Refurbed Secures €50M to Revolutionize Circular Tech Economy Through AI Innovation

European Refurbishment Leader Accelerates Sustainable Tech Movement

Vienna-based circular economy pioneer Refurbed has successfully closed a €50 million funding round to propel its AI-driven transformation of the refurbished electronics marketplace. The investment comes as the company demonstrates remarkable 40% year-on-year sales growth, signaling strong market adoption of sustainable technology alternatives across Europe.

Strategic Investment for AI-Powered Marketplace Enhancement

The substantial funding round was spearheaded by notable investor Alex Zubillaga, whose portfolio includes industry giants like Spotify, Fever, and Wallapop. The investment consortium also featured Orilla investment platform alongside existing shareholders Evli Growth Partners, Bonsai, Almaz, C4 Ventures, and Speedinvest. This diverse backing underscores growing investor confidence in the circular economy’s potential., as previous analysis

“This capital infusion will primarily fuel our artificial intelligence initiatives,” company representatives confirmed. “We’re focusing on developing sophisticated AI solutions that will streamline operations, enhance seller capabilities, and deliver superior customer experiences throughout the refurbishment and purchasing journey.”

Sustained Growth in Europe’s Circular Economy

Founded in 2017 by Peter Windischhofer, Kilian Kaminski, and Jürgen Riedl, Refurbed has evolved from a startup concept to employing approximately 300 professionals across its European operations. The platform specializes in professionally refurbished, certified sustainable products spanning multiple categories including smartphones, laptops, tablets, e-bikes, sports accessories, and household appliances., according to related news

CEO Peter Windischhofer emphasized the company‘s exceptional performance, stating: “We proved that doing good and doing well aren’t opposites: they’re the same playbook. Now is the time to make refurbished mainstream.”

Expanding European Footprint and Market Presence

Refurbed currently maintains operations across 12 European markets:

• Ireland
• Austria
• Denmark
• Germany
• Italy
• Sweden
• The Netherlands
• Belgium
• Finland
• Czech Republic
• Switzerland
• Portugal

Funding Trajectory and Strategic Evolution

The latest €50 million investment continues Refurbed’s impressive funding history. In 2023, the company secured $57 million in a Series C round led by Evli Growth Partners and C4 Ventures, followed by strategic expansion into business markets with bulk purchase offerings. This built upon their 2021 Series B round of $54 million, which coincided with their Irish market launch.

Founder’s Vision: Transforming Personal Experience into Industry Solution

The company’s origin story reflects its consumer-centric philosophy. Windischhofer previously shared how a negative experience with a second-hand device purchase inspired the business concept. “Soon after I bought this device it broke and I was left with nowhere to go as it came with no warranty,” he recalled. “I did not want other consumers to go through this so I decided to act on this misfortune and come up with an idea on how to prevent scenarios like this one while also being environmentally friendly.”

The Future of Circular Tech Commerce

With this new funding, Refurbed positions itself at the forefront of the circular technology revolution, leveraging artificial intelligence to create more efficient, transparent, and reliable marketplaces for refurbished electronics. The company’s continued growth demonstrates increasing consumer and business acceptance of refurbished products as viable, sustainable alternatives to new electronics.

The successful funding round not only validates Refurbed’s business model but also signals broader market recognition of the circular economy’s potential to transform technology consumption patterns across Europe and beyond.

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