Business on the rebound: KC entrepreneur brings platform for buying authentic jerseys back from the ice

A new player in Kansas City is shaking up the sports memorabilia scene. Aidan Scurato is breathing new life into Rebound Jerseys, a once-dormant Canadian marketplace for hockey jerseys — transforming it into a trusted platform for buying and selling authenticated gear.

“I love sports, and there’s a ton of counterfeit items in the sports, specifically in memorabilia,” Scurato explained. “I was just reading about the Premier League in the UK, and they had estimated $180 million worth of counterfeit jerseys per year.”

“Pretty much a third of the first page of results are all fake items,” Scurato said of sites like eBay.

Scurato acquired Rebound Jerseys in September 2024, partnering with software engineer Sam Rydberg-Cox to overhaul the platform’s infrastructure and restore its credibility as a peer-to-peer marketplace for a wide range of hockey leagues.

Spotting the real deal: jersey authentication 

To ensure authenticity, Rebound Jerseys employs a team of experts with deep knowledge of hockey jerseys, some with backgrounds in sports affiliate stores.

“They know everything about jerseys, down to the specific match; it’s pretty wild,” said Scurato.

These specialists meticulously authenticate listings, some even identifying game-worn jerseys based on subtle details.

Eventually, the company aims to empower consumers with AI tools capable of analyzing and verifying jersey authenticity.

“If they’re in a thrift store, they can snap a picture of it, and will be able to tell to a good degree whether or not it’s authentic,” Scurato explained.

Tech upgrade

Beyond authentication, Scurato and Rydberg-Cox tackled numerous technical challenges left behind by the platform’s original developers.

One key innovation: integrating eBay inventory syncing for high-volume sellers.

“We developed something that will take all their items from their eBay store and sync it over to our platform,” Scurato shared. “Our fees are lower, and this is just a better community of people that understand you’re trying to sell.”

The Rebound Jerseys mobile app, available on iOS and Android, enhances user experience with features like direct purchases, shipment tracking, listing boosts, and buyer offers.

The venture’s recent acceptance into the Digital Sandbox KC program at UMKC’s Technology Venture Studio is expected to bolster AI and app development efforts.

“That’s going to help us move into the AI space,” said Scurato.

Just funded: Meet the newest Digital Sandbox KC startups to earn project innovation resources

Early hustle, lasting passion

Scurato’s entrepreneurial journey started early. His high school sneaker reselling venture, Hyped KC, laid the groundwork for his passion-driven hustle.

“I just fell in love with the grind of it all, and doing something that I’m passionate about,” he said.

While the company’s current focus is on hockey, plans are in motion to move into other sports. 

“We’re trying to expand in the right way,” Scurato said, expressing interest in partnering with local teams like the Kansas City Mavericks. “The Chiefs of course would be pretty awesome.”

With Rebound Jerseys, Scurato and Friedberg are cultivating a community of collectors, fans, and sports enthusiasts who value authenticity, simplicity, and passion.

“We’re super excited about Rebound and everything that we’re doing now,” Scurato said. “It’s a bit different and new, and I’ve been fortunate enough to just have the experience and opportunities to try to culminate this.”