As collectors ourselves, we felt like the collectibles market had lost its way since we were younger. A passion that was once characterised by spontaneity, community, and friendship had become transactional and impersonal. We’d gotten frustrated with the hours spent scouring online marketplaces and growing our collections quietly, with no actual human interaction.

After speaking to some friends, it turns out we weren’t alone. At Rival, our mission is to bring back the social experiences that we, and many other collectors, had when first starting our foray into collecting; often with nothing more than a binder of cards and a few friends. We’re creating a new playground for collectors, their own place on the internet, where they can thrive, share their passions, and build more meaningful connections with one another.