Cortilia

About Cortilia

Cortilia operates as a full-stack e-commerce marketplace in Italy, focusing on the online grocery sector with a farm-to-home business model. The company was established in 2011 by Marco Porcaro and Antonio Perini, initially under the name 'Geomercato'. Porcaro, a serial entrepreneur with a background in mobile technology and logistics software, combined his passions for technology and quality food to create the platform. His prior experience includes founding Mobaila, a mobile video service company, and co-founding Viamente, a route optimization software firm that was later sold.

The business generates revenue by connecting consumers directly with a curated network of farmers, breeders, and artisanal producers, thereby shortening the supply chain. Customers can place one-off orders or sign up for recurring subscriptions, choosing from a catalog of over 2,500 products. This selection includes fresh produce, meat, fish, dairy, baked goods, and pantry staples. The service promises delivery within 24 hours, with customers able to select specific time slots. Originally serving Milan, the company has expanded its operations across the Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, and Piedmont regions, with a selection of artisanal products available for delivery throughout Italy.

Cortilia has achieved significant financial milestones, raising a total of $53.3 million over four funding rounds. Key funding includes a $1.88 million Seed round in 2014 from P101, a Series B of $9.38 million in 2019, and a substantial Series C round of $41.5 million (€34 million) in January 2021. This latest round was led by Red Circle Investments, the investment vehicle of Diesel founder Renzo Rosso, with participation from existing investors like Indaco Ventures and Five Seasons Ventures. Following this investment, Cortilia officially became a Benefit Corporation (B-Corp), legally committing to balancing profit with social and environmental performance. The company demonstrated strong growth, reporting a turnover of €33 million in 2020, a 175% increase from the previous year.

A core tenet of the platform is its 'just-in-time' model, designed to ensure product freshness and minimize waste by aggregating producers into virtual markets. This approach leverages data and technology to optimize logistics and connect consumers with producers. The company also promotes conscious consumption by providing detailed information about its producers and their methods. In 2021, Cortilia launched its private label, “Discovered for you by Cortilia,” to highlight products from select partners under its own brand. To support its growth, the company moved into a new 50,000-square-meter sustainable headquarters on the outskirts of Milan.