Redeem
Redeem is a Kansas City-based Web3 startup building a protocol that lets users send and receive NFTs via phone numbers and QR codes, targeting mainstream users and businesses seeking simplified, lower-risk NFT transfers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersKansas City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Redeem does
Redeem is a privately held Web3 startup founded in 2022 and headquartered in Kansas City, United States, operating with a team of 11-50 employees. The company is building a protocol for NFT communication transmission that enables users to send and receive non-fungible tokens using phone numbers and QR codes, abstracting away the technical complexity of blockchain wallet addresses. Its stated value proposition is to lower technical barriers and security risks for both end users and businesses, with the goal of expanding mainstream NFT adoption.
The core product, branded the Redeem Protocol, is a phone-number-keyed NFT transfer layer planned for Q2 2023 launch. The technology differentiates on ease-of-use implementation rather than on-chain innovation, leveraging familiar mobile identifiers and QR code scanning to replace wallet-address workflows. The company's go-to-market is described as product-led growth, targeting a horizontal segment of mainstream users and businesses that want to participate in the NFT ecosystem without specialized blockchain knowledge.
Redeem's business model is a transaction-fee revenue stream on NFT transfers facilitated through the protocol, though specific pricing, fee structure, and monetization terms are not publicly disclosed. The company completed a $2.5 million Pre-Seed round in March 2023 led by Kenetic Capital, with a broader crypto and regional investor syndicate; the proceeds are earmarked for core feature development and strategic partnerships. As of the disclosed data, the company is operating, pre-revenue, with no named customers, no public app distribution, and no disclosed follow-on capital.
Redeem firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Redeem
- Website
- https://heylink.me
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Redeem is a Kansas City-based Web3 startup building a protocol that lets users send and receive NFTs via phone numbers and QR codes, targeting mainstream users and businesses seeking simplified, lower-risk NFT transfers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Redeem industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Web3 NFT Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- NFT Commerce, Ticketing & Utility Enablement (token-gated access, memberships, passes, ticketing rails) (FSAPAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- NFT Custody, Wallets & Asset Management (collectibles wallets, vaults, portfolio tools) (FSAPAFAF)
Keywords
Where Redeem is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kansas City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Redeem business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- NFT Transaction Services: Revenue generated from facilitating NFT transactions, though specific monetization model details are not disclosed in available sources.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Redeem product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Redeem is a Web3 protocol for NFT communication transmission that enables users to send and receive non-fungible tokens using phone numbers and QR codes. The platform eliminates the need for complex blockchain wallet addresses, reducing technical barriers and security risks to drive mainstream NFT adoption. A product launch was planned for Q2 2023.
Product overview
Redeem is a Web3 startup that has developed a protocol for NFT communication transmission. The company offers a platform that simplifies NFT transactions by enabling users to send and receive NFTs via phone numbers and QR codes. The product is designed to reduce technical barriers and security risks associated with NFT transactions, making them more accessible to mainstream users and businesses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Redeem Protocol A Web3 protocol for NFT communication transmission that enables users to send and receive non-fungible tokens using phone numbers and QR codes, eliminating the need for complex blockchain wallet addresses and reducing technical and security barriers for mainstream users and businesses.
Companies that use Redeem
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Redeem technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Redeem partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Redeem competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Venly: Web3 wallet and NFT infrastructure provider offering simplified onboarding, wallet-as-a-service, and NFT minting/distribution tools for mainstream users and enterprises — directly comparable to Redeem's NFT transmission-and-onboarding wedge.
- Crossmint: NFT infrastructure API platform focused on making NFT minting, distribution, and wallet flows accessible to non-crypto developers and enterprises — overlaps with Redeem's ease-of-use, mainstream-onboarding positioning.
- NFTPort: NFT infrastructure provider offering APIs and tooling for minting, transferring, and managing NFTs across chains — a direct adjacent infrastructure competitor to Redeem's transmission protocol.
- Sequence (Horizon Blockchain Games): Web3 infrastructure stack including wallets, indexer, and NFT tools aimed at game studios and mainstream developers — comparable as a developer-facing NFT/onboarding infrastructure peer.
Broad incumbents
- Thirdweb: Well-funded Web3 development platform offering NFT minting, contracts, and wallet tooling — broader portfolio but directly addresses the same mainstream-developer NFT infrastructure category as Redeem.
- Alchemy: Leading Web3 developer platform providing node, indexer, and NFT APIs — operates at a broader infrastructure layer but competes for the same developer-driven NFT ecosystem and transaction routing.
- Magic Eden: Major cross-chain NFT marketplace that has progressively layered in simplified onboarding and wallet UX — represents the application-layer competitor that could integrate comparable phone-number-style abstractions.
- OpenSea: Largest general NFT marketplace, now investing heavily in simplified onboarding and gasless flows — represents the dominant incumbent whose UX improvements most directly threaten Redeem's mainstream wedge.
- Phantom: Leading self-custodial crypto/NFT wallet known for streamlined UX and social login features — comparable in targeting mainstream users and could ship phone-number-based addressing features.
- Coinbase Wallet: Mainstream consumer crypto wallet from Coinbase, offering simplified NFT receiving and identity features (CB ID) — strong incumbent comparator for Redeem's phone-number-based NFT transmission thesis.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Redeem social profiles
Digital presenceRedeem financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Redeem leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Redeem funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Redeem M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Redeem
What does Redeem do?
Redeem is a Web3 protocol for NFT communication transmission that enables users to send and receive non-fungible tokens using phone numbers and QR codes. The platform eliminates the need for complex blockchain wallet addresses, reducing technical barriers and security risks to drive mainstream NFT adoption. A product launch was planned for Q2 2023.
Is Redeem a public or private company?
Redeem is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Redeem founded?
Redeem was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Redeem based?
Redeem is headquartered in Kansas City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Redeem make money?
One revenue line is on record: NFT Transaction Services.
Who are Redeem's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Venly, Crossmint, NFTPort and Sequence (Horizon Blockchain Games). Broad incumbents are Thirdweb, Alchemy, Magic Eden, OpenSea, Phantom and Coinbase Wallet.
Does Redeem have an API?
No public API is recorded for Redeem.
What industry is Redeem in?
Redeem's product category is Web3 NFT Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAPAFAJ, NFT Commerce, Ticketing & Utility Enablement (token-gated access, memberships, passes, ticketing rails), with a secondary code of FSAPAFAF, NFT Custody, Wallets & Asset Management (collectibles wallets, vaults, portfolio tools). Its NAICS code is 522320 and its SIC code is 6200.