Vinted
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Online marketplace |
| Founded | January 1, 2008 in Vilnius, Lithuania |
| Founder | Milda Mitkutė, Justas Janauskas |
| Headquarters | Vilnius , Lithuania |
Area served | 21 countries (as of June 2024) |
Key people | Thomas Plantenga (CEO) |
| Products | Platform for buying, selling, and exchanging new and pre-owned goods |
| Website | vinted |
Vinted, UAB Group, commonly referred to as Vinted, is a Lithuanian digital platform specializing in the purchase, sale, and exchange of both new and pre-owned goods.
History
Founded in 2008 by Milda Mitkutė and Justas Janauskas in Vilnius, Lithuania, Vinted originated when Mitkutė sought to sell excess clothing during a relocation.
In 2012, the company collaborated with Lithuanian app developer Lemon Labs to introduce its mobile application. Four years later, Dutch entrepreneur Thomas Plantenga joined as a strategy advisor and subsequently assumed the role of CEO.
Vinted achieved a significant milestone in 2019 by becoming Lithuania’s first technology unicorn, securing €128 million in funding at a €1 billion valuation, with Lightspeed Venture Partners leading the round. The firm expanded its footprint through acquisitions such as the Dutch competitor United Wardrobe in 2020 and the Danish marketplace Trendsales in 2024.
By June 2024, Vinted was active across twenty-one nations and had amassed over 65 million registered users. The platform’s valuation reached €5 billion by November 2024.
Controversies
Beginning in 2021, data protection regulators from France, Lithuania, and Poland have investigated Vinted for breaches of GDPR regulations and disputes related to user account suspensions. This scrutiny culminated in a €2,375,276 penalty imposed by Lithuanian authorities in July 2024. A specialized working group comprising officials from the Netherlands, France, Lithuania, and Poland, under the guidance of the European Data Protection Board, highlights collaborative enforcement efforts across borders.
In early 2024, Swedish authorities received approximately 300 police reports concerning fraudulent schemes targeting newly registered Vinted users that resulted in drained bank accounts. Comparable platforms recorded fewer incidents with less severe consequences.
A documentary released by Channel 4 in October 2024 revealed troubling elements within Vinted’s marketplace. It uncovered exploitation linked to misogynistic websites, inappropriate sexualization of underage models, and dangers posed by unverified products lacking safety certifications. The program also raised alarms about unauthorized sales involving CBD and related substances.