Fantom's online sports and entertainment collecting business is blossoming
Featured on irishtimes.com, 30th Sept 2013
Tech Entrepreneur Paul Healy's new start-up, Fantom is blossoming in the wake of a previous social media product for politics that didn't fly. Fantom were previously assisted by AIB Seed Capital.
He told the Irish Times: "
"If you're looking for what is effectively seed funding you have to start in Ireland unless you are very well connected overseas. The potential investor pool is small as it's basically high-stakes gambling,"
"Fortunately, there are a few experienced and seasoned investors here willing to take that risk. We raised €490,000 in our first funding round in December 2011 and an additional €310,000 earlier this year."
The Irish Times article also says that Fantom will launch a UK Premier League product; one for the German Bundesliga; and others are on the way for the Indian premier league and the Heineken Cup.
There are two main companies in the card/sticker collection space, Panini and Topps. In March Fantom became Topps' digital partner. This opens up significant sales opportunities as Topps owns the content for brands such as Dr Who and Star Wars.
Fantom has also done a deal with global toymaker, Mattel, for its big selling Monster High Dolls range.
Fantom currently has about 250,000 'live' users but Healy's aim is to be in the same league as games companies who laugh at the idea of 10 million users.
"We are very much in the lift-off stage and heading towards having several million 'live' players every month."