Kylian Mbappé Backs Luxury Watch Platform Wristcheck as Its Newest Investor
With hopes to strengthen the platform’s commitment to paving a tech-driven ecosystem for Gen-Z collectors.
After JAY-Z, Kylian Mbappé, through his investment entity Coalition Capital, is now an investor at Wristcheck. The renowned French footballer and current forward of Real Madrid joins other prominent investors including Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund (Gobi Partners GBA) and K3 Ventures in the luxury watch trading platform’s pre-series A funding.
Mbappé’s remarkable football career includes seven Ligue 1 titles and a pivotal role in leading France to victory at the 2018 World Cup. Beyond his on-field achievements, Mbappé is also a watch lover, demonstrated through his role as Hublot’s brand ambassador and the selection of timepieces he sports at various events. His investment aligns with Wristcheck’s vision of creating an innovative, tech-driven ecosystem tailored for the digital-first Gen-Z collector.
“I see Wristcheck as a platform that truly understands the next generation of collectors. They’re reshaping the watch industry with a forward-thinking approach that blends technology, transparency and creativity,” Mbappé expressed his excitement and hopes to make watch-collecting more accessible for everyone.
Wristcheck Founder & CEO, Austen Chu, welcomed Mbappé to the Wristcheck family, highlighting his passion for watches and the phenomenal impact he will bring to the industry. Chu emphasized Wristcheck’s dedication to bringing watches to the forefront of pop culture and accelerating this mission with Mbappé’s support. This partnership underscores the platform’s commitment to innovation and shaping the watch world of tomorrow.
Since its launch in 2020, Wristcheck has adopted a tech-driven approach to disrupt traditional conventions in the industry. From the Wristcheck Marketplace, which revolutionizes how people buy and sell watches with complete trust and transparency through its in-house authentication and grading processes, to the AI-powered Wristcheck Watch Index that serves as the definitive source for market pricing, Wristcheck’s innovative approach has propelled the company’s rapid growth — the platform has maintained momentum in 2024 with 218% YoY growth in its online business and has also just opened its first concept store in Wynn Macau in January 2025, marking the first time a secondary watch platform has opened at any Wynn Casino location worldwide.
Wristcheck has facilitated thousands of transactions involving rare timepieces, trusted by collectors such as JAY-Z, Kevin Hart and now Kylian Mbappé. His investment will help expand Wristcheck’s global presence, enabling the platform to further enhance its technological offerings for young collectors.
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