Tradeblock
Austin, US · 2 known investors
Sneaker marketplace app where collectors trade, buy and sell authenticated shoes rather than paying resale prices.
Also known as Astrolab Inc. · Tradeblock - Sneaker Trading
Founders & leadership
Investors · 2
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Tradeblock operates a mobile marketplace for sneaker collectors and resellers that centers on peer-to-peer trading of shoes in addition to conventional buying and selling. Users build a "Closet" of sneakers they own and a "Wishlist" of pairs they want, then post public trade offers or bids and asks, or send offers directly to other collectors. Cash can be added to a trade to balance values, mirroring in-person sneaker swaps. When a trade or sale is agreed, both parties ship their shoes to Tradeblock's authentication center, which performs authenticity and quality-control inspection before the transaction is validated; pairs that fail inspection are returned and a full refund is issued if the counterparty's shoes do not pass [0][1].
The app includes reference market data — estimated shoe values, supply and demand indicators, bids, asks, recent sales, inventory by size and per-shoe trade history — as well as tools for tracking sent and received offers and negotiation history. Social features let users follow other collectors and browse their closets and wishlists, and later releases added trade-partner matching on product pages, sneaker alerts and collector search [0][1]. The Android listing is published by Astrolab Inc. of Houston, Texas [1]. The company positions itself as an alternative to paying resale prices, targeting adidas, Yeezy, Air Jordan, Nike, Dunk SB, Off-White, New Balance and similar brands [0][1].
Founding story
The concept originated in 2009 with co-founder Tony Malveaux, who was inspired by ESPN's Trade Machine and brought the idea to his longtime friend and co-founder Darren Smith. The project advanced when childhood friend Mbiyimoh Ghogomu, who became CEO, joined the team [3].
Business model
Tradeblock runs a two-sided sneaker marketplace and takes fees on transactions, advertising a flat $19.95 seller's fee that it contrasts with higher fee structures elsewhere in the resale market. It also operates its own authentication facilities that verify shoes in the middle of each trade or sale [0][1].
Transaction fees on marketplace activity, including a flat $19.95 seller fee for sales [0].
Traction
The Google Play listing reports more than 50,000 downloads and a community of nearly 400,000 sneaker collectors, with over 1 million pairs available on the app; the App Store listing cites over 2 million pairs available and a 4.4 rating from about 4,600 ratings. AfroTech reported a community of over 70,000 members in October 2021 [0][1][3].
Latest developments
App updates listed on Google Play as of March 2026 introduced prioritized trade-partner matching on product pages based on active collectors, faster sneaker alert setup from the alerts page, the return of collector search, and bug fixes [1].
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
The company describes itself as the largest sneaker trading platform in the world and differentiates from consignment shops and resale sites by offering an actual trade mechanism rather than only buy/sell [1][3].
Trade-first mechanics — swapping shoes, optionally with cash added, rather than only purchasing at resale prices — combined with mandatory two-sided authentication, low flat seller fees, and a stated emphasis on representing and serving the communities that created sneaker culture [0][1][3].
Technology
Consumer iOS and Android applications backed by a trading and marketplace engine with reference pricing and supply/demand data per shoe, personalized and activity-based trade-partner recommendations, 256-bit encrypted payment processing, and a physical authentication and quality-assurance operation with roughly one-day sneaker authentication [0][1].
Go-to-market
Distribution is through the Apple App Store and Google Play, supported by community building, social media channels, giveaways and events promoted via the company website, and press coverage in outlets including Complex, The New York Times, Forbes, Business Insider, Footwear News and AfroTech [0][1][3].
Sneaker collectors, enthusiasts and resellers — including users seeking size swaps, rare inventory or "grails" they would otherwise buy at resale prices — with an explicit focus on building community for people of color within sneaker culture [0][1][3].
Geography
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, according to AfroTech; the Google Play developer address for Astrolab Inc. is in Houston, Texas. The apps are offered in English in the US stores [1][3].
History
After the idea was conceived in 2009, the Austin-based startup formally launched in May 2021. Later that year it was selected for the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund Class of 2021, receiving $100,000 in non-dilutive funding as one of 50 recipients [3]. The apps continue to be distributed on iOS and Android, with feature updates through 2026 [0][1].
Risks & controversies
App Store reviews are mixed: alongside positive feedback, users have flagged product gaps such as wishlist bugs and limited sorting/filtering, and at least one review titled the app a scam [0]. The company also shares a name with an unrelated institutional crypto trading firm, which can create identification confusion [4][5].
Compiled by commissioned research from 6 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 3
launches, deals, and filingsAndroid release prioritizes relevant, active trade partners on product pages, simplifies setting sneaker alerts from the alerts page, and restores collector search.
The Austin-based sneaker trading startup officially began operating in May 2021.
Tradeblock was named one of 50 recipients in the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund Class of 2021; selected founders each received $100,000 in non-dilutive funding from the fund's $10 million pool. The team said it planned to use the funding to expand social media presence, deepen the social aspects of trading and make trading easier.
$100K source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 6
primary sources listed
- Tradeblock - Sneaker Trading - App Store - Appleapps.apple.com · web
6 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Tradeblock do?
- Sneaker marketplace app where collectors trade, buy and sell authenticated shoes rather than paying resale prices.
- Who founded Tradeblock?
- Tradeblock was founded by Mbiyimoh Ghogomu, Darren Smith.
- Who are Tradeblock's investors?
- Tradeblock's investors include JDS Sports, Courtside Ventures.
- Where is Tradeblock headquartered?
- Tradeblock is headquartered in Austin, US.