• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 11, 2025

Box Breaking’s Big Bucks

  • Upfront Ventures led the first round of funding in Loupe.
  • Notable card collector Nat Turner also contributed capital.
Tom Jacobs/The News Leader

The sports card craze isn’t slowing down. 

Loupe Tech, Inc., a trading card e-commerce platform with a streaming component, has secured $3 million in funding.

The platform’s first funding round was led by Upfront Ventures, which also recently invested in memorabilia trading app Rally.

Entrepreneur and rare card collector Nat Turner also got in on the action. Turner is fresh off the purchase of third-party authentication company Collectors Universe, announced last week. 

Loupe’s platform, which launched in October, offers users the ability to seamlessly buy and sell sports cards. Its tech also allows card enthusiasts to livestream “box breaking,” a growing trend in which a seller opens a buyer’s card on video. 

The trend is a key reason why sports cards are back in style.

“Demand for sports cards has skyrocketed over the past 12 months and it’s clear the hobby wasn’t prepared for the surge in buyers,” Loupe founder and CEO Eric Doty said in a release. “Our mission is simple: We want to bring modern technology to the card collecting hobby.”

With the investment, the company plans to “aggressively hire,” sign “high-profile sellers,” and ink “strategic partnerships in the pro sports space.”

After a monumental 2020, the investment in Loupe is another promising sign for the sports card industry.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Collectors Universe Valued Around $853 Million in Amended Acquisition

Collectors Universe and an investor group have come to an amended merger agreement following the initial announcement of a $700 million deal.
Collectible Assets Trading App Rally Raises $17 Million in New Funding

Collectible Assets Trading App Rally Raises $17 Million in New Funding

The app, which launched in 2017 and has almost 200,000 users, says it has $15 million worth of assets in its catalog.

Featured Today

Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
Apr 26, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) before game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.

Rockets Get $20 Million in Wiggle Room From New VanVleet Deal

VanVleet first signed with the Rockets in 2023.
April 20, 2025

Max Verstappen Linked to $300M Aston Martin Deal Ahead of Miami GP

Aston Martin is currently seventh in the constructors championship.
June 24, 2025

Timberwolves’ 4-Year Ownership Saga Ends As A-Rod, Lore Take Over

The unanimous approval brought a clean end to a long-disputed transaction.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
March 27, 2025

Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions Gets PE Boost

The Hall of Famer’s company gains another prominent backer.
March 20, 2025

High School Sports Power Signs Eight-Figure Rights Deal in First

The deal pays roughly $1 million annually, FOS has learned.
March 20, 2025

Maxx Crosby’s Agent: Edge Rushers Set to Dominate NFL’s Non-QB Market

Maxx Crosby just signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension.
March 4, 2025

Eagles Make Saquon Barkley NFL’s Highest-Paid Running Back Ever

Barkley is coming off a historic 2024 season with the Eagles.