UC Berkeley alumni launch fractional collectibles investing platform Tash

Four UC Berkeley graduates have launched Tash, a startup that lets users invest in fractional shares of trading cards and collectibles. The platform buys cards outright and divides ownership into tradable units, positioning itself as an alternative asset class for retail investors.

The company has not disclosed funding or valuation, but its emergence aligns with a broader shift toward early-stage deals. StartupReader reported earlier this month that seed and pre-seed rounds accounted for the bulk of last week’s $150.6 million in startup funding, while late-stage activity declined. Tash’s timing may benefit from that rebalancing, though its niche—fractionalized collectibles—has yet to prove durable at scale.

Other platforms have attempted similar models, but most focus on auction-based secondary markets rather than direct asset ownership. Tash’s approach removes the need for buyers to source or store physical items, a potential advantage in a space where fraud and condition disputes are common. The startup’s success will hinge on whether it can attract enough liquidity to make fractional shares viable for both buyers and sellers.

No public timeline has been shared for Tash’s launch or user onboarding. The company’s next steps—securing inventory, building a trading interface, and potentially raising capital—will determine whether it can move beyond the novelty phase. For now, it joins a growing list of startups testing whether alternative assets can graduate from hobbyist markets to mainstream investment products.

Sources: dailycal.org