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Re:

Aglet Raised $4.5 Million to Turn Sneaker Collecting Into a Mobile Game

Aglet’s December 2020 seed round backed a mobile game that paired real-world walking with virtual sneaker collecting and a broader brand-commerce concept.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
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Aglet announced a $4.5 million seed round in December 2020, led by Sapphire Sport. The company’s mobile game linked real-world walking with virtual sneaker collecting and in-game currency, while its broader business idea was to connect digital fashion with brands, creators, and physical commerce. The funding and usage figures below are historical; the cited sources do not establish whether Aglet is operating today.

Who funded Aglet’s $4.5 million seed round?

GamesBeat reported that Sapphire Sport led the December 2020 round. Existing investors Lakestar Ventures and Forecast Ventures also participated, along with angel investors Matt Miesnieks, Nate Mitchell, and Greg Castle. GamesBeat said Aglet had raised $7 million in total since its founding in late 2019. That total was reported at the time, not as a current funding figure. GamesBeat’s December 2020 report identified Los Angeles and Düsseldorf as company locations and Ryan Mullins and Owen Batt as co-founders.

How did the sneaker game work?

Aglet combined location-based activity with virtual collecting. Players walked in the real world; the game tied activity and distance to in-game currency and virtual sneakers. Its company background page describes activity and sneakers as the core game loop and says the game launched worldwide on April 12, 2020. Aglet’s company background characterizes it as a spatial experience built around maps, geolocation, activity, sneakers, and community.

Calling it “Pokémon Go for sneakers” offers a quick comparison, but the distinctive idea was the link between movement and fashion collecting. Aglet also framed the game as a potential commerce channel: brands and creators could release virtual fashion and connect it with physical products. That was an ambition, not proof that every virtual item corresponded to a purchasable real-world shoe.

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What did Aglet report about players and activity?

GamesBeat’s 2020 article reported 100,000 players, including 35,000 daily players, as well as 8.4 billion steps and 4.3 million miles walked by the community. It also reported nearly 200,000 virtual sneakers sold. These are figures attributed to the 2020 coverage and should not be read as current user or sales totals. The report quoted CEO Ryan Mullins saying, “Our top-selling brand now is our own Aglet sneakers.”

How did brands and commerce fit the plan?

Aglet’s funding-era pitch was to bring brands and creators into a digital sneaker world, with the possibility of linking virtual releases to real-world products. Mullins described the idea this way: “I think where we’re going as a world where Nike and Adidas will release products in the real world, and then they’ll throw these into a game.” He also recalled, “When I played Pokémon Go for the first time in Germany in 2016, I wondered why it wasn’t a commerce experience.” These statements, reported by GamesBeat, describe the company’s thesis rather than a guarantee of product availability or sales.

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SGB Media reported in 2020 that Aglet had announced collaborations with Stadium Goods and Gucci, and described a November Creator Month collaboration with Dirty Soles. Those are historical reported collaborations, not evidence of current partnerships. SGB Media’s 2020 coverage provides that contemporaneous context.

What was announced for Japan in 2022?

In December 2022, LINE Corporation said its subsidiary LINE Xenesis and Onlife had signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at developing Aglet for Japan using LINE Blockchain and collaborating with Japanese fashion brands. The announcement reported more than 4 million downloads worldwide at that time and said Japan accounted for 15% of downloads. Those are historical figures reported by LINE, not a present-day user count. The release described intended work and does not confirm whether the MOU was completed or remains active. LINE Corporation’s announcement is the source for the plan and download figures.

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What can be said about Aglet now?

The cited material establishes the funding announcement, the game concept, historical user figures, reported collaborations, and a 2022 Japan development plan. It does not establish Aglet’s present operating status, current user numbers, the current availability of the game, or the status of the Japan MOU. The $4.5 million raise is therefore best understood as a historical seed funding story about a location-based sneaker game and its commerce ambitions.

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ANTBOX Shoe Organizer LED Smart Control,Auto-Shoe Boxes Clear Plastic Stackable for Sneaker Display Case and Collection Crate,Auto-Opening Shoe Storage Box (4pack) White
  • Smart Control: The shoe display case comes with a remote control that controls the lights, opens the doors, and pushes/retracts boxes. Control single or multiple boxes with one click.
  • Automatic Push/Retract: Control single or multiple boxes with one click, automatically opens/closes doors and pushes/retractes boxes. Flying Wing's patented design opens and closes smoothly at a uniform speed, making your collection feel more high-tech.
  • High-quality Material: The display case is made of ABS-PC, which is sturdier and more durable than other materials. It also prevents dust and static electricity, making it easy to clean. We also provide a quality assurance service.
  • Multipurpose Display Boxes: You can set up and arrange the boxes according to your collection to achieve the desired effect. The display case has LED lights on the top that are suitable for everyday display, we recommend using multiple combinations for better results.
  • Uses: The boxes have electric contacts on the bottom, making them easier to stack. This LED shoe display case serves as a great decoration that adds a high-tech feel to your living room, live room, collection room, or gaming room.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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