Fantex

Founded in 2012 and launched to the public in 2013, Fantex, Inc. was a pioneering platform that aimed to turn celebrity brands, primarily professional athletes, into investable securities. The company would sign a contract with an athlete to acquire a minority stake in their future brand-related income. Fantex would then conduct an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of a tracking stock tied to that athlete's brand, allowing fans and investors to buy and trade shares on the Fantex platform. The company was registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and FINRA but ultimately ceased its trading operations in 2017.