RetailInvestment

Online marketplace OnBuy.com has closed £35 million in Series A+ funding through VC and strategic technology investors. 

Founded in 2016, OnBuy’s ‘level playing field’ offering has attracted more than 7,000 retailers, hosting over 36 million products on the platform.  

The Bournemouth-based company does not compete with its retailers, offering what it calls a fair and transparent marketplace to host well-known brands both big and small. 

In just four years, OnBuy has grown to £155m annualised GMV with only £8m in total investment until now.  

It says the new investment of £35m, a mix of debt and equity, will fuel further meteoric growth for OnBuy, with sights firmly set on reaching unicorn status in the coming years.  

OnBuy – creating an ethical eCommerce ecosystem

Significant input comes from players including Bring Ventures, Norway Post venture arm, Fuel Ventures, Guy Hands (founder and chairman of Terra Firma Capital Partners), Knut Frängsmyr (Deputy CEO of Klarna) and Richard Goulding (founder of Play.com) amongst other strategic investors.  

In addition to external investment, a fully funded £2m allocation was set aside for existing retailers currently using the platform. This funding will enable OnBuy to further develop its product offering for both sellers and consumers, and pursue global expansion. 

“This investment will allow us to unlock even more potential and take OnBuy to the next level with an even better, easier to use product than ever before,” said founder and CEO Cas Paton.  

“We’ve made it this far with the help of our early angels, amazing team, trusted retailers and of course all of our amazing customers, but we’re not nearly done yet.  

“We’re here to make noise, challenge the status quo and change the digital marketplace landscape forever.” 

Thomas Tscherning, Bring Ventures, EVP Norway Post, commented: “OnBuy has experienced tremendous growth and we believe the company has a very promising future ahead.  

“We look forward to being a part of OnBuy’s continued growth through this venture investment that we believe will strengthen our portfolio of e-commerce activities.” 

The firm’s roadmap of announcements in the coming 12-24 months is planned to include the development of a consumer app, improvements to the product infrastructure, the launch of new partnerships as well as further global expansion.