
Founded in 2012, Carousell is a Singapore-based tech startup that provides a mobile-first platform for buying and selling second-hand goods. The app allows users to list items quickly with photos and descriptions, creating a fast, intuitive, and social marketplace.
Carousell’s mission is to make selling and buying anything simple, fun, and accessible, promoting a circular economy and reducing waste. The platform has become one of Southeast Asia’s leading consumer marketplaces, with millions of users across the region.
Carousell was co-founded by Quek Siu Rui and Lucas Ngoo, two Singapore Management University alumni. Frustrated by the cumbersome process of traditional online classifieds, they envisioned a mobile-first solution that would allow anyone to sell items in minutes.
The founders started with a simple idea: a camera and a smartphone should be enough to sell an item. They built the first version of Carousell in a small office in Singapore, focusing on usability, social sharing, and speed. Word-of-mouth growth helped the app quickly gain traction among students and young professionals.
Carousell’s expansion has been fueled by strategic funding and regional adoption:
Carousell has successfully scaled across Southeast Asia, creating a thriving mobile-first ecosystem for second-hand goods.
Carousell combines a user-friendly mobile experience with monetization strategies:
By combining simplicity, mobile-first design, and community trust, Carousell disrupted the traditional classifieds industry.
Carousell has reshaped consumer behavior and commerce in Southeast Asia:
The platform demonstrates how simple technology can drive both social and economic impact.
Carousell faces challenges common to digital marketplaces:
Carousell addresses these challenges through AI-powered moderation, secure payment integration, and strong community policies.
Carousell continues to innovate and expand across Southeast Asia and beyond:
Carousell exemplifies how a simple, mobile-first idea can scale into a leading regional tech platform.
From a small Singapore startup to Southeast Asia’s largest mobile classifieds platform, Carousell illustrates the power of user-focused innovation and regional scaling. Quek Siu Rui and Lucas Ngoo transformed the way people buy and sell second-hand goods, building a thriving community while promoting sustainability. Their story is a blueprint for tech entrepreneurs aiming to combine simplicity, social impact, and rapid growth into a successful business.









