Arena Club is transforming the world of sports cards and memorabilia with the first-ever digital card show. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Arena Club’s Head of Engineering, Vartul Agrawal, to learn more about the company.
Vartul Agrawal’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background before Arena Club and how you came to this position at the company? Agrawal said:
“Before joining Arena Club, I built a diverse career in both engineering and leadership roles, combining technical expertise with business acumen. In 2023, I got my MBA from Cornell University, which gave me a unique perspective on how technology can drive business growth and innovation. My previous experience includes working with companies like eBay, Skyscanner, CapitalOne, and JPMorgan, where I focused on scaling platforms and creating impactful user experiences. This blend of technical knowledge and strategic thinking naturally led me to Arena Club, where I saw the opportunity to contribute to both the technical evolution of the platform and the business’s larger vision of revolutionizing the collectibles industry.”
Primary Responsibilities
What are your primary responsibilities at Arena Club? Agrawal shared:
“As the Head of Engineering at Arena Club, I’m responsible for overseeing the entire engineering function, which includes leading our technical teams, driving product development, and ensuring that our platform is both scalable and secure. My role also involves close collaboration with leadership to align engineering efforts with business objectives. I was brought on board because of my proven ability to lead engineering organizations and my experience in scaling platforms efficiently. The combination of my technical background and business mindset allowed me to fit seamlessly into a leadership role where I could influence both strategy and execution.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for Arena Club thus far? Agrawal reflected:
“One of my favorite memories was the launch of Slab Packs. This was a pivotal product release for us, introducing an innovative, digitized way for collectors to buy repacks with graded cards and full transparency. The launch was the culmination of months of work across teams, and it marked a significant technological achievement. One key aspect we developed was the patent-pending system that ensures the randomization and allocation of assets within Slab Packs, maintaining transparency and fairness for every transaction. The success of the launch reinforced our commitment to innovation in the collectibles space and highlighted how technology can enhance the user experience in new and engaging ways.”
Core Features
Can you take a moment to describe Arena Club’s core product or, perhaps more aptly, its core features which set it apart in the industry? Agrawal explained:
“Arena Club stands out as a collectibles marketplace that combines traditional trading with modern technology and transparency. Our core product features grading, secure vaulting, slab packs and trading using the marketplace for collectibles. We are focused at bringing transparency and trust in the collectibles space. What differentiates us is our focus on building a community-driven platform, where collectors can trade, engage, and showcase their collections in a secure environment. The integration of digital and physical assets, along with our use of blockchain to provide transparent ownership records, really sets us apart in this space.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector recently? How did you overcome those challenges? Agrawal acknowledged:
“One of the major challenges we’ve faced is scaling our platform while maintaining both high performance and security, particularly as the user base has grown. In the collectibles space, trust and reliability are paramount, so it was critical to ensure that our platform could handle increasing demand without compromising on these core values. We tackled this by investing in infrastructure optimizations and ensuring that our engineering processes were streamlined for rapid, secure deployments. Leading a talented team through these challenges, while leveraging both technical know-how and strategic planning, has been key to overcoming these hurdles.”
Evolution Of Arena Club’s Technology
How has Arena Club’s technology evolved since launching? Did you bring about a certain aspect of this technological change? Agrawal noted:
“Arena Club has evolved significantly, particularly in how we manage and scale with traffic bursts. Since joining, I’ve led efforts to build a more scalable, modular architecture that allows us to quickly iterate and deploy new features. One of the significant changes I spearheaded was improving our platform’s infrastructure to better handle peak traffic loads while maintaining high security standards. We’ve also enhanced our DevOps practices, ensuring faster and more reliable deployments. These changes have helped Arena Club keep pace with user demand while continuing to innovate in the space.”
Significant Milestones
During your time with the company, what have been some of Arena Club’s most significant milestones? Agrawal cited:
“Arena Club has achieved several key milestones during my time here, with the launch of Slab Packs, Auctions, and our Native Mobile App standing out as particularly transformative for the platform.”
“The introduction of Slab Packs was a game-changer, adding an element of gamification to the collecting experience. It digitized and brought unrivaled transparency to the re-pack industry. This feature allows users to purchase randomized packs of pre-graded cards, bringing an exciting and innovative way for collectors to engage with their hobby. The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive, and it showcased our ability to blend technology with the traditional excitement of card collecting.”
“In addition to our fixed price marketplace, we launched Auctions that opened up new opportunities for collectors to acquire rare cards on the platform. It also added more liquidity to the platform, making it easier for users to trade their assets.”
“The Native Mobile App allowed us to acquire new customers, and provide a better streamlined experience to existing customers. Through push notifications and deep linking within the app we are able to achieve better communication with collectors and also allow them to trade more efficiently.”
Customer Success Stories
Can you recall and share any specific customer success stories you’ve found most enlightening? Agrawal highlighted:
“One of the most enlightening experiences for me came during the National Card Collectors Convention (known as ‘The National’), where I had the chance to meet collectors face-to-face and introduce them to Arena Club’s digital platform. Collectors were initially skeptical about the digital aspect of the cards, particularly the idea of not being able to physically hold their collectibles.”
“However, as I explained the platform’s features—such as the ability to securely vault their physical cards while interacting with a digital version that could be used for trading and showcasing—many of those initial concerns turned into excitement. What really resonated with the collectors was the idea of having both security for their physical cards and the flexibility to trade and interact with them digitally. The seamless experience of being able to trade directly on the platform, knowing that their assets were safe, gave them a new level of confidence.”
“This shift in perspective was particularly rewarding to witness. Collectors who were initially hesitant started to embrace the convenience and transparency of the digital platform, and many even saw it as a way to enhance their collecting experience. Watching that transformation firsthand, from skepticism to trust and excitement, was a powerful reminder of the impact Arena Club is having on the hobby.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates Arena Club from its competition in the collectibles marketplace? Agrawal affirmed:
“Arena Club differentiates itself by providing a secure, blockchain-based authentication system that ensures transparency in every transaction. Collectors can trade with confidence, knowing that their assets are verified and protected, with a blockchain record as proof of authenticity. Additionally, our platform is built around the idea of community, where users not only trade but also connect, showcase their collections, and engage in a trusted, user-friendly environment. This emphasis on community and trust, combined with cutting-edge technology, makes Arena Club stand out in a competitive marketplace.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of Arena Club’s future company goals? Within that context, too, what are your own goals at Arena Club? Agrawal pointed out:
“Arena Club’s goals include expanding our platform to offer more features that enhance the collector experience, growing our user base, and continuing to innovate with technology that ensures the security and transparency of transactions. A big part of our vision is to bring the excitement and liveliness of physical card shows into a digital space. We want to capture that energy—the joy of discovering new cards, making trades on the spot, and connecting with fellow collectors—and make it possible for users to experience that same thrill from anywhere.”
“We have a lot of exciting features on the horizon that will push the boundaries of what’s possible in the collectibles space. We’re just getting started, and the roadmap ahead is full of innovative ideas that will further transform how collectors engage with their assets and the community.”
“My own goals align with these, as I aim to lead the engineering team in scaling the platform efficiently, exploring new technologies that can further differentiate Arena Club, and ensuring that we continue to meet the evolving needs of our users. I’m excited to help Arena Club solidify its place as a leader in the collectibles space while driving innovation from an engineering perspective. I’m excited to be part of the journey as we push the boundaries of what’s possible in the collectibles industry.”
Additional Thoughts
Are there any other topics you feel missed above or would like to discuss further? Agrawal concluded:
“I’d just like to emphasize how exciting it is to work at the intersection of technology and collectibles. It’s an industry that’s evolving rapidly, and Arena Club is at the forefront of that change. The opportunity to innovate and create real-world impact is what keeps me motivated, and I’m looking forward to what the future holds for both the company and the industry as a whole.
Additional Information on the collectibles industry:
— The collectible card industry is projected to reach $98 billion by the end of the decade (link here)
— The collectible card industry, in baseball alone, is backed by 1-2 million cards produced each year (link here)
— Increasingly seeing multi-million-dollar sales of cards for contemporary icons like Patrick Mahomes and Luka Doncic, as well as classic cards for rookie-era Caitlin Clark, Lebron James, Mickey Mantle, and more.
— In 28% of U.S. households, collectors are desperate to find space for their sports memorabilia (link here)
— Axios recently noted that among trading card certifiers like the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), 43% of the cards it graded in 2023 were Pokémon (link here)”
