Dela Raises A$1M Seed for Escrow Payments in Second-Hand Sales

Dela Secures A$1 Million Seed Round

Dela, a Sydney-based fintech, has raised A$1 million in seed funding. The round was announced on September 9, 2026. No lead investor was disclosed, and the investor list was not provided.

What Dela Does

Dela provides escrow-style payment and shipping infrastructure for peer-to-peer sales of second-hand goods, regardless of where the deal originated, such as Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree. The platform aims to make transactions safer for both buyers and sellers.

How It Works

• Buyers pay in the app, with funds processed by Stripe and released only after the buyer confirms receipt within a 24-hour checking window.
• Sellers pass Stripe Identity verification and can book tracked couriers, arrange their own shipping, or hand over in person with a code.

The service launched in 2026 on iOS and Android and operates Australia-wide.

Monetisation

Dela is free for sellers. It monetises through a buyer protection fee:

• A$5 on items up to A$100
• A$5 plus 3.5% of item value above that threshold

Market Context

Peer-to-peer marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree facilitate millions of transactions, but lack built-in escrow and shipping protections. Dela addresses this gap by providing a standalone infrastructure layer that works across platforms, potentially reducing fraud and disputes.

Acquisition Angle

For acquirers in fintech, e-commerce, or logistics, Dela offers a ready-made escrow and shipping solution tailored to the second-hand goods market. Its integration with Stripe and focus on trust and safety could complement existing payment or marketplace platforms looking to expand into peer-to-peer commerce.

With fresh seed funding, Dela is positioned to grow its user base across Australia and refine its product. As the circular economy continues to expand, Dela's infrastructure could become an attractive acquisition target for companies seeking to capture value in the resale market.