Right About Now with Ryan Alford

What's up, everyone!

It started with a trip to the store and a $15 pack of trading cards. My kids weren’t even with me. But when I opened it and pulled a gold Downtown Josh Allen card, I knew I had something special. The problem? I had no clue what it was worth.

That moment kicked off a journey into one of the most surprisingly massive industries out there: trading cards. And it led me to Ludex. The app that’s redefining how collectors engage with their cards.

In this week’s episode, I sat down with Ludex founder Brian Ludden to talk about tech, collecting, and how $5.3 million in seed funding is changing the game.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

🔥 Here’s What We Hit

The Trading Card Renaissance

The industry has exploded post-COVID, but it still suffers from friction, fragmentation, and outdated tech. Ludex is addressing this with intuitive scanning and valuation tools that make buying, selling, and tracking easier than ever.

Your Move: Download the app and scan a few cards from your collection to get instant valuations.

Data Is the New Cardboard

Beyond scanning, Ludex is leveraging user data to fuel smart business plays—like targeting Kobe Bryant collectors with tailored campaigns. This data backbone is poised to power the future of card commerce.

Your Move: Think about how your business can turn user behavior into strategic growth insights.

From Side Hustle to Scalable Tech

What started as Brian’s COVID hobby with his son is now a scalable B2B platform capable of listing hundreds of cards on eBay in minutes. The app has 2.5M downloads—and it’s just getting started.

Your Move: Don’t ignore "hobby" markets. They might be the next tech frontier.

Collecting With Purpose

This is more than nostalgia. It’s an entry point into digital ownership, family bonding, and smart investing. Ludex empowers users to manage their collection like a portfolio.

Your Move: Revisit a passion or interest—and explore how it could double as a business opportunity.

🤝 Connect with Brian

Whether you're a seasoned collector or just now realizing trading cards are a $30B industry, this episode proves it's more than a hobby. With the right tech, it’s a movement. And Ludex is leading the charge.

🌐 Website: ludex.com
📱 Socials: Ludex’s Instagram | Brian’s LinkedIn

Want to go deeper? Find the app in your app store and look for Brian and the Ludex crew at upcoming national shows—they're building the future of card collecting, and you can be part of it.