Blockchain infrastructure for art authentication and NFT issuance
Startbahn operates Startrail, a blockchain platform built on Ethereum and Polygon that issues and manages NFTs tied to artwork provenance. The stack (Solidity, Next.js, Node.js, The Graph, Alchemy, IPFS) reflects a mature dApp architecture; the hiring mix—engineering-forward with equal coverage in sales and ops—signals a company balancing infrastructure maturity with market expansion, especially as they move beyond fine art into fashion, sports, and gaming.
Startbahn is a Tokyo-based art tech company founded in 2014 that builds blockchain infrastructure for authenticating and trading artworks as NFTs. The core product, Startrail, records provenance, auction history, and exhibition data on-chain, with terms and conditions set by the artist. The company has issued NFTs for works sold through Sotheby's, OpenSea, and regional platforms, as well as for collections spanning classical and contemporary artists. They operate across 14+ countries with a team of engineers, designers, curators, and marketers. Current growth efforts extend into fashion, sports, and gaming verticals.
Startbahn builds on Ethereum and Polygon. The stack includes Solidity for smart contracts, The Graph for indexing, Alchemy for RPC infrastructure, and IPFS for decentralized storage.
Frontend and backend: Next.js, Node.js, NestJS, TypeScript, GraphQL, REST. Testing: Jest, Mocha, Cypress, Playwright. Infrastructure: Kubernetes, GCP, AWS, Azure. DevTools: GitHub, CircleCI, Figma, Jira.
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