Munich fashion startup SACLÀB raises €1.6 million to grow product portfolio
EstVCA member Trind Ventures has invested in SACLÀB, the Munich online marketplace for pre-loved luxury designer bags, as the company raised 1.6 million euros seed round from Trind Ventures and G-Fund. With the funds, the company seeks to tenfold its turnover.
Investments are highly competitive – especially in e-commerce, following post-pandemic declines in online sales. The exception: the fashion resale market is booming and has nearly tripled since 2020, showing no signs of slowing down. Headquartered in Munich, the online marketplace SACLÀB specialises in hard-to-find super luxury bags. In the summer of 2022, SACLÀB sold the most expensive handbag ever listed in Germany for €265,000, a rare exotic leather Hermès Birkin 20 Faubourg Sous La Neige.
SACLÀB was founded on February 01, 2018, by siblings Alexandra ('89) and Jan-Oliver Stück ('87). Since then, SACLÀB has established a client network in over 20 countries for buying and selling so-called "waitlist bags" and ranks as a top-tier address among collectors worldwide.
For the first three years, the company ran completely independently through bootstrapping – a rarity in the fast-paced start-up environment.
Jan-Oliver Stück, co-founder, SACLÀB: “When we first founded the company, it was particularly important to us to build a business model that we could scale step by step. That's why we didn't spend our budget on big PR and marketing measures at the beginning. This has allowed us to achieve organic, healthy growth across many different areas.”
In 2021, the first angel investors joined the company, and now, in 2023, the first seed round has been successfully completed with a 1.6 million euro investment. In addition to the angels, the start-up has convinced two VCs with experience in the marketplace, consumer and luxury industry.
Alexandra Stück, co-founder, SACLÀB: “We are very happy about the seed round and the entry of the two VCs. Their expertise is exactly what we need to take SACLÀB to the next level. Trust and commitment are our top priorities when selecting investors. You always think investors might want to take over leading the company, but that's not the case. Above all, we wanted investors who shared our point of view. So we were not only able to increase our capital, but also benefit significantly from their expertise and network.”
Both VCs have invested in other marketplaces in the past and now share their expertise with the founder duo behind SACLÀB.
Taavi Lepmets, partner, Trind Ventures: “Alexandra and Jan-Oliver have built an incredibly focused market position for SACLÀB with a distinctive full-service operating model. It is the smartest marketplace we have ever seen. The team at SACLÀB will go far and be an important part of the pre-loved luxury market for the industry where Europe is truly a global leader. We are excited to be able to support them on their journey.”
The capital raised will be used primarily for marketing, HR and tech infrastructure to expand these areas in a scalable way.
Alexandra: “The challenge is to make all these investments profitable so that we remain as sustainable as possible. A lot of companies just burn through the money and rely on investment from day one. We don't want that setup,” explains Jan-Oliver Stück. “We are planning our soft launch in the U.S. this year and creating an online storefront. Besides that, we have many UX/UI improvements coming up to make the selling and buying experience even more smooth and fun.”
