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Colizey is a technology company.
Colizey operates as a specialized online marketplace dedicated to sports equipment and apparel. The platform connects a curated network of brands and specialty stores directly with sports enthusiasts, providing a comprehensive digital storefront for athletic gear. It distinguishes itself by focusing exclusively on the sports sector, aiming to offer a deep and authentic selection for various sporting disciplines.
The company was co-founded in 2018 by Maxime Maffini Scialom and Arnaud Lanier. Their insight stemmed from recognizing a need for a centralized, expert-driven marketplace within the fragmented sports retail landscape. They aimed to build a platform that could serve both established brands and independent retailers, while offering a superior shopping experience for dedicated athletes seeking quality and specific equipment.
Colizey primarily serves sports enthusiasts and athletes seeking a wide array of specialized products, as well as the brands and retailers looking to reach this targeted demographic. The company’s vision is to become the premier online destination for sports in France, providing an ecosystem where athletes can easily access the best equipment to support their passion and performance.
Colizey has raised $11.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Colizey has raised $11.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Colizey was a French technology company that operated an online marketplace dedicated exclusively to sporting goods, connecting brands, specialty retailers, and sports enthusiasts.[1][2][3] It offered technical products like shoes, apparel, equipment, and accessories across 27 sports categories, blending e-commerce efficiency (real-time pricing, quick purchases) with specialized store expertise (buying advice, technical info) to deliver premium products at competitive prices to athletes of all levels.[1][3][4] Serving sports lovers in France and Italy, Colizey addressed fragmented sports retail by centralizing offerings from 250 merchants across 10 European countries, serving 350,000 customers before closing in February 2025 due to unsustainable operations despite €12 million in funding.[3][6]
Founded in 2018 or early 2019 (sources vary slightly on exact timing, with launch in March or April 2019), Colizey was established in Paris (later Versailles), France, by CEO Maxime Maffini-Scialom, alongside co-founders Cyril Pascal and Arnaud Lanier.[1][2][3][5] Maffini-Scialom brought 10 years of e-commerce and marketplace experience, fueled by a personal passion for sports.[2] The idea emerged to reinvent fragmented online sports shopping, combining digital speed with expert curation amid growing demand for technical gear.[1][3] Early traction included rapid partner growth to 60 sellers (60% retailers, 40% brands) and 200,000 SKUs by 2021, backed by €3.5 million initial funding from investors like Cathay Innovation, Cassius Family, Aglaé Ventures, and Kima Ventures.[2][3] A major €8 million raise in a later round brought total funding to €12 million ($12.15M), enabling expansion plans.[4][5][6]
Colizey rode the e-commerce boom in niche verticals, particularly sports retail, where fragmentation persisted despite overall online growth—exacerbated by lockdowns boosting digital channels for physical stores.[4][6] Timing aligned with rising demand for specialized, tech-driven marketplaces post-2019, as consumers sought curated athletic gear amid wellness trends and DTC shifts.[1][3] Market forces like €50 million in partner payouts and service to 350,000 customers highlighted its role in bridging offline retailers to online, influencing European sports e-commerce by proving viability for pure-play category marketplaces—though its closure underscores profitability challenges without owned retail margins.[6] It advanced tech integrations (e.g., Sentry, Kameleoon, Amazon stacks) and investor interest in impact-driven platforms like Cathay Innovation's focus on wellbeing tech.[4][7]
Colizey demonstrated strong initial momentum in sports e-commerce but shut down on February 4, 2025, after failing to achieve long-term sustainability despite scaling to 250 merchants and significant funding.[6] Looking ahead, its story signals caution for pure marketplaces in single categories amid rising competition from giants like Amazon; survivors may need hybrid retail models or broader scopes. Trends like AI personalization, international expansion, and sustainability in activewear could shape similar ventures, potentially evolving Colizey's model into acquired tech or revived by investors eyeing Europe's fragmented €80B+ sports market. This closure leaves a gap for merchants but underscores the high stakes in reinventing niche retail.
Colizey has raised $11.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Colizey's investors include Cathay Innovation, Aglae Ventures, teddy riner, Tony Parker, Cassius.
Colizey has raised $11.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $9.0M Series A in September 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2021 | $9.0M Series A | Cathay Innovation | Aglae Ventures, teddy riner, Tony Parker, Aglae Ventures, Cassius |
| Feb 1, 2020 | $2.0M Seed |