The world's first live auction house for startups.
Founders sell their startups. Buyers compete to acquire them.
The final minutes, live.
Contender
An auction house for the next generation of startups.
Winning bid
£24,000+£1,500
Next: payment and handover.
00:00
Bid activity
- Paddle 3Winning bid£24,000
- Paddle 7£22,500
- Paddle 11£21,000
- Paddle 7£20,000
- Paddle 3£19,000
- Monthly revenue
- £2,700+35%
- Up from £2,000 last month.
- Paying customers
- 138−4.2%
- Six fewer than last month.
- Business age
- 18 months
- Operating for a year and a half.
Be in the room when it opens.
Join as a founder, a buyer, or both. We'll email you when access opens.
You're on the list.
We'll share launch updates as the auction house takes shape.
Your request is recorded. If you've previously opted out, your choice still stands.
How it works
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Show what you've built.
Your product, its figures and what the buyer receives, in one listing.
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Bring buyers into the room.
Buyers bid against each other in a timed, live auction.
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Plan the handover.
Agree terms with the winning bidder, then hand over what transfers.
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Find your next business.
Discover working software you want to take further.
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Understand it before you bid.
Review the figures and put your questions to the founder.
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Compete with confidence.
Follow every bid live and know your next step.
Common questions
Something else? Contact us
What can be sold on Contender?
Working software businesses: SaaS, developer tools, AI software, browser extensions and small apps. The product needs to be live and yours to transfer. Full listing criteria will be published before seller applications open.
When does Contender open?
There's no launch date yet. Join the waitlist and we'll email you when seller applications and bidding open. Bidder eligibility, checks and terms will be shared before bidding opens.
How does an auction close?
Each auction has a scheduled close. A bid accepted in the last two minutes moves the close to two minutes after that bid, with no limit on extensions. The winning bidder and the founder then agree terms, arrange payment and hand over the business. Ownership transfers only when that handover is complete.
What does Contender charge?
The proposed model is a 5% success fee, paid by the seller to Contender, only when a sale completes. On a £10,000 completed sale, the fee would be £500 and the seller would receive £9,500 before any other costs. Fees are proposed, not yet final, and full terms for sellers and buyers will be confirmed before anything opens.
Is the demo a real auction?
No. It uses Contender's own name and logo to show how a room feels. The figures and bidders are illustrative, time is compressed, and Contender is not for sale. Nothing on this page places a bid.