Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Miami Pokémon Card Seller Builds ₹74.4-Crore Business After Dropping Out
Andres Fernandez liked Pokémon video games and later became interested in Pokémon cards.
He bought a $5 pack for his cousin and saw a card worth nearly $100 inside.
This made him think cards could become a business.
He left business college after one semester and started selling cards full-time.
At first, he streamed, packed, and shipped orders mostly by himself.
His audience grew on Instagram Live, and he later joined Whatnot in late 2020.
He borrowed $150,000 to buy more sealed products and hired friends and family to help.
His company reported $7.8 million in sales in 2025 and expects more than $10 million to $11 million this year.
Andres Fernandez left business college after one semester to sell Pokémon cards full-time.
His company, MintlyCollects, reported $3.7 million in 2024 sales and $7.8 million in 2025 sales.
MintlyCollects operates two Whatnot accounts with about 500,000 combined followers.
Fernandez took a $150,000 loan to buy sealed products and now works with 10 streamers, including relatives and friends.
He began selling after finding a nearly $100 card in a $5 pack and later moved from Instagram Live to Whatnot.
- Who
- Andres Fernandez, founder and CEO of MintlyCollects.
- What
- He left business college and built a Pokémon card business that reported $7.8 million in 2025 sales.
- When
- Fernandez left college after one semester and joined Whatnot in late 2020; the company reported its 2025 sales in the article.
- Where
- Miami, selling through Instagram Live and Whatnot.
- Why
- He pursued card selling after discovering the potential value of Pokémon cards and building an online audience.
- Founder and CEO
- Andres Fernandez
- Company
- MintlyCollects
- 2024 sales
- $3.7 million
- 2025 sales
- $7.8 million, described in the article as approximately ₹74.4 crore
- Projected sales
- More than $10 million to $11 million this year
- Whatnot following
- About 500,000 combined followers across two accounts
- Expansion investment
- A $150,000 loan for sealed products
- Current team
- 10 streamers
