Trouva.com launches in Amsterdam, Madrid and Copenhagen as Niall Wass joins in newly created non-exec Director and Chair role

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Trouva.com launches in Amsterdam, Madrid and Copenhagen as Niall Wass joins in newly created non-exec Director and Chair role.

Trouva, the curated online marketplace for the best independent bricks-and-mortar shops and one of the five fastest growing tech businesses in the UK (TNW Tech5), has announced the appointment of Niall Wass as non-executive Chair. 

This appointment comes at a significant time of growth for the start-up, following a $10m USD Series A funding round last year that was led by BGF Ventures, alongside Index Ventures and Octopus Ventures. In his new role at Trouva, Wass will be working alongside the current leadership team to devise and execute strategies for growth as it looks to further establish itself as the global destination for the best of independent retail. As a case in point, Trouva formally launches boutiques from three new creative capitals on the platform today, enabling customers to shop local from Amsterdam, Madrid andCopenhagen for the first time via Trouva.com.

Alongside his part-time position at Trouva, Wass remains a Partner at international venture capital firm Atomico, where he has invested in, or sits on the board of, high growth tech companies such as e-scooter start-up Lime, digital mortgage broker Habito, trucking marketplace OnTruck, property finance marketplace Lendinvest, and digital staffing service Jobandtalent. He is also non-exec chairman of Glovo, the app that delivers anything in your city in a few minutes, and that recently raised €115m in its Series C funding round. Prior to this, Wass was on the core executive team at Uber as SVP for the international business across 52 countries, and was Chief Commercial Officer at Betfair from early on through to IPO. 

Niall Wass, newly appointed non-executive Director & Chair at Trouva, says: “Trouva allows users to find really unique products from amazingly curated independent boutiques. This is quite unlike the normal high street experience in that customers can own or gift items that are otherwise hard to find. This also helps independent shops to thrive by reaching discerning customers and growing their business online. I have been impressed not only with the rapid growth of the business, but the quality of its service and tech platform which as well as providing a great user experience, will also help boutiques to manage their business and enable international expansion. I look forward to working with the team on a strategy that will enable Trouva to fulfil its ambition to become a major player in the retail and online shopping landscape.”

The news of Wass’ appointment comes as Trouva today introduces Europe’s latest creative capitals to the platform, following its first international expansion in Berlin earlier this year, and taking its European boutique count to almost 100 bricks-and-mortar shops. This continued drive for growth – with today’s newly debuted territories including Amsterdam, Madrid and Copenhagen – will enable Trouva’s burgeoning, global customer base to hand-pick one off items across more than 100,000 distinctive products on the platform, including the hottest local trends from across Europe. From design-led homeware and lifestyle products available at Amsterdam’s De Werkwinkel & Meer, and cool and eclectic menswear at Copenhagen’s Townsfolk to artisanal interior goods from around the world atMahe Homeware in Madrid, European boutiques are available for shoppers in all corners of the globe.

Jonas Sand Kristensen, shopkeeper and owner of Townsfolk boutique in Copenhagen, says:
“Trouva has had a significant impact on our business very quickly. Since joining the platform over 2 months ago, we’ve already seen a 15% uplift in revenue. For a long time, I’ve wanted to hire another permanent member of staff to grow our in-store team and the incremental sales from Trouva have allowed me to do this. It truly is our window to a wider world, helping us to reach a whole new audience. In the last two weeks alone, we've had orders from seven countries including the US, Australia, Switzerland and the UK.”

Mandeep Singh, CEO and co-founder at Trouva, says: “At a time where the looming prospect of Brexit might be hanging over most UK-founded and based start-ups, it’s business as usual for us, and that means rapid growth. The number of our boutiques that have achieved over £100,000 in sales directly through Trouva.com has almost quadrupled from 11 to 42 in just 12 months, further extending our platform to the most amazing independents, run by great curators with a strong identity. As we introduce the best of Copenhagen, Madrid and Amsterdam to Trouva.com – uniting everything that’s great about shopping independently on our global platform – we’re looking to drive growth across the entire business, which is why we’re thrilled to bring Niall on board with his vast experience in leading significant business transformation and growth strategies.”