marketplace serving small and medium manufacturers across many industries including marine. It offers similar listing and RFQ functionality to NauticExpo and competes for marine manufacturer subscriptions in price-sensitive segments.
• Alibaba: Alibaba is the world's largest B2B cross-border marketplace with vast catalogs of marine products, vessels, and equipment. It competes with NauticExpo for marine manufacturer subscriptions and is the most significant generalist competitor in marine B2B listings.

Emerging players

• Made-in-China: Made-in-China is a B2B marketplace focused on Chinese manufacturers across multiple verticals including marine equipment and components. It is comparable to NauticExpo as an alternative listing destination for marine manufacturers seeking international buyer reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NauticExpoNews

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 NauticExpo