Retraced

About Retraced

Retraced GmbH operates as a business-to-business software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider, offering a platform for sustainability and compliance management tailored to the fashion and textile industry. The company was established in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 2019 by co-founders Lukas Pünder (CEO), Philipp G. Mayer (CPO), and Peter Merkert (CTO). The founders' journey began with a prior venture in 2016, an ethical shoe brand named CANO, where they encountered firsthand the difficulties of collecting sustainability data from their supply chain. This experience directly informed the creation of Retraced, which was developed to address a clear market need for a streamlined solution.

The core of Retraced's business is its digital platform that enables fashion and textile companies to digitize, map, and trace their supply chains, often down to the raw materials. This functionality is critical for clients to manage compliance with increasingly complex regulations, such as the EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). The platform serves as a central hub for all stakeholders in a supply chain, facilitating the collection, analysis, and sharing of data related to working conditions, materials, certifications, and environmental impact. Revenue is generated through this platform, which connects over 150 fashion brands—including notable names like Victoria's Secret, Desigual, Pangaia, and Tom Tailor—with a network of more than 15,000 suppliers.

Retraced's platform offers a suite of tools for supply chain management. It allows brands to vet and collaborate with suppliers, automate the collection of compliance documents, and manage multi-tier adherence to standards in a single system. By leveraging AI and process automation, the system aims to make sustainability management more efficient and to provide audit-ready data. A key feature is its preparation for the European Digital Product Passport (DPP), which will enable end-consumers to access product sustainability information, thereby fostering greater transparency. The company has secured significant funding to advance its platform, including a €15 million Series A round in September 2024, bringing its total raised capital to over $26 million.