Following JAY-Z’s lead, Kylian Mbappé, through his investment vehicle Coalition Capital, has become an investor in Wristcheck. The celebrated French football star and current Real Madrid forward joins other notable backers such as Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund (Gobi Partners GBA) and K3 Ventures in supporting the luxury watch trading platform’s pre-series A funding round.

Mbappé’s illustrious career boasts seven Ligue 1 championships and a crucial contribution to France’s triumph in the 2018 World Cup. Off the pitch, Mbappé’s passion for horology is evident, as he serves as Hublot’s brand ambassador and frequently showcases his exquisite collection of timepieces at various functions.

His investment aligns with Wristcheck’s aim to craft a cutting-edge, tech-savvy environment tailored to the digital-first Gen-Z collector. “Wristcheck is a platform that truly grasps the essence of the new generation of collectors. They are transforming the watch industry with an innovative approach that fuses technology, transparency, and creativity,” Mbappé shared, expressing his enthusiasm and desire to democratize watch collecting.

Wristcheck’s Founder and CEO, Austen Chu, extended a warm welcome to Mbappé, underscoring his enthusiasm for watches and the significant influence he will exert on the industry. Chu highlighted Wristcheck’s commitment to bringing watches into the limelight of popular culture and speeding up this mission with Mbappé’s backing. This partnership underscores the platform’s dedication to innovation and to shaping the future of the watch industry.

Since its inception in 2020, Wristcheck has embraced a tech-centric approach to challenge traditional industry norms.

From the Wristcheck Marketplace, which revolutionizes the buying and selling of watches with utmost trust and transparency through its internal authentication and grading systems, to the AI-driven Wristcheck Watch Index that establishes definitive market pricing, Wristcheck’s inventive strategy has fueled the company’s swift expansion — the platform has sustained growth in 2024 with a 218% year-over-year increase in its online business and has recently inaugurated its first concept store at Wynn Macau in January 2025, marking a milestone as the first secondary watch platform to open at any Wynn Casino worldwide.

Wristcheck has facilitated thousands of transactions involving rare timepieces, earning the trust of collectors like JAY-Z, Kevin Hart, and now Kylian Mbappé. His investment will aid in expanding Wristcheck’s global reach, enabling the platform to further enhance its technological offerings for young collectors.