Funko was established in 1998 by toy collector Mike Becker in Snohomish, Washington, USA. The company initially focused on producing nostalgic, low-tech toys and bobbleheads inspired by classic American advertising mascots.

Its first notable product was a Big Boy Restaurants coin bank and bobblehead. Although this initial product line achieved only limited commercial success, Funko secured its breakthrough after licensing characters from films such as Austin Powers, which led to stronger sales and broader recognition.2

In 2005, Mike Becker sold Funko to Brian Mariotti, who transformed the small nostalgia toy manufacturer into a major licensed collectibles business. Under Mariotti’s leadership, Funko expanded aggressively into entertainment licensing, partnering with companies including Disney, Marvel, DC, Lucasfilm, Warner Bros., Universal and many others.

The company reached a significant milestone in 2011 with the launch of the Pop! Vinyl line. These figures quickly became global collectibles and remain Funko’s signature product.

Funko became a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ Stock Market in 2017 under the ticker symbol FNKO.3

• Headquarters: Everett, Washington, United States
• Industry: Toys, Collectibles, Consumer Products
• Founded: 1998
• Founder: Mike Becker
• Public Company: Since 2017 (NASDAQ: FNKO)4

Funko manufactures collectibles across numerous categories.

Pop! Vinyl

Pop! Vinyl is the company’s flagship product line. Key features include:

• Oversized heads
• Minimalist facial designs
• Height of approximately 4 inches (10 cm)
• Thousands of licensed characters

Popular Pop! categories include:

• Movies
• Television
• Anime
• Marvel
• DC Comics
• Disney
• Star Wars
• Harry Potter
• Pokémon
• Video Games
• Music Artists
• Sports
• WWE
• NFL
• NBA
• Formula 1
• Mascots
• Historical figures

Other Product Lines

Funko has expanded into numerous additional collectible categories, including:

• Pop! Deluxe
• Pop! Rides
• Pop! Town
• Jumbo Pop!
• Bitty Pop!
• Mystery Minis
• Vinyl Soda
• Gold
• Plush
• Action Figures
• Board Games
• Apparel
• Backpacks
• Wallets
• Pins
• Home décor
• Digital collectibles (NFTs)5

A key strength of Funko is its extensive licensing portfolio. The company collaborates with hundreds of intellectual property owners. Major partners include:

• Disney
• Marvel
• Star Wars
• DC Comics
• Warner Bros.
• Universal Pictures
• Netflix
• Paramount
• Nintendo
• Sega
• PlayStation
• Xbox
• Pokémon
• WWE
• NFL
• NBA
• Formula 1
• Major League Baseball
• Sanrio
• DreamWorks
• Cartoon Network
• Hasbro
• Ubisoft

Funko states that it holds one of the largest collections of pop culture licences in the industry.6

Funko has expanded beyond vinyl figures through several strategic acquisitions.

Loungefly (2017)

A fashion accessories brand specialising in licensed backpacks, handbags, wallets and apparel.

Funko Games (2019)

Established following the acquisition of Forrest-Pruzan Creative, enabling Funko to enter the tabletop gaming market.

Mondo

A premium collectibles company known for:

• Posters
• Vinyl soundtracks
• High-end figures
• Designer collectibles7

Funko generates revenue primarily through:

• Licensed collectibles
• Direct-to-consumer online sales
• Retail partnerships
• Convention exclusives
• Limited editions
• Premium collectibles
• Apparel and accessories
• Games
• Digital collectibles

Its products are sold through:

• Major retailers
• Comic book stores
• Toy stores
• Specialty collectible shops
• Online marketplaces
• Funko’s official website8

Many Funko Pop! figures are produced in limited quantities, enhancing their appeal among collectors. Factors influencing value include:

• Limited production runs
• Convention exclusives
• Vaulted (retired) figures
• Chase variants
• Celebrity autographs
• Character popularity
• Box condition

Some rare figures have sold on the secondary market for thousands of dollars, although resale values vary significantly depending on demand and rarity.9

Funko products are sold in over 100 countries through:

• Retail chains
• Specialty hobby stores
• Comic conventions
• Online retailers
• Official Funko websites

The company also operates flagship retail stores in Everett, Washington, and Hollywood, California.10

Funko has cultivated a large global collector community through:

• Funko Fundays events
• San Diego Comic-Con exclusives
• New York Comic Con exclusives
• Fan conventions
• Collector clubs
• Social media
• The Funko mobile app
• Online collector communities

The brand has become a prominent symbol of modern pop culture collecting, with fans displaying collections spanning movies, television, gaming, anime, sport and music.11

1. Funko
2. Funko – Investor Relations
3. Find Your Fandom at Funko. Learn More About Us. | Funko
4. She Always Felt Like an Outsider. Now It’s This CEO’s Superpower.
5. Making Fun – The Story of Funko Official Documentary Trailer!
6. fnko-20251231
7. Funko General Terms and Conditions (English)
8. fnko-20221231
9. fnko-20191231
10. sec.gov
11. Find Your Fandom at Funko. Learn More About Us. | Funko