Minimist, a Vienna-based machine-learning startup, has raised €350k in a pre-seed funding round aimed at transforming second-hand e-commerce – funds will be used to further develop their platform and partner with more retailers across Europe.
The funding round includes contributions from notable investors such as Hanno Lippitsch (founder of Eversports), Michael Pötscher (CMO of Bitpanda, TourRadar, and Paysafe), and Matthias Heimbeck (founder of e-commerce firm Findologic).
Impact-focused investors such as Sebastian Sessler and the Duit Family Office also participated, alongside support from the Vienna Planet Fund of the Wirtschaftsagentur Wien.
“Existing e-commerce tools are not designed at all for the unique challenges of second-hand, and we’ve worked closely with our customers first in Austria and now across Europe to create an easy-to-use operating system for anyone who sells a lot of second-hand items and wants to save a lot of time while increasing their sales,” said Stephan Hofmann, co-founder of Minimist.
Co-founded in 2024 by Stephan Hofmann, an ex-Google and Spotify product manager, and Henrik Feldt, a serial entrepreneur and machine-learning engineer, Minimist is designed to simplify and enhance the selling process for second-hand stores and professional sellers.
According to Minimist, their aim is to address a significant gap in the second-hand retail market. While 93% of second-hand stores currently lack an online presence, 80% of European shoppers begin their discovery journey online.
Minimist’s platform looks to bridge this divide with its mobile-first “co-pilot for selling.” The system leverages advanced machine-learning technologies for object recognition and pricing suggestions, reducing the time and effort needed to digitise used items by 95%.
Within four months, the startup has secured partnerships with 14 second-hand stores across Europe, including a deal with one of the world’s largest second-hand chains. The platform enables diverse sellers, from vintage stores and refurbishers to charities and influencers, to establish a strong digital presence quickly and efficiently.
The funding will fuel Minimist’s efforts to expand its operations across Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, and further enhance its platform.
Current features include streamlined product onboarding, Google visibility optimisation, inventory management, and customer communication—tailored specifically for the complexities of second-hand e-commerce.
Minimist’s focus on removing barriers for second-hand sellers is helping to unlock the untapped potential of a €16 billion European market, or as they put it, “Giving superpowers to second-hand sellers.”
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/01/giving-superpowersto-second-hand-sellers-minimistraises-e350k-pre-seed/
