Catawiki

Catawiki is Europe's leading online auction platform for special objects, founded in 2008 in Amsterdam as a comics database and collector's catalogue. Growing rapidly into a full-fledged digital auction house, Catawiki built a curation system that distinguishes it from generic auction platforms: every lot is assessed by expert specialists in their category — watches, jewellery, art, classic cars, coins, comics, wines — who certify authenticity and value before the sale opens to the public. This expert-driven positioning attracted top investors: the platform has raised $285 million across 6 rounds, including a $185 million Series D closed in December 2020 with participation from Permira — one of Europe's leading private equity funds. The value of merchandise transacted on the platform reached approximately €350 million in GMV in 2019, with 27% annual growth. Catawiki serves collectors and sellers in over 80 countries, organising hundreds of weekly auctions. The model is based on commissions (seller fee + buyer's premium) rather than subscriptions, aligning platform incentives with transaction success. In an expanding global collectibles market — fuelled by growing interest in rare objects and the accessibility of online auctions — Catawiki occupies a leadership position in the curated segment, sitting between mass-market eBay-like platforms and traditional high-end auction houses.