Funky Syracuse company, finds gold in Magic, Pokemon games

Taking a high-tech approach to a low-tech industry, tcgplayer has created an online marketplace for collectible gaming cards. In a world where video games get most of the gaming industry's attention, TCGplayer has cut a niche for itself by becoming both the eBay and Amazon.com of the $1 billion trading card industry.

If you want to buy or sell new or used cards for popular collectible trading card games such as Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh and HeroClix, chances are you'll use TCGplayer.com's digital marketplace.

The business has generated explosive growth for the company, which opened its first office just two years ago. It doubled its workforce on the 10th floor of Syracuse's State Tower Building, going from 40 to 80 employees, over the past year and is already looking for bigger offices.

Founder and CEO Chedy Hampson estimates the company will create 25 to 50 more jobs in 2016 as it enters the international market.