Austrian Recommerce Pioneer Refurbed Secures €50M to Revolutionize UK’s Circular Electronics Market

Sustainable Marketplace Expansion Targets Major European Market

Austrian recommerce platform refurbed has successfully closed a €50 million funding round to accelerate its European expansion strategy, with particular focus on entering the United Kingdom market. The Vienna-based marketplace, which specializes in refurbished electronics, household items, and sports equipment, plans to leverage this substantial investment to enhance its AI-driven platform and establish a strong presence in one of Europe’s largest digital markets.

Strategic Investment Backing Growth Vision

The funding round was led by prominent investor Alex Zubillaga alongside Orilla, the investment platform of the Riberas family. The round also saw significant participation from existing shareholders including Evli Growth Partners, Bonsai, Almaz, C4 Ventures, and Speedinvest. This strong investor confidence reflects refurbed’s impressive track record and growth potential in the rapidly expanding circular economy sector.

“This was another exceptional year,” stated Peter Windischhofer, Co-founder and CEO of refurbed. “Profitability in March, 40% year-on-year sales growth, and leveraging AI across our revenue-generation machine. All of this fueled our funding round and accelerated our expansion plans. We proved that doing good and doing well aren’t opposites: they’re the same playbook.”

UK Market: A Strategic Priority

refurbed’s expansion into the United Kingdom represents a calculated strategic move into one of Europe’s most digitally advanced economies. The company identifies a significant market gap in the UK’s recommerce sector, which despite contributing over £7 billion annually to the economy, still lacks reliable, high-quality refurbished technology options.

The opportunity is substantial: with over 100 million unused phones stored in UK households, of which approximately 33 million could be restored for reuse, refurbed sees tremendous potential to bring more devices into the circular economy. This expansion aligns perfectly with the UK’s push toward Net Zero goals, Right to Repair legislation, and e-waste reduction targets., as our earlier report, according to technological advances

Proven Business Model with Impressive Metrics

Founded in 2017 by Peter Windischhofer, Kilian Kaminski, and Jürgen Riedl, refurbed has established itself as Europe’s fastest-growing online marketplace for refurbished products. The company currently employs nearly 300 people and operates across twelve European countries, including Austria, Germany, Sweden, Italy, and the Netherlands.

The platform’s financial performance has been particularly noteworthy. In 2025, the company achieved several significant milestones, including double-digit EBITDA profitability and becoming cash-flow positive since March 2025. For FY2025, refurbed aims to reach approximately £860 million in gross merchandise value.

Sustainability Impact and Product Assurance

refurbed’s business model combines commercial success with substantial environmental benefits. The company reports impressive sustainability metrics, including saving 350,000 tons of CO₂, preventing 1,136 tons of electronic waste, and conserving 116 billion liters of water through its operations.

The marketplace offers more than 45,000 professionally refurbished products at prices up to 40% lower than new equivalents. All items come with a minimum twelve-month warranty, covering everything from smartphones and laptops to household appliances, e-bikes, and sports accessories. This commitment to quality and reliability has helped refurbed process 9 million devices and serve 4 million customers across its European markets.

Future Outlook and Market Transformation

As refurbed prepares for its UK market entry, the company aims to transform consumer perceptions about refurbished products while supporting national sustainability initiatives. Windischhofer emphasized the company’s broader mission: “Now is the time to make refurbished mainstream.”

The €50 million investment will enable refurbed to further develop its AI-powered platform, expand its product categories, and establish a strong foothold in the UK market. This expansion represents not just a business opportunity, but a chance to demonstrate how circular economy principles can drive both commercial success and environmental stewardship in one of Europe’s most important markets.

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