From a pair of beaded, Italian leather designer boots and an original Rene Brochard painting to $4 comic books and souvenir salt and pepper shakers, WorthPoint® features collectibles appealing to all tastes and price brackets. With more than 80 million items now listed in its database, perhaps that’s no surprise. The 4-year-old company has quickly become the world’s leading provider of valuation and associated services for art, antiques and collectibles, helping people determine the price and transaction history of their treasures.
Founded by Will Seippel in April 2007, WorthPoint organizes information on collectibles into a central database called Worthopedia, which includes prices, descriptions, photos and sales dates. Visitors can access the repository to get sales information about their collectibles, or, for a fee, they can ask an expert to tell them approximately how much the item is worth. The site is also a way for collectors to network with others in the industry.
A recent graduate of ATDC, WorthPoint achieved explosive growth during its membership in the accelerator program. This success includes the acquisition of GoAntiques™, a popular antiques and collectibles website, a partnership agreement with eBay research and educational firm Terapeak, the addition of thousands of paid subscribers, and the opening of a new office in Ireland to help cater to a growing international audience.
“By working with ATDC, we were able to learn about funding strategies and gain exposure to venture capitalists,” said Sieppel. “We were also able to be part of a dynamic entrepreneurial community and have proximity to the keen minds at Georgia Tech. I would recommend ATDC to any technology startup company in Georgia.”