The wave of unicorns we have seen over the past decade has been partially populated by what VCs and founders call “managed marketplaces”. This term has been used to describe a dizzying range of business models including consignments, verified matchmakers, iBuyers, asset rental services, etc. So, much like the term “platform”, the term “managed marketplace” has been used so broadly that it has lost all meaning. Let’s take a deeper look at what managed marketplaces really are and what happens when they can no longer be categorized in that bucket.
