CardVault by Tom Brady

What CardVault by Tom Brady does

CardVault by Tom Brady is a US-based multi-channel specialty retailer of sports and trading card collectibles, founded in 2020 by Chris Costa, Randy Greenstein, Ed Kane, Tim Bonito, and Scott Heigelmann. Tom Brady acquired a 50% ownership stake in February 2025 and serves as co-founder and brand ambassador. The company sells sports cards (football, basketball, baseball, soccer, golf, multi-sport, collegiate), trading card game products (Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, League of Legends Riftbound, Gundam), entertainment franchise cards (Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Labubu, Pop Century), and authenticated autographed memorabilia through Fanatics Authentic and Upper Deck. It also offers branded apparel, hats, and gift cards.

The business operates 16 retail stores across the United States as of June 2026, with locations in premium entertainment and sports-anchored destinations including Mall of America, American Dream, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Patriot Place (Gillette Stadium), Busch Stadium entrance (Ballpark Village), Las Vegas Strip, SoHo Manhattan, and others. The technology stack consists of a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront, an integrated Collector Cash gamified loyalty program built on Cheers Cash technology that allows customers to win 12% bonus store credit through sports predictions, and live card break streaming distributed across Fanatics Live, WhatNot, and eBay Live platforms.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time sales of sealed hobby boxes (priced from $54.95 to $949.95), individual card singles, graded cards, and memorabilia items ranging from hundreds to over $1,099.95. Secondary revenue streams include facilitation fees on card grading submissions through authorized dealers PSA, Beckett (BGS), SGC, and HGA, transaction fees on live break participation, branded merchandise, and gift cards. The customer base spans sports card collectors, TCG players, memorabilia collectors, entertainment IP enthusiasts, racing and combat sports fans, and branded merchandise buyers, all served through a hybrid B2C retail and e-commerce model with no disclosed enterprise contracts.

Name

CardVault by Tom Brady

Legal name

CardVault by Tom Brady

Website

https://cardvaultbytombrady.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CardVault by Tom Brady is a US multi-channel retailer of sports cards, Pokémon/TCG, entertainment collectibles, and authenticated memorabilia, operating 16 retail stores and a Shopify e-commerce storefront with a Tom Brady-led brand partnership and live streaming on Fanatics Live and WhatNot.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Cards & Collectibles Retail

NAICS

Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)

SIC

Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945), Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Trading Cards Retail (CRALAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Trading Cards Retail (CRAMAOAA), Non-Sports Trading Cards Retail (TCG/Entertainment) (CRALAGAB), Sports Collectibles Marketplace & Auction Platforms (CRAMAOAI)

Keywords

• Sports card retail
• Trading card games
• Collectible memorabilia
• Card grading services
• Live card breaks

Headquarters

HQ city

East Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sports Card and Trading Card Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling sealed hobby boxes, booster packs, individual card singles, and graded cards across sports (football, basketball, baseball, soccer, golf), trading card games (Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, League of Legends), and entertainment categories (Disney, Marvel, Star Wars). Revenue is one-time per transaction with customers ranging from casual collectors to serious hobbyists.
2. Collectible Memorabilia Sales: Sale of autographed memorabilia including jerseys, photos, and sports equipment authenticated by Fanatics Authentic, Upper Deck, and other certification bodies. Products include framed jerseys (e.g., Garrett Wilson Jets jersey at $649.95, Karl-Anthony Towns Knicks jersey), autographed photos (e.g., Serena Williams at $1,099.95), and NHL/NBA items.
3. Grading Services: Facilitation of card grading submissions through PSA, BGS, HGA, and SGC. CardVault acts as an intermediary accepting submissions at retail locations and forwarding to grading services. Note: Collector Cash cannot be used on grading services.
4. Live Card Breaks: Revenue generated from hosting live card break events where sealed boxes are opened on camera and cards are distributed to participants. Breaks are streamed on Fanatics Live and WhatNot platforms.
5. Apparel and Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including hats (e.g., CVTB Limited Edition Signature Series Rope Hat at $45), apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, jackets), tote bags, and accessories featuring CardVault by Tom Brady branding.
6. Gift Cards: Digital and physical gift cards available from $10 minimum, redeemable online or in-store for products (excluding live breaks).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CardVault by Tom Brady is a multi-channel collectibles retailer selling sports cards, trading card games (Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, League of Legends), entertainment cards (Disney, Marvel, Star Wars), and autographed memorabilia through 16 physical retail stores nationwide and a Shopify-powered e-commerce site. The company also offers professional card grading submission services (PSA, Beckett/BGS, HGA, SGC) and hosts live card break events streamed on Fanatics Live, WhatNot, and eBay Live.

Product overview

CardVault by Tom Brady is a multi-channel collectibles retail business combining physical retail stores with e-commerce. The core offering centers on sports cards and trading card game products across sports (Basketball, Baseball, Football, Soccer, Golf), TCGs (Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, League of Legends/Riftbound), and entertainment franchises (Disney, Marvel, Star Wars). The portfolio includes physical memorabilia, branded apparel, and services such as card grading (through PSA, Beckett/BGS, HGA, and SGC), live card breaks streamed on Fanatics Live, WhatNot, and eBay Live, and a Collector Cash loyalty program powered by Cheers Cash. The company operates 16 retail locations nationwide with a unified online shopping experience powered by Shopify.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sports Cards Trading cards across multiple sports categories including Basketball, Baseball, Football, Soccer, Golf, Multi-sport, and Collegiate, carrying products from major brands such as Topps, Panini, Upper Deck, Bowman, and Fanatics Authentic. Targeted at individual sports card collectors.
• Pokémon / TCG Products Trading card game products including booster packs, booster boxes, Elite Trainer Boxes, Special Collection Boxes, Premium Collection Boxes, Pokémon Tins, Build & Battle Boxes, and individual card singles across Pokémon TCG, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, League of Legends (Riftbound TCG), and Gundam. Targeted at TCG players and collectors.
• Entertainment Cards Collectible trading cards featuring entertainment franchises including Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Pop Century, Labubu, SpongeBob, Pixar, and other entertainment properties from Topps and Leaf. Targeted at entertainment IP fans and collectors.
• Authenticated Memorabilia Autographed sports memorabilia including jerseys, photos, equipment, and collectibles certified by authentication services such as Fanatics Authentic and Upper Deck, featuring items from major athletes across NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and combat sports. Targeted at memorabilia collectors.
• Card Grading Services Professional third-party card grading service acting as an authorized dealer accepting submissions at retail locations for PSA, Beckett (BGS), HGA, and SGC. Staff provides guidance on selecting the appropriate grading service based on card type and condition. Targeted at collectors seeking authentication and grading for valuable cards.
• Live Card Breaks Live streaming of sealed box openings distributed to participants (break room experience), streamed through Fanatics Live, WhatNot, and eBay Live platforms and hosted by professional breakers on the CVTB Breaks Team. Targeted at collectors seeking entertainment and community engagement.
• Branded Apparel and Merchandise

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator)coreTechnology or IntegrationCardVault is an authorized dealer for PSA grading services, accepting card submissions at retail locations and forwarding them to PSA for professional authentication and condition grading. PSA is one of the most widely recognized grading services in the hobby.
• Beckett (BGS)coreTechnology or IntegrationCardVault is an authorized dealer for Beckett Grading Services (BGS), accepting card submissions at retail locations. BGS is a leading third-party card grading service known for its comprehensive grading standards.
• SGC (Sports Guaranty Corporation)coreTechnology or IntegrationCardVault is an authorized dealer for SGC grading services, accepting submissions at retail locations. SGC grades both vintage and modern cards without requiring separation, though they do not grade or authenticate in-person autos.
• Fanatics AuthenticcoreTechnology or IntegrationFanatics Authentic is a key partner providing authenticated memorabilia products including autographed jerseys, photos, and sports equipment sold at CardVault locations. Fanatics Authentic certificates accompany all authenticated items.
• ToppsTechnology or IntegrationTopps is a primary brand partner providing sports and entertainment trading cards. CardVault carries a wide range of Topps products including Chrome, Tier One, Inception, Merlin Premier League, Star Wars, Disney, and Marvel series.
• PaninicoreTechnology or IntegrationPanini is a brand partner providing trading cards including the Prizm World Cup Soccer, Select EuroLeague Basketball, and other products sold at CardVault locations.
• Upper DeckcoreTechnology or IntegrationUpper Deck is a brand partner providing trading cards and authenticated memorabilia products. CardVault carries Upper Deck authenticated items including autographed photos and collectibles.
• PokémoncoreTechnology or IntegrationPokémon is a brand partner providing Trading Card Game products including booster packs, Elite Trainer Boxes, Special Collection Boxes, and graded singles. CardVault carries the full range of Pokémon TCG products.
• Cheers CashcoreTechnology or IntegrationCheers Cash is the technology and strategy partner powering the Collector Cash loyalty program. The platform provides the underlying technology for the gamified bonus store credit system where customers make sports predictions to win 12% of purchase value as store credit.
• Fanatics LivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFanatics Live is a live streaming platform where CardVault hosts card break events. Customers can watch sealed boxes opened on camera and receive cards pulled for their spots through the platform.
• WhatNotcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWhatNot is a live shopping platform where CardVault conducts card breaks and sells collectibles through live video streams, reaching additional customer audiences beyond its own channels.
• eBay LiveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCardVault maintains a presence on eBay Live for live shopping events and product sales, extending reach to eBay's established collector marketplace.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• PWCC Marketplace: Online auction and marketplace focused on sports cards with a strong graded-card and singles emphasis. Comparable as a digital-native channel competing for CardVault's secondary-market and high-value card customers.
• Goldin Auctions: Premier auction house for high-end sports cards and memorabilia with strong live and online bidding experiences. Comparable to CardVault's memorabilia and graded singles offering, particularly for premium-tier collectors willing to pay auction-level prices.

Broad incumbents

• Heritage Auctions: Large diversified auction house with a significant sports collectibles category including cards and memorabilia. Comparable to CardVault's memorabilia and premium-card businesses, particularly at the upper end of the market.
• Fanatics Collectibles: Dominant sports collectibles platform that now owns Topps and operates Fanatics Live. Overlaps with CardVault as both a manufacturer and a retail/live-stream channel, and is simultaneously a CardVault supplier and a competing destination for collectors.

Others

• WhatNot: Live shopping marketplace for collectibles including cards, where CardVault runs its break channel. Comparable as an ecosystem channel — simultaneously a distribution partner and a platform hosting thousands of competing card sellers and breakers.
• Upper Deck: Major trading card manufacturer and memorabilia authenticator that supplies CardVault. Comparable as both a supplier and a competing brand whose authenticated memorabilia and cards sit alongside CardVault's own assortment.
• GameStop: Video game and pop culture retailer that has expanded aggressively into trading cards, Pokémon TCG, and collectibles. Comparable as a scaled retail channel competing for impulse and gift-card-driven hobby purchases, though not a focused card shop.

Direct peers

• Dave & Adam's Card World: One of the largest traditional hobby shop chains in the US, selling sports cards, TCG, memorabilia, and graded cards through multiple retail locations and e-commerce. Directly comparable to CardVault as a multi-store hobby retailer with similar product mix and customer base.
• Blowout Cards: Long-established online sports card and hobby retailer carrying sealed boxes, singles, and memorabilia from Topps, Panini, Upper Deck, and Pokémon. Comparable as a multi-brand authorized hobby retailer competing for the same collector customer and supply allocations.
• Steel City Collectibles: Pittsburgh-based online sports card retailer focused on singles, graded cards, and sealed product across major manufacturers. Directly comparable in product categories and target collector base, with a stronger singles/secondary-market focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CardVaultTB
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cardvaultbytombrady
• Facebookfacebook.com/CardVaultByTomBrady
• Instagraminstagram.com/cardvaultbytombrady
• TikToktiktok.com/@cardvaultbytombrady
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cardvault

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CardVault by Tom Brady