Smatch

Based in Hamburg, Germany, Smatch operates a business-to-business marketplace specifically engineered for the fashion industry, tackling the pervasive issue of overstock. The company was established in 2022 by Dr. Max Groberg and Dr. Hans Martin Vetter, who bring a combined 50+ years of experience from the fashion retail sector.

The founders' backgrounds are deeply rooted in relevant expertise. Dr. Max Groberg previously managed revenue, growth, and strategy at the online fashion retailer About You, where he played a key role in its IPO. His experience also includes consulting for retail enterprises as a Project Leader at McKinsey. Co-founder Dr. Hans Martin Vetter's career includes scaling Germany's leading telehealth marketplace through to its exit and supporting global enterprises on operational excellence at McKinsey.

Smatch provides a platform for brands and retailers to discreetly and efficiently trade excess inventory, which encompasses everything from in-season overstock and end-of-season items to customer returns and discontinued lines. This addresses significant economic losses and environmental impacts associated with unsold goods in the fashion world. The platform functions as a digital co-pilot for both buyers and sellers. Sellers can list their inventory while controlling distribution channels, regions, and buyer types to protect brand value. Buyers gain access to a global network of verified offers, enabling them to source products at competitive prices without needing individual partner agreements with each brand. The marketplace operates discreetly, keeping seller details anonymous to protect their market positioning.

Revenue generation is centered around the transactions facilitated on its marketplace. The platform uses AI-powered tools to enhance trading, offering features like intelligent quote matching and deal synthesis. Shortly after its founding, Smatch secured €2.5 million in investor funding to develop its platform and has since raised a total of $2.68M from investors including 42CAP, 10x Founders, and the Green Generation Fund.

Keywords: B2B marketplace, fashion overstock, excess inventory, retail technology, circular economy, supply chain solutions, inventory management, apparel trade, wholesale fashion, off-price market, brand protection, sustainable fashion, e-commerce solutions, deadstock, textile waste reduction, merchandise liquidity, online auction, Dr. Max Groberg, Dr. Hans Martin Vetter, About You alumni