Vertch: Real-Time Merch for the Mobile Era
Traditional event merch is broken. Fans wait 20–60+ minutes in line, and up to 30% skip buying entirely due to long waits or limited selection. Organizers lose money to overstock, theft, spoilage, and high staffing and logistics costs.
Vertch changes everything.
Vertch is a mobile-first virtual merch platform built for all types of live events—concerts, sports, festivals, fan expos, and more. No booths. No lines. No wasted inventory.
Create and sell new designs in minutes.
When a big moment happens—a knockout, touchdown, or guitar solo—you can launch a new shirt on the spot and push a buy link to every phone in the venue. Fans can purchase instantly, with direct-to-home shipping and zero hassle.Geo-tagged exclusives keep the magic of "I was there" alive.
Unlock limited merch that's only available at a specific time and place. No lines, no hauling gear—just brag-worthy merch tied to the live experience.Why it works:
0% inventory risk: made-to-order, no overstock
0-minute wait time: order anytime, anywhere
<1% loss rate: no theft, spoilage, or shrink
$0 staffing: no booth needed
Up to 30% higher conversion from mobile-optimized stores
Where we are now:
Vertch is currently pre-revenue and in beta testing. We’re actively building partnerships with dropshipping providers and print manufacturers around the world to prepare for the scale and demand we expect at launch. Our focus is on reliability, reach, and readiness—so when we go live, we go big.Vertch helps artists, teams, and event organizers capture the moment, engage fans in real time, and unlock a smarter, more profitable merch strategy.
No lines. No waste. No limits. Just better merch.
the problems
Fan Experience — Wait Times & Lost Sales
Average Wait in Merch Lines:
20–40 minutes at most concerts
60+ minutes at large festivals or arena shows
Impact on Sales:
Up to 30% of fans skip merch due to long lines or inconvenience
Impulse buys are missed—fans may want merch during the show but not after
Inventory & Shipping Problems
Overstock & Waste:
15–25% of merch is overstocked or unsold per event, resulting in lost revenue and waste
Incorrect size/color predictions mean lost sales or dead inventory
Theft, Damage, and Spoilage:
5–10% of event merch is lost to theft, damage, or spoilage during event transport and sales
Logistics Headaches:
Shipping, storage, and setup costs can be significant, especially for touring acts
Cost Structure of Physical Merch Booths
Staffing Costs:
$500–$2,000+ per event for on-site staff at merch tables
Transport & Setup:
High shipping and labor costs for transporting goods to/from venues
Inventory management is labor-intensive and error-prone
the solution
Why Virtual Merch Booths Win
Mobile Ordering:
80%+ of concertgoers use smartphones during shows
Fans can order before, during, or after the event—no line, no time wasted
Drop Shipping Benefits:
Zero inventory risk: Only make/ship what is sold
No overstock, no unsold sizes or colors
Easier to offer more designs and customization (limited drops, artist signatures, event-specific items)
Reduced Losses:
Direct shipping minimizes spoilage/theft—virtually eliminating 5–10% shrinkage typical at events
Cost Savings:
No physical staff, less labor, no storage needed
Artists/promoters save thousands per tour
Market & Growth Stats
US Concert Merch Sales:
$3.5 Billion market (US only)
Global Drop Shipping Market:
Estimated at $476 Billion by 2026
Mobile Shopping Trends:
72% of Millennials have made a purchase on their phone in the last month
Digital Merch Conversion:
Mobile-optimized stores see up to 30% higher sales conversion than traditional booths
Data & Fan Insights
Actionable Fan Data:
Digital platforms capture buyer demographics, purchase timing, and favorite designs
Enables follow-up marketing, exclusive offers, and loyalty programs
unlimited designs
Unique designs with no overhead
Specific designs for each city
Specific designs for each athlete/band.
New designs can be created on the spot in moments (Big knockout, touchdown, guitar solo etc.)
Geo-Tagged Exclusives (“I Was There” Flex)
Geo-Tagged Merch Drops:
Vertch can release special limited-edition merch that’s only unlockable via geo-location at the event (and/or at the event time).
Fans get exclusive “I was there” gear—without having to wait in line, carry merch, or risk items selling out.
Preserves the excitement and “bragging rights” of buying at the show, but with all the convenience of mobile ordering and home delivery.
The Numbers
Fan Frustration & Lost Sales
20–40 minutes: Average wait time in merch lines at concerts
60+ minutes: Typical merch wait at major festivals/arenas
30% of fans: Skip merch entirely due to long lines or hassle
Inventory & Shipping Pain
15–25%: Average overstock (unsold merch per event)
5–10%: Merchandise lost to theft, spoilage, or damage
Thousands lost: Dead inventory, bad size/color guessing, storage
Physical Booth Costs
$500–$2,000+: Typical staff and booth setup cost per event
High logistics cost: Moving and storing merch, labor-intensive management
Why Vertch Wins: Virtual Merch, Real Results
0 min wait: Order anytime, anywhere—never miss out
0% inventory risk: Made-to-order means no overstock, no waste
<1% loss: Direct drop shipping, no theft or spoilage
$0 staffing: No event staff needed for sales
Mobile, Data, & Fan Reach
80%+ of fans: Use smartphones during concerts
Event + remote: Sell to both event attendees and fans at home
72% of millennials: Bought from their phones in the last month
Up to 30% higher: Conversion rate for mobile-optimized merch stores vs. traditional booths
Market Size & Growth
$3.5 Billion: US concert merch sales annually
$476 Billion: Global drop shipping market by 2026
Exclusivity & “I Was There” Flex
Geo-tagged drops: Fans unlock exclusive merch only by being at the show—no line, nothing to haul home
Keeps the exclusivity: Limited designs, event/time-based unlocks, pure bragging rights
Sources:
Billboard, Eventbrite, Pollstar, Statista, Grand View Research, Music Business Worldwide, Pew Research, Shopify
Projections
Assumptions (Year 1 → Year 3)
SaaS/White-Label Partners: 50 in Year 1 → 200 in Year 3
Monthly SaaS Fee: $1,200 avg. per partner
Setup/Onboarding Fees: 40 in Year 1 ($6,000 avg.), 100 in Year 3 ($5,000 avg.)
Licensed Revenue Share: 7% of partner-processed merch sales
Partner Gross Sales: $5M in Year 1 → $35M in Year 3
D2C Events Powered by Vertch: 400 in Year 1 → 1,500 in Year 3
Average Fans per Event: 2,000
Attach Rate (Fan Buy Rate): 18% in Year 1 → 24% in Year 3
Average Order Value: $52 in Year 1 → $60 in Year 3
Vertch Platform Fee: 17%
Hybrid Model Revenue Breakdown
1. Licensing/White-Label Revenue
Year 1:
SaaS Fees: 50 × $1,200 × 12 = $720,000
Setup Fees: 40 × $6,000 = $240,000
Partner Merch Sales Revenue Share: $5,000,000 × 7% = $350,000
Year 1 Subtotal:
$1,310,000
Year 3:
SaaS Fees: 200 × $1,200 × 12 = $2,880,000
Setup Fees: 100 × $5,000 = $500,000
Partner Merch Sales Revenue Share: $35,000,000 × 7% = $2,450,000
Year 3 Subtotal:
$5,830,000
2. D2C/Direct-to-Customer Revenue
Year 1:
Events: 400
Fans: 2,000 per event × 400 = 800,000
Attach Rate: 18% → 144,000 buyers
Avg. Order Value: $52 → Gross Sales: 144,000 × $52 = $7,488,000
Vertch Platform Fee: 17% × $7,488,000 = $1,272,960
Year 3:
Events: 1,500
Fans: 2,000 per event × 1,500 = 3,000,000
Attach Rate: 24% → 720,000 buyers
Avg. Order Value: $60 → Gross Sales: 720,000 × $60 = $43,200,000
Vertch Platform Fee: 17% × $43,200,000 = $7,344,0000
Key Drivers Behind These Numbers
Aggressive partner & event growth:
More rapid onboarding and multiple big-venue/festival deals
Strong fan buy-in (attach rate):
Driven by geo-tagged exclusives, “no lines ever,” & unique event drops
Higher D2C order values:
Dynamic product bundles, limited editions, and VIP upsells
investment structure
We’re raising $1,000,000 with the following terms:
Valuation Cap: $8,500,000
Discount: 20%
Instrument: Y Combinator Post-Money SAFE
Option Pool: 12% reserved for new hires
Founder Control: Founders retain voting control
Board Seat: Not included at this stage (unless investment exceeds $500,000)
Pro Rata Rights: Granted for investments over $100,000