Resale is becoming big business, and one startup is cashing in while helping brands stay sustainable. Archive, the San Francisco-based technology company powering profitable resale businesses for brands, has completed a $30 million Series B funding round, bringing total funding to $54 million. The round was led by Energize Capital, with participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Bain Capital Ventures, G9 Ventures, Capital F, Woodline Partners LP, and Frontline Growth.
Leadership and Strategic Direction
Emily Gittins, Co-founder and CEO of Archive, expressed excitement about the milestone and its impact on Archive’s future. “Resale has proven wildly popular with consumers and a significant and profitable growth opportunity for brands, allowing them to drive sales, customer loyalty and sustainability at the same time,” said Gittins. “We’re extremely pleased to partner with this prestigious group of investors as we help brands launch and scale resale channels that strengthen their business. This new investment will allow us to continue to lead through innovation and to add top engineering talent and resale industry experts to our team to support our growing global footprint,” said Gittins.
The investment also brings strategic leadership to Archive’s board, with Eileen Waris, Principal at Energize Capital, joining as a new board member.
Market Opportunity and Growth
Consumer demand for resale shopping continues to surge, with the secondhand apparel market reaching $230 billion in 2024 and projected to hit nearly $350 billion by 2028. The trend is especially strong among Gen Z, with 40% of their closets already secondhand.
“We have been closely tracking trends in resale markets and the circular economy for years. Over the past decade, the retail industry has undergone massive, enduring changes driven by generational shifts in consumer preferences towards more sustainable options,” said Eileen Waris, Principal at Energize Capital. “Archive’s software capitalizes on this shift and enables brands to own a bigger slice of the resale pie, all while supporting profitability and sustainability goals. We are thrilled to partner with the Archive team and support them through this next phase of growth.”
Brand Success and Future Plans
Archives have shown that resale can be a highly profitable channel, with some partners expecting resale to account for 10% or more of revenue. Archive’s software helps brands sell secondhand items at higher margins, reclaim supply through multiple channels, and manage returns and trade-ins.
The company has recently launched partnerships with New Balance, Fjällräven, and Dr. Martens and expanded programs with The North Face, DVF, Faherty, and M.M.LaFleur. Archive now supports over 50 brands in 10 countries.
The new capital will be used to advance Archive’s software, accelerate global expansion, and invest in new categories like furniture, toys, electronics, and outdoor gear.
Emily Gittins shared, “We have big goals for this year, including: Global Expansion – We already power resale businesses in 10 countries, and will continue to grow our global footprint. Product Innovation – We are launching in some exciting new categories this year, including furniture, toys, electronics, outdoor gear, and more, and will continue to build market-leading technology to meet this evolving demand. Driving Profitability for Brands – While many of our brand partners find that resale is more profitable than their full-price business, our goal is to innovate on our product to further increase margins and scale resale businesses faster than ever,” said Gittins.
Environmental Impact
Founded in 2021 by Emily Gittins and Ryan Rowe, Archive’s mission is to reduce retail’s environmental impact and keep products in use longer. The company works with brands to create tailored resale programs, supporting circular models like peer-to-peer, trade-in, and returns management.
Archive’s recognition as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in Retail in 2024 highlights its role in transforming how brands approach growth and sustainability. With this funding, Archive is poised to lead the next phase of the resale revolution, helping brands worldwide make circularity a core business strategy.
