Laced LLC is a company.
Key people at Laced LLC.
Laced LLC was founded by Ryan Schneider (Co-Founder / President).
Key people at Laced LLC.
Laced LLC was founded by Ryan Schneider (Co-Founder / President).
Laced LLC is a London-based portfolio company founded in 2018 that operates an online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of rare, exclusive sneakers and luxury goods, with a strong emphasis on authentication and security.[1][2][3][4] It serves collectors and enthusiasts by solving key problems in the resale market, such as counterfeit risks and slow transactions, through industry-leading authentication, same-day order processing, seven-day deliveries, and instant payouts—far faster than competitors.[1][2][3] The platform has demonstrated strong growth, surpassing $100 million in gross merchandise value (GMV) by mid-2023 and raising $17 million total funding, including a $12 million Series A led by Talis Capital with participation from H&M Group Ventures, BY Venture Partners, Truesight Ventures, and notable angels.[1][2][3][4]
Laced was founded in 2018 by CEO Chris Gibbons in London to simplify access to the latest, most desirable sneakers via a technology-driven, transparent marketplace.[1][2][3][4] Gibbons, driven by the belief that "everyone deserves access to luxury goods," built the company to democratize high-end resale while ensuring authenticity and security—addressing frustrations in opaque, risky secondary markets.[1][3] Early traction included a $1 million pre-seed round three years prior to its 2023 Series A, setting the stage for rapid scaling; pivotal moments include hitting over $100 million GMV and hiring key talent like CTO Chris Conolly (ex-Gousto) and Head of Product Design Doran Black (ex-Farfetch).[1][2][4]
Laced rides the explosive growth of the sneaker resale market, fueled by hype-driven demand for limited-edition drops from brands like Nike and Yeezy, amid a larger luxury resale boom valued in billions.[4] Timing is ideal post-2023 funding, as economic headwinds haven't dimmed consumer appetite—evidenced by global peers like Indonesia's Kick Avenue and India's DawnTown raising funds amid sustained interest.[4] Favorable forces include e-commerce maturation, authentication tech advancements (mirroring eBay's investments), and sustainability trends favoring resale to extend product lifecycles, as noted by H&M Ventures.[2][4] Laced influences the ecosystem by setting standards for secure, tech-enabled resale, potentially expanding to broader luxury goods and challenging incumbents.
With $17 million raised and $100+ million GMV achieved, Laced is primed to accelerate via its post-Series A product roadmap, likely enhancing AI-driven authentication, global expansion, and luxury category growth.[1][2][3] Trends like sneaker culture's mainstreaming, Web3 integrations for provenance, and resale's sustainability push will shape its path, positioning it to capture more market share in a resilient sector.[4] Its influence may evolve from UK niche player to pan-European leader, democratizing luxury as Gibbons envisions—building on secure, fast transactions that hooked early users.[1][3]
