Top 49 Collectibles Startups to Watch in 2026
The collectibles market is being reshaped by technology, with companies creating new platforms for buying and selling goods. This evolution spans from digital items on the blockchain to physical products sold through livestream auctions. Among the leaders are companies like Whatnot, a livestream shopping platform that has raised over $974 million. Blockchain-focused Dapper Labs has also attracted significant investment, securing more than $612 million for its digital collectible products.
Below is our list of 49 Collectibles startups worth keeping an eye on.
Failory's Top 9 Picks
Catawiki operates an online marketplace for special objects, with each item reviewed and selected by in-house experts. The platform hosts weekly auctions across dozens of categories, connecting collectors with everything from classic cars to fine art.
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands |
| Year Founded | 2008 |
| Founders | Marco Jansen, René Schoenmakers |
| Funding Amount | $22.6M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Private Equity |
| Top Investors | Accel, Northzone, FJ Labs, Permira, Peak |
Dapper Labs brings blockchain technology to the masses through fun and accessible digital collectibles. Their portfolio includes hit NFT projects like CryptoKitties and NBA Top Shot, all built on the Flow blockchain.
| Headquarters | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | Dieter Shirley, Mack Flavelle, Roham Gharegozlou |
| Funding Amount | $612.5M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Andreessen Horowitz, Samsung NEXT, Bond, HOF Capital, Union Square Ventures |
GameSquare offers a specialized marketplace for buying and selling video games, merchandise, and other collectibles. The platform is designed for gamers and collectors to trade items and discover new gear within a dedicated community.
| Headquarters | Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | Gerard Jané, Martín Simón Rúa, Pol Rodoreda Valeri, Xavi Llordella Villaró |
| Funding Amount | €100k |
| Startup Size | Founding Team (1-10) |
| Last Funding Status | Angel |
| Top Investors | Secways, David Boronat, Juan José Mostazo, Sacha Fuentes, Rat Gasol |
TCGplayer built an online marketplace for the trading card game community, connecting buyers and sellers. Their platform offers real-time pricing data and collection management tools for both hobbyists and retail stores.
| Headquarters | San Jose, California, United States |
| Year Founded | 1998 |
| Founders | Chedy Hampson |
| Funding Amount | $45M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Private Equity |
| Top Investors | FJ Labs, Radian Capital, Vista Credit Partners, Jack Greco |
Rally built a platform for investing in alternative assets by allowing users to buy and sell fractional shares of collectibles. They turn high-value items like classic cars, rare art, and memorabilia into stock-like assets, making them accessible to a wider range of investors.
| Headquarters | New York, New York, United States |
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Christopher Bruno, Maximilian Niederste-Ostholt, Rob Petrozzo |
| Funding Amount | $116M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Accel, Anthemis, Global Brain Corporation, Relay Ventures, WndrCo |
HashtEX created a patent-backed marketplace that transforms cultural identity into a tradable, consent-based asset class. Their platform allows content creators and users to trade digital assets based on cultural trends like popular hashtags.
| Headquarters | Miami, Florida, United States |
| Year Founded | 2021 |
| Founders | Roman Pelevin |
| Funding Amount | $300k |
| Startup Size | Founding Team (1-10) |
| Last Funding Status | Pre-Seed |
| Top Investors | — |
Venly creates blockchain-agnostic tools that help companies integrate web3 features like digital wallets and NFTs. Their platform provides solutions for building custom marketplaces and managing crypto assets across various industries.
| Headquarters | Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium |
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | Davy Van Roy, Gerbert Vandenberghe, Karel Striegel, Tim Dierckxsens |
| Funding Amount | €24.7M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | Plug and Play, HTGF (High-Tech Gruenderfonds), Fortino Capital, Coinbase Ventures, Alpaca VC |
Sweet provides a platform for brands to create and distribute NFTs and digital collectibles to their customers. Their service is designed to help companies drive fan engagement and new revenue through gamified digital experiences.
| Headquarters | New York, New York, United States |
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Tom Mizzone |
| Funding Amount | $10.1M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Animoca Brands, Michael Kantor |
Whatnot built a livestream shopping platform where collectors and enthusiasts can buy and sell products in real time. Their marketplace has become a major hub for trading collectibles, from rare comics to sneakers, through live video auctions.
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Logan Head |
| Funding Amount | $974.7M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series F |
| Top Investors | Andreessen Horowitz, Bond, Y Combinator, Lightspeed Venture Partners, CapitalG, DST Global |
40 Additional Collectibles Startups Worth Following
The top nine are just a small slice of what's happening in the collectibles space. Across the board, founders are building new marketplaces and media platforms for every kind of collector. Some are just getting started while others are already growing quickly. Here is a look at 40 other companies that are shaping the future of collecting.
| Startup | Main Industry | Year Founded | Amount Raised | Last Funding Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Winners Alliance | Retail | 2022 | $66M | Venture Round |
 CHRONEXT | Retail | 2013 | €116.6M | Series E |
 Faze | Retail | 2021 | $117.4M | Series A |
 Mighty Jaxx | Retail | 2012 | $45.8M | Series A |
 Collectibles.com | Retail | 2023 | $5.5M | Seed |
 Conserv | Media | 2018 | $4M | Series A |
 Loupe | Media | 2020 | $15.1M | Series A |
 QianDao App | Infrastructure | 2019 | $90M | Series B |
 hobbyDB | Retail | 2014 | $3.8M | Equity Crowdfunding |
 Nametag | SaaS | 2021 | $2M | Seed |
 Rare Candy | Retail | 2021 | $4M | Seed |
 Hip eCommerce | Media | 2015 | $6.8M | Venture Round |
 Collectable | Retail | 2020 | $7.6M | Convertible Note |
 Crossing | Retail | 2021 | $7.6M | Series A |
 MynaSwap | Retail | 2021 | $6M | Seed |
 Twyla | Media | 2015 | $19M | Venture Round |
 Verisart | Media | 2015 | $5M | Convertible Note |
 evaluate.xyz | Analytics | 2021 | $5.6M | Seed |
 Subdial | Retail | 2018 | £4M | Seed |
 Neustreet | Analytics | 2020 | $4.8M | Seed |
 The Chaos | Crypto | 2021 | $1.8M | Seed |
 StarStock | Retail | 2019 | $9.3M | Series A |
 WAX | Media | 2018 | $10M | Seed |
 TrustHub | Retail | 2019 | ¥2.1B | Debt Financing |
 Misprint | Retail | 2025 | $500k | Pre-Seed |
 Jiraffe | Retail | 2014 | ¥4.2B | Series E |
 Boxed | Retail | 2022 | $1.5M | Pre-Seed |
 Assurely | Retail | 2017 | $3.7M | Seed |
 Automated Grading Services (AGS) | AI | 2021 | $1M | Seed |
 Toki | Retail | 2023 | $1.8M | Pre-Seed |
 NextGem | AI | 2021 | $1.8M | Seed |
 Bids.com | Marketplace | 2017 | $1.7M | Seed |
 UCOLLEX | Retail | 2021 | $10M | Series A |
 Candy Digital | Crypto | 2021 | $138.4M | Series A |
 Pulltrader | Retail | 2025 | $50k | Debt Financing |
 Maha Karta | Media | 2016 | $30M | Angel |
 LeanPay | Enterprise | 2020 | €1.1M | Seed |
 Sotheby’s | Media | 1744 | — | — |
 Elephants | Retail | 2022 | CHF500k | Pre-Seed |
 Collectible Holdings | Crypto | 2020 | $2.8M | Seed |
