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Ekstere is a technology company operating within the environmental and sustainability sector, though its specific headquarters location remains undisclosed. The organization utilizes a registered .eco domain infrastructure, indicating a strategic focus on ecological initiatives, green technologies, and sustainable digital solutions. At this time, specific operational metrics including total funding raised, market valuation, active user counts, and current employee headcount have not been publicly disclosed by the entity. Furthermore, details regarding the corporate business model, target customer base, lead institutional investors, and strategic commercial partnerships are currently unavailable in public market databases. The firm appears to be operating in a stealth capacity, with no recent product launches, software repositories, or major corporate developments officially announced. Consequently, the exact founding year and the identities of Ekstere's original founders remain unverified in current venture capital and startup tracking records.
Ekstere has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round.
Ekstere has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Ekstere has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Ekstere's investors include Felix Capital, Seventure Partners.
# Ekstere: France's Second-Hand Bicycle Marketplace
Ekstere is a technology-enabled marketplace, not a traditional technology company, that operates France's first online platform for buying and selling used bikes[1]. The platform addresses a critical gap in the circular economy by making the second-hand bicycle market safer through professional certification and technical inspections[1]. Rather than manufacturing bikes or developing software for other businesses, Ekstere serves individual buyers and sellers of pre-owned bicycles, offering a curated marketplace where bikes are rigorously vetted by experts[1].
The company's business model aligns with environmental sustainability and responsible consumption principles. It offers a range of bicycle categories—including electric, city, folding, gravel, trekking, and cargo bikes—along with biking accessories[5]. The platform differentiates itself through a data-driven approach to customer experience, leveraging behavioral tracking and continuous improvement processes to optimize both the purchasing and selling experience[1].
Ekstere is based in Lyon, France[5], and emerged as a response to the fragmented and often unsafe second-hand bicycle market. The company was founded with the explicit mission to professionalize this space through expert certification and transparent pricing mechanisms. A significant milestone came when Seventure Partners invested €2.4 million in the company[3], validating the business model and providing capital for scaling operations. This funding round demonstrated investor confidence in the circular economy opportunity within the cycling sector.
Ekstere operates at the intersection of three significant trends: the circular economy movement, the growth of e-commerce for niche categories, and increasing consumer demand for sustainable consumption. The timing is particularly favorable as European markets increasingly prioritize environmental responsibility and as second-hand markets gain social legitimacy.
The company's approach—combining marketplace technology with expert curation—represents a hybrid model that challenges the assumption that online platforms must choose between scale and quality. By introducing professional standards to a traditionally informal market, Ekstere influences how other circular economy platforms might approach trust and verification.
Ekstere demonstrates strong early momentum, having achieved measurable company growth within its first year of operation and positive EBITDA[1]. The €2.4 million investment from Seventure Partners positions the company to expand its platform capabilities and potentially scale beyond France.
The company's future likely depends on deepening its expert network, expanding its bike inventory, and potentially replicating its model in other European markets where second-hand bicycle demand is rising. As urban mobility shifts toward sustainable transportation and consumers become more environmentally conscious, platforms that make circular consumption frictionless and trustworthy will increasingly capture market share. Ekstere's success will hinge on maintaining the quality and trust that differentiate it from larger, less curated marketplaces while scaling efficiently enough to remain competitive.
Ekstere has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Series U in February 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2025 | $2M Series U | — | Felix Capital, Seventure Partners | Announced |
