International platform Listee has started testing its C2C marketplace in Uzbekistan.
International tech company Listee chose Uzbekistan as one of the first markets to launch its resale platform. The service operates on a C2C (consumer-to-consumer) model and offers users built-in tools for secure transactions.
The platform combines classifieds functionality with artificial intelligence. Neural networks analyze the quality of listings, help find relevant items, and track potentially suspicious user activity.
To operate in the new market, Listee opened an office in Tashkent. Country Manager Zafar Iskhakov will lead business development in the region. The project was founded by Vitaly Tumanov, who previously held leadership positions at Google, Avito, and Yandex Eats.
Secure transaction mechanics
The main barrier in peer-to-peer online trade is low trust. To solve this, the platform moves the entire transaction cycle inside its own infrastructure.
Buyer-seller communication happens through built-in chats and calls without revealing personal phone numbers. Payment and delivery are handled through platform partners. It works on an escrow principle: the buyer pays for the item, but the money is frozen in a transit account. The seller hands the item to a logistics partner and receives the funds only after the buyer collects the package and confirms receipt.
Country and market
Uzbekistan shows steady growth in e-commerce, but the peer-to-peer resale segment still relies heavily on direct agreements in messengers and card-to-card transfers. A platform that handles arbitration and payment protection fills a vacant niche between traditional classifieds and large B2C marketplaces.
Why it matters
The entry of an international player with a ready-made tech base changes operating standards in the Central Asian classifieds market. Users are getting used to platforms not just connecting buyers and sellers, but guaranteeing the financial security of the transaction.
Introducing built-in secure transactions on C2C platforms stimulates the development of escrow services and micro-logistics in the local market. For local banks and payment systems, this is an opportunity to integrate their solutions into a new stream of user transactions.
What’s next
Listee is currently studying the needs of Uzbek users and testing the product. The company plans to develop a reputation profile system, deepen integration with logistics services, and expand its geography. Besides Uzbekistan, the startup is focusing on other Central Asian countries, as well as markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.