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The Venture Codex

The Player's Impact

102 Union St, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, United States

Overview

Professional athletes investing in businesses together. We're making entrepreneurship and investing a team sport.

Total investments
2
Lead investments
0
Investments · 12mo
0
Active investors
3

Sector focus

  • Sports
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Investment portfolio

  • SidelineSwap

    Participated · Series A · Apr 2018

    SidelineSwap operates a peer-to-peer online marketplace and a trade-in platform for new and used sporting goods. Its Trade-in Platform includes pop-up events, in-store and online trade-in options for brands and retailers, plus tools for resellers to power their own trade-in experiences. The company uses proprietary resale data and marketplace technology to support a hybrid model of peer-to-peer and first-party sales. SidelineSwap says the model lets sellers choose direct resale or instant trade-in value and broadens selection for buyers. Founded in 2015, SidelineSwap reports sellers have earned more than $100 million to date through the platform. The company has been listed on Andreessen Horowitz’s a16z Top 100 marketplaces list from 2019–2022. It plans to use the investment to expand its trade-in platform and continue building the leading online marketplace in sports. SidelineSwap operates a marketplace dedicated to sporting goods, offering peer-to-peer listings alongside first-party sales and branded partner marketplaces. The company has built a Trade-in Platform that supports pop-up events, in-store and online trade-in options, and tools for resellers to run their own trade-in experiences. The Trade-in Platform is powered by SidelineSwap’s marketplace technology and proprietary resale data, and the hybrid model lets sellers choose direct resale or instant trade-in value. SidelineSwap says it was founded in 2015 and has enabled athletes to earn more than $100,000,000 to date by reselling gear. The business is positioning itself to power resale wherever athletes shop or play and to expand resale partnerships with retailers. SidelineSwap was one of the fastest growing marketplaces on Andreessen Horowitz’s A16z Top 100 marketplace list for 2020. SidelineSwap is an online marketplace that enables athletes to buy and sell new and used sports gear and equipment. The platform covers gear for sports including lacrosse, hockey, baseball, skiing, golf, soccer, softball, football, basketball and snowboarding. Founded in 2015 and led by CEO Brendan Candon, the Boston-based company has attracted more than 200,000 athletes to the platform. The company raised a $5M Series A in April 2018 and has total funding of $8.9M. It said it will use the funds to continue to expand operations. Prior to the Series A the company raised a $2.1M seed extension in fall 2017 and a $1.8M seed round in spring 2016. SidelineSwap operates an online marketplace that allows athletes of all ages to buy and sell new and used gear for sports including lacrosse, hockey, baseball, skiing, golf, soccer, softball, football, basketball and snowboarding. Founded in 2012 and led by CEO Brendan Candon, the company is based in Boston, MA. The community has more than 150,000 athletes. SidelineSwap intends to use the new funds to accelerate growth and make engineering hires to improve the buying and selling experience. Financially, the company has raised $4M to date. Prior financings include a $1.8M seed round in spring 2016 and $120K from family and friends in fall 2014.

Team

  • Tracy Deforge

    Co-Founder and CEO

    LinkedIn
  • Douglas Kobak

    Senior Advisor

    LinkedIn
  • Debi Kleiman

    Director of The Academy for Athlete Entrepreneurs; TPI Advisor

    LinkedIn