Online auction house Auctionata has closed its series C financing round with a total investment of €42 million ($45 million), under the advisement of international investment bank GP Bullhound. Warsaw-based MCI Management led the round, with newcomers including Hearst Ventures from New York, Kreos Capital from London, and Yuan Capital from Hong Kong. All previous investors, such as Earlybird, e.ventures, Kite Ventures, Raffay Group, TA Ventures, Bright Capital, REN Invest and Holtzbrinck Ventures, returned to participate in this year’s round.
The news comes shortly after Artsy announced that it had hauled in $25 million in its latest round of financing, which was led private equity firm Catterton.
Sylwester Janik, a partner at MCI Management, said in an official statement, “We are excited to back Auctionata’s ambitious growth plans. The company is an excellent example of what we look for in our investments: a disruptive business model combined with a high quality team and a leadership with strong industry experience.”
Auctionata said in its news release that it plans to focus on developing its base of sellers and buyers this year. It currently hosts auctions of watches, cars, wine, jewelry, design, art, and antiques, and will move into musical instruments and memorabilia, architectural and garden lots, diamonds, and real estate.
Additionally, Auctionata said it would continue to develop its livestream auction format. As Auctionata’s founder and CEO Alexander Zacke explained in an official release, “Since the launch of the weekly live stream auctions in May 2013, Auctionata has grown considerably and has successfully positioned itself among the global leaders for online auctions of art, antiques and luxury collectibles. In the future Auctionata will focus on efficient growth and thereby lay the ground for both organic and non-organic category and geographic expansion.”