CardVault by Tom Brady has assembled its first strategic investor group, bringing together prominent leaders from sports, private equity, technology, media, entertainment, and business to accelerate the sports collectibles retailer’s national expansion. Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.
The investor group includes RedBird Capital founder Gerry Cardinale; Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter; Silver Lake co-CEOs Egon Durban and Greg Mondre; Entrata CEO Adam Edmunds; Addition founder Lee Fixel; Raising Cane’s founder and CEO Todd Graves; Boston Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck; Fenway Sports Group principal owner John Henry; Boston Globe Media CEO Linda Henry; New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge; The Kraft Group; Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid; Tom Brady manager Ben Rawitz; creative studio Shadow Lion; and UFC President and CEO Dana White.
The new investors join CardVault’s existing ownership group of co-founders Ed Kane, Randy Greenstein, Chris Costa, Tim Bonito, and Scott Heigelmann, along with Tom Brady.
Brady acquired a 50% ownership stake in CardVault in February 2025.
Since Brady joined the ownership group, CardVault has expanded from three stores to 17 locations nationwide in just over a year, representing a significant acceleration of its retail footprint.
The company’s longer-term ambition is substantially larger. CardVault plans to build a network of more than 100 stores located in major sports and entertainment destinations.
The strategic investment will help fund new store openings while supporting expansion beyond traditional brick-and-mortar retail.
CardVault plans to invest in automated retail, digital commerce, strategic partnerships, and additional distribution channels as it attempts to build a national platform around sports cards and collectibles.
The company will also use the investment to hire additional employees across core business functions and strengthen its technology, supply chain, and operating infrastructure.
Improving the customer experience remains another priority as CardVault attempts to position its stores as destinations rather than conventional collectibles shops.
CardVault operates immersive retail environments featuring signature vault doors containing authenticated memorabilia, hobby specialists, exclusive experiences, and opportunities for customers to buy, sell, trade, and grade collectibles.
Its product selection includes offerings from Topps, Panini, Upper Deck, Pokémon, and Fanatics Authentic.
The company also maintains authorized relationships with grading and authentication providers including PSA, Beckett, SGC, and CGC.
Beyond physical stores, CardVault has been expanding CardVault Breaks, its live-streaming commerce business.
Through CardVault Breaks, customers can participate remotely in live card-opening sessions, combining collectibles retail with creator-style entertainment and community interaction.
That business gives CardVault an opportunity to serve consumers well beyond the geographic markets surrounding its physical locations.
The company’s growth strategy comes as sports collectibles become increasingly integrated with broader sports culture, digital commerce, live-streaming, creator communities, and alternative investing.
CardVault believes premium physical retail can remain an important part of that market even as more collecting activity shifts online.
Its strategy combines stores with digital and live commerce in an attempt to serve longtime collectors while also bringing younger and first-time consumers into the hobby.
The caliber of CardVault’s investor group could also provide strategic value beyond capital.
The new backers bring relationships spanning professional sports franchises, media companies, investment firms, technology businesses, consumer brands, and entertainment, potentially creating opportunities for future locations, partnerships, marketing, experiences, and distribution.
CardVault’s rapid expansion from three to 17 stores provides the foundation for a much larger national rollout, but reaching its goal of more than 100 locations would require another significant step up in real estate development, inventory management, technology, staffing, and supply chain capacity.
The strategic investment is intended to help build the infrastructure required for that next stage.
KEY QUOTES:
“Collecting today is about much more than owning a card. It’s about the stories, the memories and the community that brings fans together. CardVault is building a place where every collector from someone opening their first pack to lifelong hobbyists can share that passion. The caliber of this investor group reflects the opportunity we see to grow collecting into an even bigger part of sports culture.”
Tom Brady, Co-Owner of CardVault by Tom Brady
“We weren’t looking for passive investors, we wanted builders, people who genuinely understand what we’re creating and can help us scale it the right way. When leaders of this caliber choose to bet on CardVault, that’s a powerful signal about where this industry is headed. I’m incredibly proud of the group we’ve assembled, and even more excited about what’s next.”
Ed Kane, Co-Founder of CardVault by Tom Brady
“From day one, our vision has been to build the next generation hobby shop at scale. A premier national retail destination where collectors, athletes and fans come together.”
“This investment gives us the ability to reach more collectors, open in more markets, and continue delivering the products, expertise and experiences that have earned our customers’ trust. As we grow, we are maniacally focused on our collectors and customers, and the experience we provide them will always come first.”
Chris Costa, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of CardVault by Tom Brady
