// startup autopsy
Shpock
Austria's boot-sale classifieds app was acquired by Scout24 for €204M and then quietly wound down as the parent pivoted away
acquisition gone wrongSlow Death
Years-long decline before final shutdown
| Founded | 2012 |
|---|---|
| Closed | 2022 |
| Country | Austria |
| Sector | Marketplace |
| Founder | Armin Strbac |
// the model, blind
Evaluating only Shpock’s profile at its peak — without knowing the outcome — the model ranked Acquisition gone wrong as the #1 likely cause. That’s exactly how it died.
Key Events Timeline
FOUNDING
Shpock founded as mobile-first C2C classifieds marketplace
FUNDING
Series B funding round secured, enabling expansion across European markets
ACQUISITION ATTEMPT
Scout24 acquires Shpock for €204M, planning integration into property and automotive classifieds ecosystem
PIVOT
Integration strategy stalls; Shpock's secondhand consumer goods market proves non-complementary to Scout24's core verticals
LAYOFF
Scout24 progressively defunds Shpock product; significant team reductions begin
SHUTDOWN
Shpock ceases operations as Scout24 refocuses on core automotive and property business