VNYX Raises $1.1M to Make Fashion Resale Profitable

Jan de Vries · 2026-05-01

Amsterdam-based FashionTech startup VNYX just secured over $1.1 million in total funding, combining strategic investment and government grants. The company is on a mission to make fashion resale not just sustainable, but actually more profitable than dumping or burning unsold clothes. "We have proven that fashion resale isn't only the right thing to do for the planet, but it's the right thing for your wallet too. Our focus now shifts to scaling," said Guus Balkema, CFO of VNYX. ### What Makes VNYX Different Founded in 2025, VNYX automates the messy resale process for returns, overstock, and second-hand garments. The fashion industry has long struggled to resell items profitably, often choosing to destroy excess inventory because it's cheaper. But new European laws (EPR and the ban on destruction of goods) now prohibit dumping and burning textiles. VNYX helps brands comply while actually making money. The secret sauce? A combination of software, AI, and proprietary hardware that's soon-to-be-patented. The company claims it has already slashed processing times from 19 minutes to just 3 minutes per item. That's an 84% reduction in time, making resale "radically better, faster and cheaper." ### Current Results and Next Goals Right now, the VNYX10 system processes 10,000 items annually for partners like online platform BOAS and outdoor brand Bever. And the company is already generating commercial revenue from these operations. But they're not stopping there. VNYX is working toward what they call their "1-minute promise" — the radical goal of processing a single garment for resale in under 60 seconds, all by the end of this year. "Any brand who wants to go below one minute with us can join right now. We dump and burn one garbage truck of textile every three seconds, so every second counts. The right time to act is now," said Romy Goedhart, co-founder of VNYX. ### The Tech Pipeline VNYX is already planning its next moves: - **VNYX100**: A system capable of handling 100,000 items annually, set to be delivered to BOAS in June 2026. - **VNYX1000**: The world's first resale robotics and AI system designed to process over 1 million items per year. The company is now curating a shortlist of strategic VCs and fashion brands to deploy this technology globally. ### Who's Backing Them VNYX highlighted several key partners that have supported its growth: - **Baltic Business Angels** and **Squads Fund**: Providing technical and commercial mentorship for complex hardware and software integration. - **Stichting DOEN** and **Earthstar**: Helping align the company's growth with scalable environmental impacts. - **RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency)**: Offering non-dilutive funding for R&D and technological advances. - **Spark Design & Innovation**: A key partner and investor in the physical development of the hardware suite. ### What's Next The startup is actively inviting VCs focused on circular economy, DeepTech, ClimateTech, and fashion/reverse logistics automation. They're also looking for forward-thinking brands, logistics centers, and fashion resellers to join them in making resale profitable and scalable. "Our focus now shifts to scaling. We are curating a shortlist of strategic VCs and fashion brands for the deployment of our VNYX1000 technology to international fulfilment centres and global fashion brands," added Balkema. VNYX is proving that sustainability and profitability don't have to be at odds. With faster processing, smarter technology, and a clear path to scale, they're turning fashion resale into a serious business opportunity.