Mantel is a social network for collectors, where you can share the stories behind your favorite sports cards and memorabilia, and connect with others who share your passions. Co-founded by Alexis Ohanian, Mantel is an early-stage startup that is growing fast.
Cool idea.
With so many different types of collections and personal interests, how will you keep Mantel’s community feeling genuine and welcoming, especially as it grows? How will you handle moderation and trust-building so everyone feels comfortable sharing what they love, without worrying about trolls or negativity?
I feel like there are some many places to start these types of communities, like a Reddit or Twitter community, that I'm wondering about how you'll keep the community thriving after it's been created.
@junloayza I appreciate this question and it's something we spend a lot of time thinking about. We're launching a new feature in 2 weeks that will focus on niche communities within Mantel, that can be around very specific topics and moderated by members of those micro-communities. Influencers/creators, brands, experts, enthusiasts. We'll work with the mods/admins of those Groups to make sure they have the features and support necessary to grow and thrive.
We've built in some initial safety features- ways to block/report- and have human moderators today, but we know we'll need to continually scale that as the community grows. AI moderation, and additional human mods, will be crucial.
But above all, we'll need the community to help set the right tone and keep Mantel fun, informative and safe. It's hard to be the lone troll in a sea of respectful enthusiasts, and we'll do all we can to ensure the loudest voices are the ones who are welcoming and positive.
As someone who has spent years immersed in card collecting communities, I can’t overstate how much we’ve needed something like Mantel. Whether it’s sports cards, TCG, or memorabilia, the fragmentation across platforms and the toxicity you often encounter have made finding a truly enjoyable, safe space a challenge. Mantel isn’t just another forum—it’s a central hub built specifically for collectors by people who get it.
Having a singular place where discussions, buying, selling, and celebrating hits can happen without the usual negativity is a game-changer. It feels like the team behind Mantel understands what this hobby is all about: connecting people who share the same passion in a way that’s supportive, fun, and constructive.
This isn’t just another community; it’s a chance to create the best community. If you’re in the collecting world, whether as a buyer, seller, or someone who just loves the hobby, Mantel is where you’ll want to be. It’s time we had a platform that prioritizes the hobby and the people in it, and Mantel nails it.
@christopher_odonnell We're working on it- thanks for your interest. And the website (www.onMantel.com) is available in the UK, and we have a growing community of users from there.
ArticleBunny
Mantel
The State of Snapchat Analytics
Mantel
Mantel