Thai hobby-focused ecommerce startup scores $3m from 500 Startups’ fund, others

Thai hobby and lifestyle ecommerce startup Mercular said it has raised roughly US$3 million in a series A round led by Kairous Capital.

CyberAgent Capital, N-Vest Ventures, Premier Advisory Group, and 500 TukTuks, a micro fund set up by 500 Startups to invest in Thai companies, also participated in the round.

Mercular’s management team / Photo credit: Mercular

Mercular operates an online shopping platform that specifically targets those who are into hobbies relating to sports, games, and music.

With the new funds, Mercular said it will upgrade its platform and expand into other categories including collectibles, cameras, and other gadget accessories. The startup also said that gaming gear is among the very first categories it aims to gain significant market share in this year.

“While the typical ecommerce platform in SEA regions focus mainly on price competition, Mercular believes hobbyists are looking for more than just price, but rather tailor-made experiences that would fulfill them,” said Woragun Wattanasakchai, co-founder and CEO of Mercular.

In addition to offering products, its platform also handles pre-sales processes such as product and content reviews and post-sales processes such as order claims handling. According to its LinkedIn page, Mercular aims to be an omnichannel service where hobbyists can find relevant content and product comparisons, and be able to buy and sell their items more easily.