Retail platform Trouva raises $10 million in Series A round

Trouva, an online marketplace for small retailers, has raised $10 million led by BGF Ventures with participation from Octopus Investments, LocalGlobe’s Robin Klein, Playfair Capital, and Downing Ventures.

London-based Trouva is a shopping platform for traditional independent brick and mortar stores to offer click and collect and online shopping services. It currently operates in the UK with 350 stores. The company plans to focus on further expansion in the UK and eventually in other countries, according to CEO Mandeep Singh.

To that end, the company is opening a new office in Lisbon where its tech team will be based, led by CTO Alex Loizou.

Trouva curates all stores that make it onto the platform to use its software to digitise its stock, explained Singh: “We have to believe that they are truly amazing independents, run by great curators with a strong identity.

“Our customers will be able to browse and buy from these incredible stores, no matter where they are, and get their purchase delivered to them quickly and seamlessly,” he said. “At the same time, through click and collect, we’re encouraging our boutique-loving customers to visit the shops in person.”