Collectabillia

About Collectabillia

Collectabillia, established in 2010 by Anjana Reddy and Vikaramaditya Reddy, initially operated as an online platform for sports and celebrity memorabilia. Anjana Reddy, a former national-level badminton player with a degree in accounting and finance, conceptualized the business while studying in the US, noticing the robust market for sports merchandise. Returning to India, she launched Universal Sportsbiz Pvt. Ltd. (USPL) in April 2012, with Collectabillia as its first venture. The company secured an early investment from cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who also became a key partner.

The initial business model centered on auctioning and selling autographed merchandise from iconic sports figures like Sachin Tendulkar, Cristiano Ronaldo, and others, aiming to cultivate a market for collectibles in India similar to art or philately. The platform offered items ranging from limited edition autographed bats to apparel and accessories. However, the founders soon realized the memorabilia market was difficult to scale, as few customers were willing to pay a premium for such items. A pivotal moment came from the sale of thousands of Sachin Tendulkar-themed t-shirts, which highlighted a stronger market demand for celebrity-endorsed apparel.

This insight led to a strategic pivot. USPL shifted its focus from memorabilia to creating celebrity-led fashion brands. This resulted in the launch of successful apparel lines such as 'Wrogn' with cricketer Virat Kohli, 'Imara' with actress Shraddha Kapoor, and 'Ms. Taken' with Kriti Sanon. While Collectabillia laid the foundation, the business evolved into a multi-brand fashion retailer with both online and offline distribution channels, including major e-commerce platforms like Myntra and Flipkart, as well as exclusive brick-and-mortar stores. The parent company, USPL, has attracted significant funding over several rounds from investors including Accel, Alteria Capital, and NB Ventures, reaching a valuation of over $100 million.