North Wales Fintech Valart Brings Collectibles into the Wealth Conversation

North Wales Fintech Valart Brings Collectibles into the Wealth Conversation

A new North Wales-based fintech startup is making waves in the £378 billion global collectibles market by bridging the gap between passion and protection.

Valart, founded in January 2023 by Elliot Riley-Walsh and based at M-SParc (Menai Science Park) in Ynys Môn, helps collectors understand, value, and protect their collections — while also giving financial professionals the tools to engage with collectibles as legitimate assets.

A recent addition to the Fintech Wales membership, Valart’s mission is deeply personal to its founder.

“My journey into collecting started when I was five years old. My dad bought me a small plastic Land Rover Defender. I couldn’t own the real thing, so I collected die-cast models instead,” said Riley-Walsh.

“As I got older, my collecting widened. Star Wars. Sports memorabilia. LEGO. Classic car parts. Watches. Each piece tied to a moment, a memory, or a sense of identity.”

But like many collectors, he faced a growing frustration — the inability to fully understand, value, or protect what he owned.

“That frustration is why I became a founder,” Riley-Walsh explained.

“Collections are valuable – emotionally and financially – but too often invisible. From watches and toys to trading cards and classic cars, most collections are undocumented, difficult to value, and hard to protect.”

A £378 Billion Opportunity — Still Overlooked

Globally, the collectibles market was worth £378 billion in 2022 and is projected to exceed £1 trillion by 2032. Yet much of this value is absent from wealth management strategies, insurance policies, and estate planning.

“Few collections are insured, even fewer insured accurately. Too often, collections are left out of wills – or dumped in a charity shop by confused family members,” Riley-Walsh said.

“This is because of a knowledge gap. Unless you’re deep in the world of collecting, it’s hard to know what something is worth.”

From AI Valuation to Legacy Planning

Valart addresses this challenge head-on with a simple, all-in-one digital platform. Collectors can upload photos of their items to build a structured, secure digital catalogue. Valart then uses AI and anonymised market data to generate real-time valuations with monthly updates.

The platform’s features include:

• AI-driven valuation with confidence scores
• Blockchain-based authentication to secure provenance
• Legacy contact tools for read-only family access
• Integration support for insurers, lawyers, and wealth managers

“We close the knowledge gap and make collections visible, understandable, and actionable,” said Riley-Walsh.

“No other platform brings cataloguing, valuation, authentication, and legacy planning together in one place.”

From North Wales to a Global Market

As a recent member of Fintech Wales, Valart exemplifies the strength of North Wales as a growing hub for fintech innovation. Operating from M-SParc, the company is building a platform with global relevance — bringing overlooked assets into the heart of wealth conversations.

Learn more at valart.co.uk.