Listia
YC S09San Francisco, US · Founded 2009 · 6 employees · 5 known investors
Listia is a marketplace where users buy and sell used items across multiple categories using a points-based currency system without transaction fees. The platform serves consumers looking to declutter or acquire secondhand goods through peer-to-peer trading.
Also known as Listia, Inc.
Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S09)
Listia was founded in 2009 by Gee-Hwan Chuang.
Investors · 5
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Company profile
researched Aug 2026Listia operates a consumer-to-consumer auction marketplace for new and used goods in which items are bought and sold with an internal points currency rather than cash. Members list items they no longer want, other members bid using points, and sellers accumulate points that can be spent on other listings. The company states there are no fees charged on transactions.
Points are distributed through several mechanisms: 50 points on sign-up, an additional 50 points for posting a first listing, unlimited points for continuing to list items, 100 points for each invited friend who completes a listing, and 50 points each for connecting an active Facebook or Twitter account. The marketplace spans roughly two dozen categories, including antiques, art, baby, books, cameras, cars and vehicle parts, cell phones, clothing and accessories, collectibles, computers, crafts, electronics, health and beauty, home and garden, jewelry and watches, movies and TV, music and instruments, pet supplies, sporting goods, toys and hobbies, and video games and consoles. The site also features "Popular" and "Premium" listings sections, a mobile app, free-shipping listings, and a buyer protection guarantee described as "100% Guaranteed Protection."
Y Combinator classifies the company under the Marketplace and Crypto/Web3 categories and describes it as a mobile marketplace for trading used goods.
Founding story
Listia was founded in 2009 by Gee-Hwan (Gee) Chuang and James Fong, San Francisco-based entrepreneurs, on the premise that consumers could unlock value from items they no longer need by trading them online through a cashless system. The company participated in Y Combinator's Summer 2009 batch.
Business model
Peer-to-peer marketplace intermediation: Listia hosts auction listings between individual members and settles transactions in its own points currency rather than cash. The company states that it does not charge a fee for buying or selling on the site.
Not disclosed in the available sources; the company states there are no transaction fees for buyers or sellers, and the site displays a "Premium Listings" section.
Traction
At the time of its 2013 Series A, the company reported over 4 million users and more than 12 million items traded to date. The company's team page cites over 9 million members, while the homepage cites over 10 million members. Y Combinator lists a team size of 6.
Latest developments
The Listia site remains operational, showing active listings dated into 2026 and advertising over 10 million members.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Positioned as a cashless, fee-free alternative to conventional online resale and auction marketplaces, associated in press coverage with the sharing economy and secondhand-goods trading trend. The company describes itself as an online trading marketplace for new and used goods.
Transactions are settled in an internal points/credit currency rather than money, and the company states no fees are charged for buying or selling, distinguishing it from cash-based resale marketplaces.
Technology
Web platform requiring JavaScript and cookies, with a companion mobile app, Facebook and Twitter account connections for sign-up and sharing, and an internal points-based virtual currency/credit system used in place of money for auction bidding and settlement.
Go-to-market
Consumer self-service acquisition via the website and mobile app, with Facebook sign-up, social-sharing integrations, and a referral program awarding 100 points for each invited friend who completes a listing. Onboarding is incentivized with free starter points. The site aggregates press mentions from consumer and technology media in a "Listia in the Spotlight" section.
Individual consumers looking to declutter and sell unused household items, and bargain-oriented buyers seeking secondhand goods such as video games, movies, clothing, and collectibles.
Geography
United States; sources variously place the company in San Francisco, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale, California.
History
Founded in 2009 and part of the Y Combinator Summer 2009 batch. A 2013 report described the company as headquartered in Mountain View, California; Y Combinator lists its location as San Francisco, and PrivCo lists Sunnyvale, California. In October 2013 the company raised a $9 million Series A led by General Catalyst, with General Catalyst partner Neil Sequeira joining the board.
Risks & controversies
No risks or controversies are reported in the available sources. Sources disagree on headquarters location (San Francisco, Mountain View, Sunnyvale) and on member counts (9 million versus 10 million), and no revenue, valuation, or financial statement data is available.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Competitors · 5
by search overlap
Companies competing with Listia for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Timeline · 1
launches, deals, and filingsListia raised $9 million in a Series A round led by General Catalyst; General Catalyst partner Neil Sequeira joined Listia's board.
$9M source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Listialistia.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Listia do?
- Listia is an online auction marketplace where members trade used goods using earned points instead of money.
- Who founded Listia?
- Listia was founded by Gee-Hwan Chuang in 2009.
- Who are Listia's investors?
- Listia's investors include Y Combinator, Andreessen Horowitz, Founder Collective, General Catalyst, SV Angel.
- Where is Listia headquartered?
- Listia is headquartered in San Francisco, US.