Episode Title: Market Resilience, Counterfeit Realities, and the Future of Authentication with Perry Nguyen of Check Check

Show Notes:

In this episode, I’m joined by Perry Nguyen with Check Check, a cutting-edge digital authentication platform reshaping the luxury resale landscape. Our conversation explores the parallels between nature’s most resilient species and the dynamic, ever-evolving global marketplace, particularly the explosive growth of luxury resale and the counterfeit economy.

Perry shares how Check Check leverages a global team of expert authenticators to verify high-value goods, including sneakers, designer items, and collectibles. With the rise of “super fakes” and consumer trust hanging in the balance, Perry explains why real-time, mobile-first authentication is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity.

We dig into Perry’s fascinating career journey—from scaling a cannabis startup from zero to $11M in sales, to lobbying Congress (cowboy hat and all) in support of a groundbreaking antifungal vaccine for animals. His background in the music industry also adds a creative twist to his leadership style, which I found incredibly relatable.

Perry also opens up about joining Check Check just 12 months ago and partnering with co-founders Arnold Luck and Eddie Abramov to scale their sneaker authentication platform into a robust enterprise solution. With over 3.3 million app downloads and 2.2 million items authenticated, they’re redefining trust in the secondary market.

We wrap the conversation with a look at global expansion—including a powerful new partnership with India’s Culture Kicks—and discuss how APIs and mobile tech are driving the next phase of authentication for streetwear and luxury resale. I even encouraged my brother to download the app—because if you’re going to invest in high-value items, you need to make sure they’re the real deal.

And yes, I even share a story about tracking down an elusive 90s rock vocalist named Kurt, plus what my cousin's DIY guitar pedal business taught me about creative frustration, innovation, and self-determination in leadership.

📌 Topics Covered:

• How market adaptability mirrors species resilience

• The booming counterfeit market and rise of "super fakes"

• Scaling Check Check into a global authentication powerhouse

• The intersection of creativity, structure, and burnout

• Personal leadership stories from the music and tech worlds

Perry Nguyen is the Chief Executive Officer at CheckCheck, a leading digital authentication company. The company started out in the sneaker market but has just expanded into the luxury market, covering handbags and wallets from high-end brands. The company has also partnered with Culture Circle, India’s biggest marketplace for authenticated hype and luxury fashion, to introduce an industry-first dual authentication system in India. The need for authentication has never been greater. The global counterfeit market is valued between $1.7 trillion and $4.5 trillion annually, with luxury goods and sneakers among the most counterfeited products. It is estimated the global luxury market has a value of $1.5 trillion with second-hand luxury expected to reach $75 billion by the end of the year. Handbags represent the largest category in luxury resale, growing at an annual rate of 12%. It's a really interesting sector and opens up conversations of the use of AI, note unlike their competitors CheckCheck adapt AI but also rely on human verification, also they are noticing an interest in fashion sustainability and customers wanting to buy pre-loved goods rather than newly made products. To date more than 2 million users have downloaded the app. Perry has a strong affiliation with startups. He previously worked as Head of Business Development for pet pharmaceutical company, Anivive, and organised a partnership with NFL superstar, Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski, who committed $1 million to pet health start-up. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perryqnguyen/ Website: https://getcheckcheck.com/en/