Minimist Raises €1M for AI-Powered Second-Hand Retail

Vienna-based startup Minimist has secured €1 million in pre-Seed funding to revolutionize the second-hand retail sector through artificial intelligence. The investment, led by Tilia Impact Ventures with backing from InvestEU, alongside contributions from private angel investors and family offices, will fuel the company's mission to streamline inventory management and e-commerce operations for pre-owned goods. A grant from Wirtschaftsagentur Wien further bolstered the round.

The burgeoning circular economy faces a significant hurdle: efficiently bringing unique second-hand items to online marketplaces. Minimist addresses this critical gap with its AI-powered listing engine, designed to transform a single product image into a fully prepared online listing in under 30 seconds. This technology aims to unlock the vast, often untapped potential of the global resale market, estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Currently, a staggering 93% of second-hand inventory fails to reach online platforms due to the prohibitive manual effort involved in cataloging.

The platform functions as an intelligent 'co-pilot for selling,' enabling retailers to digitize items rapidly and accurately. By automating the creation of detailed descriptions, condition reports, and pricing suggestions, Minimist empowers businesses to list products on channels like eBay, Shopify, and Ricardo up to ten times faster than traditional methods. This efficiency is crucial for businesses dealing with high volumes of unique, one-off items, a common characteristic of the second-hand trade.

Stephan Hofmann, CEO of Minimist, emphasized the necessity of such solutions for achieving climate objectives, stating, “Properly re-inventing inventory management and eCommerce for a circular economy is so unbelievably necessary for us all to meet climate goals.” The company's technology not only accelerates sales but also aids in more accurate pricing through its integrated research tools, helping retailers maximize revenue and minimize unsold stock.

Early results highlight the platform's impact. Customers have already generated over 150,000 listings, collectively saving an estimated 17,000 hours of manual work. This demonstrates a tangible return on investment for retailers seeking to scale their second-hand operations. The company, founded in 2024, operates with a lean, international team of six and has already attracted 15 online clients, including notable names like Helen & Douglas House (UK), VinoKilo (Germany/Switzerland), and Diakonia (Germany).

This funding round follows a previous €350,000 pre-Seed raise in January 2025, which saw participation from prominent figures such as Hanno Lippitsch (founder of Eversports), Michael Pötscher (CMO of Bitpanda, TourRadar, and Paysafe), and Matthias Heimbeck (founder of Findologic). The continued investor confidence underscores the significant market opportunity and Minimist's potential to become an indispensable tool for the rapidly expanding global resale industry.