One of the interesting things about online marketplaces is their inherent network effects. They’re hard to get going (not least because of the chicken-and-egg problem) but — if successful — can become very valuable as it’s hard for other businesses to compete.
As a result of this defensibility, online marketplaces have been popular with VCs.
Here are 15 marketplace startups across a wide range of verticals that have each raised over $50 million. (I’m betting there are more than a couple you don’t know.)
1. Tokopedia
Indonesia’s answer to Amazon and Alibaba, Tokopedia is an ecommerce marketplace that helps brands and small businesses sell to consumers. They’ve received a total of over $1.3 billion in funding, including backing from Alibaba.
2. Mercari
Mercari is a mobile peer-to-peer marketplace helping people buy and sell used goods. The service was launched and grew rapidly in Japan and has since expanded to the US and UK. The company has raised over $116 million in funding.
3. Paddle8
Paddle8 is an auction-based marketplace for buying and selling art. It was founded in 2011 and has received $51 million in funding.
4. JobAndTalent
Jobandtalent is a job marketplace from Spain which now serves a number of countries, mainly across Europe. It has raised over $85 million.
5. ezCater
ezCater is a marketplace making it easy to order office catering from nearby restaurants. It has raised over $69 million in funding.
6. Tradesy
Tradesy lets people buy and sell new and preowned designer fashion and accessories and raised $74.5 million.
7. VivaReal
VivaReal is an online real estate marketplace in Brazil. According to Crunchbase it has raised over $74 million.
8. Managed by Q
Managed by Q is a platform for office management that acts as a marketplace between office occupants and service providers such as cleaners and handymen. The company was founded in 2013 and has raised over $72 million.
9. Shyp
Shyp connects businesses and consumers with shipping carriers. Founded in 2013, they’ve raised just over $62 million.
10. Lyst
Lyst is a London-based fashion marketplace and aggregator which lets consumers shop from a large range of stores, all in one place. They’ve raised $60 million in funding.
11. LendInvest
Another London-based business, LendInvest is a marketplace for property finance for property professionals. They’ve raised over $59 million in funding.
12. Science Exchange
Science Exchange is a marketplace for scientific research where you can order outsourced research and development services from thousands of qualified service providers. The company has raised $58 million in funding.
13. HomeLight
HomeLight is a marketplace connecting home sellers to estate agents, using reviews and sale price data to help home owners find the best agents in their area. They’ve raised a total of $55 million.
14. Apartment List
Apartment List is an apartment rental marketplace based in San Francisco. It has raised $59 million in funding.
15. Policygenius
Policygenius is an insurance comparison service (effectively a marketplace connecting consumers with insurance providers). Founded in 2014 and based in New York, the company has raised $51 million.
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