KREAM is South Korea’s premier marketplace for authenticated sneaker, streetwear, and luxury fashion resale. Utilizing a cutting-edge bid-ask system, expert product verification, and community engagement, KREAM has become the top destination for both shoe-vestors and fans of rare, limited-edition drops. The platform is renowned for its robust authentication protocols and unique size-based bidding, ensuring secure, fair, and data-driven transactions for a new generation of collectors and fashion-forward youth.
KREAM is changing the game for sneakerheads and luxury resellers by bringing trust, liquidity, and true community to Korea’s booming C2C resale market.
How Does It Work?
- Bid-Ask Model: Buyers place bids and sellers set asks according to size, item rarity, and market trends. Sales automatically close when bids and asks match—creating a transparent, stock-exchange-like environment that maximizes price discovery.
- Authentication & Logistics: KREAM’s team of specialists verifies every pair of sneakers and fashion item that transits through its logistics centers, using proprietary techniques and influencer-driven curation. Fake or misrepresented items are rejected or returned.
- Market Analytics: Detailed price, demand, and volume charts, as well as running product search insights (like the 270% jump in running shoe searches in 2025), help buyers and sellers make informed decisions.
- Social & Community: Influencer reviews and thriving resale forums have made KREAM a cultural icon among Korean MZ Generation (Millennial + Gen Z) urbanites.
Origin Story & Founders
Launched as an independent startup in March 2020 by Korea’s NAVER Snow Corp. spin-off, KREAM was born out of the surging trend of shoe-vesting—where South Korean youth buy and resell sought-after sneakers as both investments and collectibles. CEO Mingook Kim and the founding team built KREAM as the first bid/ask site in Korea where size, authenticity, and trend signals drive value.
Since its inception, KREAM has grown its monthly active users from 2.2 million in 2022 to over 5.3 million by 2025, gaining a loyal fanbase and partnership network spanning not just Korea but Asia—through investments in leading platforms in Japan (Soda), Malaysia (SneakerLah/Shake Hands), Singapore (Quista), and more.
How Much Has KREAM Raised to Date?
KREAM has achieved meteoric funding and growth:
- Series C (2023): $168 million, led by Altos Ventures, with NAVER, SoftBank Ventures Asia, Samsung Securities, Mirae Asset Capital, and new investor Axiom Asia joining in.
- Total Funds Raised: Over $457 million in seven rounds, with the latest round (Series C-IV) raising $38.7 million in December 2023 and a reported valuation of about $743 million as of March 2023, nearing unicorn status.
- Global Expansion: The new capital leverages Asian partnerships and international visibility to connect C2C resale affiliates, with further investments in Malaysia’s Shake Hands, Japan’s Soda, Thailand’s Sasom, and Singapore’s Quista.
The new funding comes in the wake of a stellar couple of quarters: monthly active users more than doubled, and gross merchandise value shot up by 270% in Q3 and 190% in Q4 from the previous year
Benefits for Consumers
- Trust & Authenticity: Every item is expert-verified, eliminating counterfeits in the high-stakes world of rare sneakers and streetwear.
- Access & Liquidity: Fans, collectors, and shoe-vestors have access to thousands of hard-to-find items, all with transparent, up-to-date pricing and stock data.
- Community & Culture: KREAM’s influencer networks, reviews, and shoe-vesting market make resale social, personalized, and fun for Korea’s younger shoppers.
- Fair Pricing: Bid-ask dynamics ensure transparent price discovery—not just static mark-ups.
Applications for Sellers
- Add Value from Deadstock: Brands and individuals monetize surplus inventory, rare drops, and gently worn stock through a trusted platform.
- B2B Partnerships: Tie-ups with international platforms (StockX, local department stores, luxury partners) connect sellers to global buyers.
- Trend Reporting: Real-time analytics help sellers understand demand and time their listings for maximum gains.
- Global Reach: KREAM’s expanding affiliate network lets sellers tap into Asian and worldwide resale trends.
KREAM is redefining the secondary sneaker market as a platform not just to buy, but to invest, network, and share the culture.
Future Outlook
KREAM is on a clear path toward unicorn status and international dominance:
- Expanding partnerships and mergers—including talks with StockX—will further globalize the Korean resale ecosystem.
- More authenticated categories (luxury handbags, watches, apparel) add new revenue streams.
- Tech improvements, like AI-driven pricing tools and enhanced blockchain authentication, are on the roadmap.
