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Rare Candy Auctions
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Marketplace for authenticated TCG collectibles
Rare Candy Auctions
Work Here?
Marketplace for authenticated TCG collectibles
Overview
Rare Candy Auctions runs a digital marketplace and mobile app for nerd culture collectibles, starting with trading card games. It combines e-commerce with community and collection tools, including live auctions, fixed-price listings, and curated drops by influential creators, plus an AI-powered card scanner that IDs, values, and helps manage collections with real-time pricing and portfolio tracking. The platform supports scanned graded cards from services like PSA and BGS, and includes a social feed to share items, acting as a hub for collectors. It differentiates itself through an influencer-led entry point, authenticated items to reduce fraud, and a seller-friendly 13% fee (with promos for high-volume sellers) to create a trusted, social marketplace aimed at connecting buyers and sellers in the nerd culture and TCG community.
About Rare Candy Auctions
Industries
Data & Analytics
Consumer Software
Gaming
Company Size
11-50
Company Stage
Seed
Total Funding
$4M
Headquarters
New York City, New York
Founded
2021
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Rare Candy reported 100 million cards scanned and 2 million users by July 2026.
- The June 16, 2026 app update added PSA, CGC, BGS, and TAG grading support.
- May 2026 community challenges and creator ties from Leonhart, DeepPocketMonster, and Pokilegends drive retention.
What critics are saying
- Rare Candy still relies on a narrow TCG audience, leaving demand exposed to Pokémon hype cycles.
- A 13% seller fee invites eBay, Whatnot, and eBay Shops price competition.
- If scan accuracy disappoints collectors, Rare Candy becomes another marketplace, not essential infrastructure.
What makes Rare Candy Auctions unique
- Lee Steinfeld’s Leonhart brand gives Rare Candy instant trust inside Pokémon collector circles.
- Rare Candy Scanner 3.0 launched May 5, 2026, pairing AI scanning with marketplace checkout.
- The app combines auctions, fixed-price listings, and collection tracking across Pokémon, MTG, One Piece, Lorcana.
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Funding
Total Funding
$4M
Above
Industry Average
Funded Over
1 Rounds
Bessemer Venture PartnersIndustry standards
Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Wellness Program
Remote Work Options
Company Equity
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 5%1 year growth
↑ 5%2 year growth
↑ 0%NEW YORK, March 04, 2024--Today, StartOut and J.P. Morgan welcomed the newest cohort of companies to the Growth Lab Accelerator. With less than one percent of startup funding allocated toward LGBTQ+ founders in 2023, as found by a recent StartOut study, this five-month program is critical in providing resources and education to help entrepreneurs grow and compete.
Rare Candy Auctions is Hiring for 3 Jobs on Simplify!
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About Rare Candy Auctions
Industries
Data & Analytics
Consumer Software
Gaming
Company Size
11-50
Company Stage
Seed
Total Funding
$4M
Headquarters
New York City, New York
Founded
2021
Rare Candy Auctions is Hiring for 3 Jobs on Simplify!
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today