Podcasts about sports tech

Wharton's Cade Massey & Eric Bradlow speak with Charlie Ebersol, founder and CEO of Infinite Athlete, about the integration of tech into sports and sports analytics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The THINK TANK is back in Texas as we sit down with Lonnie Judd, the AD for the Robinson ISD. We're also joined by K12 SportsTech Founder and CEO, Abby Emerson who shares how she started the THINK TANK and WHY you should be a member! THIS is The Educational AD Podcast!

Yaniv Shneiderman is the CEO and founder of BlazePod, pioneering the global reactive training movement. With a passion for SportsTech innovation, he empowers athletes and trainers to achieve peak performance through cutting-edge solutions. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. Versatility is the key to a crowded market. 2. Overcoming the resistance to change is done through educating and articulating the importance of the reactive training methodology and using the community to growthe  awareness to it. 3. The only way to succeed in being an entrepreneur in this time is having a strong mentality , a huge belief in your mission and vision and surrounding yourself with amazing people. Follow Yaniv on LinkedIn - Yaniv Shneiderman Sponsor Thrivetime Show Attend the world's highest-rated business growth workshop taught personally by Clay Clark at ThrivetimeShow.com/eofire

This week on the THINK TANK we visit with Ben Nicholas of Village Tech Schools in Texas and Alec Brown of K12 SportsTech as they share how the K12 AD THINK TANK helps connect ADs to Vendors. This is The Educational AD Podcast!

Yaniv Shneiderman is the CEO and founder of BlazePod, pioneering the global reactive training movement. With a passion for SportsTech innovation, he empowers athletes and trainers to achieve peak performance through cutting-edge solutions. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. Versatility is the key to a crowded market. 2. Overcoming the resistance to change is done through educating and articulating the importance of the reactive training methodology and using the community to growthe  awareness to it. 3. The only way to succeed in being an entrepreneur in this time is having a strong mentality , a huge belief in your mission and vision and surrounding yourself with amazing people. Follow Yaniv on LinkedIn - Yaniv Shneiderman Sponsor Thrivetime Show Attend the world's highest-rated business growth workshop taught personally by Clay Clark at ThrivetimeShow.com/eofire

MLS Star Jeremy Ebobisse sits down with Noah and chats about joining LAFC, his journey in SF, what the biggest mistakes he's seen founders make, and where he sees himself in 5 years. The views and opinions expressed in this video are solely those of the individuals featured and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Athletes & Assets. We do not accept liability for any advice given in this video, and viewers are encouraged to seek professional guidance before making any business decisions. Additionally, the participation of athletes in this video does not imply endorsement or sponsorship by their respective employers

Division 1 Basketball to Sports Tech Innovator: Tamir Goodman's story includes his early dreams of playing basketball, the unique challenges he faced as an observant Jew, and the lessons he learned from his challenging yet supportive coach. Tamir opens up about the role his dyslexia played in shaping his basketball instinct and how his faith has been a guiding force throughout his life. Now a successful entrepreneur in sports tech and a published author, Tamir emphasizes the importance of hard work, time management, and positivity. This episode is a must-watch for aspiring athletes, students, and parents.▬▬▬▬▬ Resources ▬▬▬▬▬Tamir Goodman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamir-goodman-1a231915/Marc Morgan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcmorganfilms/Live Your Dream: The Story of a Jewish Basketball All-Star: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLXVPFZC30 For 30: Sole Man: https://www.netflix.com/watch/80049801?trackId=14277281Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World: https://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Bed-Little-Things/dp/1455570249NIL: https://iconsource.com/everything-about-nil/Zone190: https://zone190.com/AVIV: https://avivsports.com/about/Fabric: https://fabric.space/Sylvan Learning Center: https://www.sylvanlearning.com/LinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tamir-goodman-1a231915_im-thrilled-to-share-that-ive-been-promoted-activity-7282374262961700865-AYN9Saul Garlick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saulgarlick/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cacklemedia/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cacklemediaX: https://x.com/CackleMediaLLCYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CackleMediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cacklemedia/Support the pod when signing up for Descript / SquadCast: https://get.descript.com/transferableskill▬▬▬▬▬ Timestamps ▬▬▬▬▬00:00 Introduction to Transferable Skills00:48 Tamir Goodman's Early Aspirations01:41 Challenges and Overcoming Adversity02:34 The Importance of Coaching and Mentorship04:37 Balancing Faith and Basketball06:50 Time Management and Discipline12:46 Consistency and Its Value13:35 College Basketball Experience15:39 Networking and Long-term Benefits17:42 The Value of Effort and Learning from Mistakes18:38 Professional Basketball Journey and Inventions20:25 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Dyslexia22:44 Positive Mindset and Influences30:32 Leadership and Creativity in Business33:01 Final Thoughts and Reflections

The THINK TANK stops in Massachusetts as we visit with Tom Arria, the AD at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School who shares how he heard about K12 SportsTech and why he decided to join their AD Think Tank! THIS is The Educational AD Podcast!

In this episode we're pleased to host Jeremy Kelstrom from Alaris, a company that continues to make waves in the B2B SaaS space by addressing the needs of youth sports, camps, and club check-in experiences. With a really cool origin story that dates back to their initially winning a business plan competition sponsored by Rolls Royce, Jeremy dives into how Alaris pivoted away from its core signature recognition technology origins to eventually becoming a key player in club management software. Host Pete Moore and Jeremy also discuss how customer feedback led to their significant pivot, challenges and successes of entrepreneurship, and how Alaris is expanding its offerings with innovative booking platforms. Kelstrom shares his valuable insights on product market fit, customer feedback, and the importance of a bottom-up strategy focusing on front-line staff's experiences. When it comes to the power of partnerships for growth, he states, "There are lots of deals we're brought in on where it's said to to the customer, 'Hey, you can't use our software unless you get Alaris.' That's been a testament to our partnerships with the clubs themselves, but also the member management partners." Key themes discussed Innovative Acoustic Signature Technology Market-Driven Tech Success Outdoor Program Growth Catalyst Piggyback SaaS Growth Strategy Member Management Integration Advantage Business Growth and Market Expansion Customer-First, Bottom-Up Approach Naming Inspiration: Alaris Origins A few key takeaways:  1. Pivoting from Core Technology: Jeremy discussed Alaris' journey and the hard decision they had to make to pivot away from their original signature recognition technology to a more market-driven solution. They shifted focus to cater to the specific needs of kids' clubs and youth camps after realizing their core technology wasn't resonating. 2. Importance of Customer Feedback: Jeremy emphasized the significance of listening to customer feedback and market demands. He mentioned the importance of translating customer frustrations into scalable software solutions, highlighting the need for alignment with user needs rather than forcing a paticular technology onto the market that really wasn't needed (or wanted.) 3. COVID's Impact on Business: The pandemic posed a challenging time for Alaris, but it also brought about a positive shift in their focus towards health and outdoor programming. Jeremy noted a surge in interest for youth camps and outdoor activities, which they successfully supported through their software. 4. Growth through Integration and Expansion: Kelstrom explained Alaris' strategy of integrating with major member management systems like ABC Fitness and Club Automation. This expanded their footprint within existing clients and built robust partnerships, making Alaris a mission-critical part of their clients' operations. 5. Strategic Financial Management: Rather than take on significant outside capital and run at a deficit, Alaris has been prudent and methodical in its growth. Jeremy shared that their focus has been on creating the best product experience rather than short-term profitability, contributing to a long term sustainable and profitable business model. Click here to download transcript.  Resources:  Jeremy Kelstrom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremykelstrom/  Alaris: https://www.alaris.cloud/  Prospect Wizard: http://www.theprospectwizard.com Promotion Vault: http://www.promotionvault.com HigherDose: http://www.higherdose.com

In this episode of Let's Talk Leadership, we sit down with Joly Zou, Co-Founder & CEO of Prorizon, to explore her entrepreneurial journey and the leadership lessons she's learned along the way. Joly shares what inspired her to transition from a career in marketing to building a startup focused on sports & youth mental well-being. We dive into the challenges of fundraising, establishing credibility as a young founder, and how technology can be a force for good. She also offers insights on marketing strategy, brand building, and empowering the next generation to thrive under pressure. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a leader in tech, or passionate about mental health, this conversation is packed with valuable takeaways. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The THINK TANK goes to West Virginia to sit down with Sean Blumette. Sean shares how the K12 Sports Tech AD Think Tank has helped connect him with Sports Vendors and Athletic Directors. THIS is The Educational AD Podcast!

In this episode of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, we examine the lasting impact of the NFL Combine on Indianapolis. With the event injecting an estimated $9 million into the local economy, we explore how restaurants like St. Elmo Steakhouse and hotels across downtown are benefiting, and what it means for the city's future as a major sports hub. Plus, the Combine is more than just an athletic showcase - it's a proving ground for Indiana's growing sports technology sector. We sit down with executives from Sportable and SportsTech HQ to discuss how cutting-edge innovations in smart ball technology and data analytics are positioning Indy as a global leader in sports tech. Also in this episode: The future of the NFL Combine in Indianapolis: With its contract expiring in 2026, what's being done to keep the event in town? Arnold Schwarzenegger's Indiana connection: The action star joins forces with Warsaw-based Zimmer Biomet to motivate those with joint pain to seek treatment. Inside Jim Irsay's multimillion-dollar collection: A rare behind-the-scenes look at the Colts owner's legendary artifacts, from historic guitars to cultural treasures. Indy's hotel boom: Over $1 billion in investment is reshaping the skyline, with new luxury hotels fueling the city's convention industry. Fort Wayne FC goes pro: The city's soccer team leaps USL League One, with a new stadium on the horizon. Join us for an in-depth look at the business of sports, healthcare innovation, and Indiana's evolving economic landscape.

What drives innovation and diversity in sports and technology? Albert Basilio, founder of Launchball, is merging these industries to create immersive experiences while championing inclusion. He sheds light on the barriers Latino founders face in securing capital and discusses the power of support networks in entrepreneurial success. Basilio also explores how community colleges and universities can bridge the gap between education and industry, fostering the next generation of diverse sports professionals. Discover how collaboration and community can shape the future of sports and tech.   You'll learn:  How Launchball is shaping the future of work in sports and technology through diversity and inclusion. The challenges Latino founders face in accessing capital—and how to overcome them. Why equity is a priority for PCC in expanding student opportunities. How Launchball enhances participant experiences by merging sports and technology.   About the Guest: Albert Basilio, a 29-year-old Mexican American entrepreneur, is the founder of Launchball, a pioneering company at the intersection of sports and technology. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Albert's journey showcases the challenges and triumphs of leading a Latino-driven startup in the competitive sports tech industry. Albert's commitment to innovation and diversity is exemplified through his efforts to create a more inclusive workplace, reflecting his personal experiences and dedication to empowering underrepresented communities in tech. Engage with us: LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: ewdpulse.com Visit: PCC EWD website   More from Albert Basilio & Launchball Website: https://launchballsport.com/ LinkedIn: @albert-basilio Instagram & TikTok: @launchballsport    Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: scummo@pasadena.edu Want to be a guest on the show? Click HERE to inquire about booking    Find the transcript of this episode here   Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we'd love to hear from you!  

From GPS Tracking to Game-Changing Analytics: The Evolution of Rugby Performance Technology Join us for a fascinating conversation with Tom May, former international rugby player and current Head of Global Rugby at Catapult Sports. In this episode, we dive deep into how cutting-edge technology is revolutionising rugby performance analysis and player welfare. Key discussion points include: * How advanced analytics are transforming rugby from traditional 'brute force' approaches to data-driven decision making * The crucial role of contextualising performance data for meaningful insights * Latest innovations in player safety technology, including smart mouthguards for concussion detection * Unique considerations in women's rugby performance monitoring and injury prevention * The future of sports technology in broadcasting and fan engagement Whether you're a sports scientist, coach, or performance analyst, this episode offers valuable insights into how technology is shaping the future of rugby at all levels. May shares candid perspectives from both sides of the fence - as a former player and now a technology leader - making this a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of sports science and professional rugby. About Tom May A former international rugby player with an illustrious playing career spanning nearly two decades, Tom May brings unique insights from both sides of the professional rugby world. After making his debut in 1999 and playing at the highest levels of the sport, Tom has successfully transitioned into the sports technology sector. Now serving as Head of Global Rugby at Catapult Sports, he combines his extensive playing experience with a passion for advancing rugby through technology and analytics. His dual perspective as both a former player and technology leader makes him uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between traditional rugby culture and its data-driven future. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

This week we explore confidence. I am "arrogant, condescending, think I'm better than everyone and an asshole." I am also "authentic, can be trusted when it matters, loyal, and a leader who is put in the game, meeting, or situation, when it matters." The characteristics I have in my life have led me to be called all of those names quite often. We live in a world that values confidence while also hating and resenting it at the same time I want my kids to be confident and I see that in them. I also see how the world treats that confidence. Three things I've learned about confidence. Part one:

SportsPro's annual 20 ideas to invest in now spotlights the most noteworthy sports technology startups in the industry. In this tech special Sam Carp, Ed Dixon and Steve McCaskill break down this year's list, discuss the findings from the tech investor roundtable, and there's another quiz.The team also discuss why Football Manager 2025 has been cancelled and how the soccer management game is now directly influencing on-field performance and fan engagement, and there's a bit of time to reflect on Super Bowl LIX.In part two, we speak to Trickshot, a member of this year's ideas to invest in now class of 2025, about its technology, its business and development journey, and how it's already working with the likes of the NBA and Australian Open.Content we mentioned:20 sports tech ideas to invest in now – Class of 2025Investor roundtable: Sports tech experts on the next phase of AI, overhyped trends, and the impact of TrumpSports Interactive and Sega cancel Football Manager 2025 video gameRecord ratings, free streaming and Brady in the booth: Super Bowl LIX broadcasting stories to watch out for 

The final Three Things of 2024! This week we discuss: 1. How 2024 was the first "return to normal" for B2B businesses since the Covid "Pandemic" 2. The New Orleans Super Bowl is setting up to be the most expensive of the 2020's 3. Gen Z and the changing of Malcolm Gladwell's "Overstory"

Our good friend Abby Emerson is back to share the latest developments with K12 SportsTech along with an invitation to join their AD Think Tank. Take a listen and then go to k12sportstech.com and find out more! THIS is Wednesday Wisdom on The Educational AD Podcast! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/educational-ad-podcast/support

Other People's Money is our regular series on sports investment, with co-host Matt Rogan, co-founder of Two Circles.Today the subject is sports tech, with our guest Dugald Macdonald co-founder of Sportable.Unofficial Partner is the leading podcast for the business of sport. A mix of entertaining and thought provoking conversations with a who's who of the global industry. To join our community of listeners, sign up to the weekly UP Newsletter and follow us on Twitter and TikTok at @UnofficialPartnerWe publish two podcasts each week, on Tuesday and Friday. These are deep conversations with smart people from inside and outside sport. Our entire back catalogue of 400 sports business conversations are available free of charge here. Each pod is available by searching for ‘Unofficial Partner' on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and every podcast app. If you're interested in collaborating with Unofficial Partner to create one-off podcasts or series, you can reach us via the website.

Sports have evolved into a lucrative investment arena, intertwining with technology and media.  How are savvy entrepreneurs seizing this growing field? In this episode of the Mitlin Money Mindset, Larry Sprung sits down with Andrew Petcash, founding partner at Profluence Capital, to explore the dynamic intersection of sports, technology, and media.  Andrew shares his journey from early entrepreneurial ventures to becoming a venture capital leader, offering invaluable insights into market trends and investment strategies that could guide you through today's complex financial landscape. Listeners will also discover how Andrew's firm is driving innovation in sports and beyond by leveraging strategic investments and building impactful communities for promising startups. Larry and Andrew discuss:  The role of sports as a fertile ground for building companies due to its built-in community, especially in emerging countries like India Why sports, tech, and media are becoming increasingly synergistic and how it affects entrepreneurship Andrew's entrepreneurial journey and how his firm Profluence Capital supports innovative startups and sports tech companies The evolution and future of the sports industry, including the impact of NIL changes and sports betting And more! Resources: Mitlin Financial   The JOY and Productivity Journal by Lawrence Sprung  Connect with Larry Sprung:  LinkedIn: Larry Sprung Instagram: Larry Sprung Facebook: Larry Sprung X (Twitter): Larry Sprung Connect with Andrew Petcash:  LinkedIn: Andrew Petcash Twitter (X): Andrew Petcash Website: Profluence About our Guest: Andrew Petcash is a founding partner at Profluence Capital where they invest in emerging Sports IP and Sports Technology.  Prior to starting Profluence, he founded and exited his college sports media brand, CAI. Andrew has helped Profluence's media properties garner over 15 million social media followers. Andrew graduated from Boston University with a B.S.B.A. concentrating in finance. He was also a captain of the Terriers D1 basketball team and a Patriot League Champion. Disclosure: Guests on the Mitlin Money Mindset are not affiliated with CWM, LLC, and opinions expressed herein may not be representative of CWM, LLC. CWM, LLC is not responsible for the guest's content linked on this site.

Dive into the World of Sports Investment with Kyle Auffray!Hello, fellow investors and sports enthusiasts!I'm thrilled to share the latest episode of our podcast, where we delve into the fascinating world of sports investment with none other than Kyle Auffray. Kyle is the principal of Champion Venture Partners, the CEO (or "Chief Maverick Officer") of Champion Management Company, and a former NFL player. His insights are not to be missed!Key Takeaways from Our Conversation:Innovative Investment Opportunities**: Kyle's fund, Champion Venture Partners, is revolutionizing sports investment by allowing fans and accredited investors to invest in sports teams, leagues, and related industries. Imagine owning a piece of your favorite team!Broadening Access**: Starting January 1, 2025, the fund plans to transition into an interval fund, making it accessible to non-accredited investors. This means anyone can buy and sell shares quarterly, democratizing sports ownership.Diverse Portfolio**: The fund isn't just about teams. It includes investments in sports tech, media, real estate, food and beverage, hospitality, and sports medicine. Think of the Atlanta Braves' ecosystem around The Battery – that's the model!No Typical Fees**: Unlike traditional private equity funds, Champion Venture Partners doesn't charge a carry fee. The founders have skin in the game, aligning their interests with those of the investors.Leadership Lessons**: Kyle shares invaluable leadership insights from his NFL experience, emphasizing the importance of high standards and leading by example. His favorite quote? "You don't always rise to the level of your goals, but you will always fall to the level of your standards."Why You Should Listen:Exclusive Insights**: Learn about the unique opportunities within the sports ecosystem, including investments in teams, leagues, and technology.Future Prospects**: Discover the fund's ambitious plans to grow, expanding its portfolio and ownership stakes.Personal Stories**: Hear Kyle's favorite memories from his NFL days, including catching passes from Tom Brady and stepping onto the field at Lambeau Field.Join us in this exciting journey of democratizing sports investment. Listen to the full episode now and be part of the future of sports ownership!Send us a textConnect with Kip on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kipknippel/Watch Bite-Sized Clips on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@capitalistculture/shorts

In this enlightening episode, we welcome Alireza Shahrestani, Head of Marketing at Sponixtech, a cutting-edge sports technology company.  Alireza delves into Sponixtech's innovative solutions, including immersive replay and remote virtual advertising, which are revolutionizing the sports broadcasting industry. He shares valuable insights on B2B marketing strategies, emphasizing the importance of personalized outreach, building trust, and leveraging LinkedIn for client acquisition. Alireza also discusses the significance of automation in marketing processes and offers advice on staying updated with industry trends.  This episode is a must-listen for marketers and sports industry professionals seeking to enhance their strategies and embrace new technologies.  

Jenna Kurath is the Head of Comcast NBCUniversal Sports Tech and the Vice President of Startup Partnerships at Comcast. Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech finds, funds, and fast-tracks the most innovative startups from around the world to invest in and develop the next generation of technology to change the way we experience sports.  In this episode, Jenna discusses: How her experience as a track and cross country athlete at Baylor University prepared her for leadership and business success; How Comcast is building on its founder Ralph J. Roberts' legacy of innovation through SportsTech; The uniqueness of Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech as an accelerator; What founders should consider in seeking an accelerator; How to build a company that lasts; and How to overcome the common stumbling blocks that prevent start-ups from succeeding in the long-term. Learn more about Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech here. Learn more about Women in Sports Tech here. Get the Ruling Sports Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rulingsports.com/newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Ruling Sports Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.Instagram.com/RulingSports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.Twitter.com/RulingSports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.Facebook.com/RulingSports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/company/RulingSports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@RulingSports

#272. Sometimes kids make the best parents. They can free up the adults to play red light/green light with their friends online. They can figure out their food allergies on their own with the correct AI prompts and a little know-how with iOS 18. All things “kids” is getting more sophisticated, and that includes sports. Parents of children getting into athletics these days have experienced how smart-technology has been a real GameChanger. Speaking of apps, the younger generations have taken our advent of social media and ran with it. They're running away from us with their own ball, but we still deserve some credit for getting them there. This week we ask what is the most manly thing you did recently? Did you handle a hammer drill? Did you slap new lugs onto a wheel hub? Did you experiment with vinegar in your egg-poaching bath? Let us know via the LinkTree below! Until next time, be kind to each other.FTM Merch! - https://www.teepublic.com/user/fromthemiddleLinkTree - https://linktr.ee/fromthemidpodVOICE MAIL! Comment, ask a question, suggest topics - (614) 383-8412Artius Man - https://artiusman.com​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ use discount code "themiddle"

Episode 351 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Meredith McPherron, CEO & Managing Partner at Drive by DraftKings. Legalized sports betting, NIL, transfer portals, college conference re-alignment, streaming, pitch clocks, new kickoffs, the explosion of pickelball, and so much more, there is no denying it, the sports industry is going through a rapid amount of transformation. But the number one area that I'm the most excited about is the explosion of women's sports… from college basketball, WNBA, NWSL, Olympic success, and more… there is so much going on! Thus, I couldn't pick a better person to have a conversation about how women's sports are having a moment than with Meredith and this topic is exactly how we kick off our interview. If you are not familiar with Drive by DraftKings, the firm invests in seed and Series A companies in the SportsTech and Entertainment industry specifically in Gaming, Fandom, and Human Performance. In this episode of our podcast, we cover: * Meredith's background story including being a walk-on two sport Division 1 athlete at Harvard. * Getting her career started in investment banking and consumer products at General Mills and how she made the switch to the tech industry. * Running her own startup called Zipteva, which was early to market and would have been perfect in today's world of NIL deals. * Her role at The Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship at HBS which was the segue into her role as a VC at Glasswing Ventures. * All the details about Drive by DraftKings and what she is targeting for investments, plus its all-star network. * Biggest challenges around building a startup in the sports industry. * And so much more.

In this episode of Building Texas Business, I learned how a missed home run sparked the creation of Rivalry Tech from co-founder Aaron Canopy. He conveyed the early challenges of building their platform from the ground up and initial launches at Rice University football games. Aaron discussed their pivotal strategic partnership with Aramark, which led to expansion into major league venues like the Mets, setting them up for scalable growth. I also discovered how the company used the COVID-19 pandemic to refine its software and form industry relationships. Additionally, the importance of building a dynamic culture centered around transparency, open communication, and employee empowerment was highlighted. Strategic collaborations with Comcast Business assisted in entering new verticals. Aaron provides insightful entrepreneurial lessons through strategic partnerships on values like self-funding phases, team building, and innovation. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS In this episode, I interview Aaron Knape, CEO and co-founder of Rivalry Tech, about his journey from a missed World Series home run to founding a successful food delivery technology company for sports and entertainment venues. Aaron discusses the initial inspiration for Rivalry Tech, which came when his partner, Marshall Law, missed a crucial home run while waiting in line for food during a 2017 World Series game. Aaron and Marshall, neither of whom were tech experts, navigated numerous challenges in the early days, including finding the right tech talent and building a minimum viable product with the help of Craig Zekonty, a former Rice MBA classmate. The episode explores how Rivalry Tech started at Rice University football games and eventually expanded to other venues, including a significant partnership with the New York Mets. Aaron shares how the COVID-19 pandemic allowed Rivalry Tech to focus on fortifying their software and establishing key industry relationships, ultimately positioning themselves for scalable growth. The importance of strategic partnerships is highlighted, including collaborations with Aramark and Comcast Business, which have helped Rivalry Tech expand into new verticals like healthcare and hospitality. Aaron emphasizes the significance of company culture at Rivalry Tech, which includes transparency, open communication, and fostering an environment where employees feel empowered to voice their ideas and criticisms. The episode delves into the lessons learned from strategic partnerships, including the necessity of validating customer needs before development and anticipating market trends. Aaron discusses his philosophy on hiring, emphasizing the "hire slow, fire medium fast" approach and the value of team loyalty during tough times. The episode concludes with a glimpse into Aaron's personal life, including his preference for Tex-Mex over barbecue and what he would do on a 30-day sabbatical. LINKSShow Notes Previous Episodes About BoyarMiller About Rivalry Tech GUESTS Aaron KnapeAbout Aaron TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Chris: In this episode, you will meet Aaron Canopy, CEO and co-founder of Rivalry Tech. Aaron tells a fascinating story about how missing a home run during the World Series led to he and his partner creating a successful technology company in the food delivery industry. Aaron, thanks again for taking time. Welcome to Building Texas Business. Aaron: Yeah, great to be here. Thanks for having me, Chris so let's talk about Rival would use to order the food. And it's our software and it's our hardware that's back in the kitchen, that lets the people back there get that food out faster. So, known for sports and entertainment, we're now in healthcare, fast food, restaurants, hotels, resorts, casinos, wow. Chris: So kind of like the Amazon Prime of food delivery. I think so yeah, it is, I like that. So what was the inspiration to start the company? Aaron: Yeah, so my partner Marshall Law. Actually his full name is Jesse James Marshall Law no way, no joke. Chris: Yeah, that's his real name. Aaron: Parents are comedians. They must have been. Yeah, they're awesome. But he was at Astros-Dodgers World Series back in 2017, sitting out in the left field and ran up to get a hot dog and a Coke with his two boys, and while he was up there waiting in line for 20, 25 minutes, yuli Gurriel just hits a bomb and it's right over his seats and you can go back to the highlight reel and you can see Marshall's empty seats. So he's crushed, right, he's devastated, and that's the whole reason you go to an Astros game to see moments like that. But it was even worse that it was right over his seats. So he texts me that night and says man, we've got to fix this. We've got to like why is there no app for food delivery in a stadium? And so that's when Rivalry Tech was born. Back then we called it seats, but that's when it was born. Chris: Oh, we don't, yeah. So a lot of people start companies where they see gaps in a process or something. Aaron: Yeah. Chris: But that was pretty remarkable. I mean literally leaving the stadium. He sends you a text about this. Aaron: He did and he was adamant. You know my being, you know, skeptic in general. I was like, well, either it's already being done or it's not efficient to do in a stadium. And he said, well, it's got to be done somewhere, so we're going to do it. It's going to be you and me, and he's very charismatic. So he convinced me to join up with him and we started the company a couple months later, Wow so walk us through that then what was it? Chris: you know what was it like and kind of what were the missteps taken to kind of start from scratch on this kind of idea that born out of frustration. Aaron: Yeah, yeah, you know that neither of us are tech founders, right? Neither of us are tech guys. So we had another hurdle to cross. You know, marshall had done some internet research and found you could build an app for $3,000. And we laugh to this day we look at the millions of dollars we've spent on the platform. So we might have been a little fooled into thinking it was going to be easier than it has been. But we started by, you know, trying to understand what the real need was, trying to just kind of map it out. And then we had to find a tech guy who was going to build this for us, right, because Houston's got a lot of tech talent now, a lot more than it did seven years ago when we started the company. But seven years ago it was tough and all the tech talent was being utilized by oil and gas and healthcare. You know, it's not like the West Coast where you've got a lot of talent. So we set out to find tech talent and that's where I went to. One of my old rice MBA classmates got in Craig's a canty who I knew had been a developer in his past life. He had his own successful company called Pino's Palate that he had built and grown and scaled, and so I said, hey, help me find a tech guy. And so we looked for two, three months and finally Craig comes to me and he says I found him, it's me. So great. Aaron: So Craig got back into startup life and that was probably one of the best things that happened to us, because he's very organized, very methodical and he's not just a coder, he's an architect, and so we got really lucky early on that we weren't like a typical tech startup where we're just writing code and it's kind of all thrown together. We were building enterprise grade, minimum viable product in the early days, right. So we kind of had a leg up in those early days and Craig is also co-founder, so he joined the company, really helped us get it off the ground. And then we went to work. We went to work and started out at Rice University football with our wives handing out flyers, our kids and brothers and friends were delivering the food into the stands and I was running a laptop just manually assigning orders and it was definitely a minimum viable product back at the time. But Rice had faith in us and we did them right and delivered a good first product and we learned a lot from that experience. Wow. Chris: So yeah, and it's grown from there. Aaron: We've grown from there. We then went, we got the Skeeters now the Space Cowboys to sign up with us, right, and then we had our big break. Then we got really lucky. We're building software the whole time, we're learning from Rice and Skeeters. And we had really good opportunity to be put in front of one of our old mutual friends, jamie Roots oh, sure, and president of the Texans at the time, and it was at a pitch event and it was funny. I'd never met Jamie. I didn't know him prior to this and he was sitting in my chair at my table at some point and I didn't recognize him. And I walked up to grab my bottle of water and Marshall's wife, melissa, knows him and she said, hey, aaron, this is Jamie. And I'm like, hey, what's up man? And she goes no, this is Jamie Roots. And I'm like, oh. And so we had a great 15-minute conversation and he said, man, I really like what I'm hearing. I like your ethos, I like the aggressiveness. We have an issue with the fan experience at NRG Stadium. I want you to come down and meet with Aramark and let's give it a go. So he got us into the stadium and I remember walking in and meeting with Aramark and Jamie and I won't name names. But the Aramark guy walks in the in the boardroom and he sits down and he goes mobile ordering is BS. It'll never work at scale and in stadiums. And I thought, man, we're done, yeah, we're toast. And Marshall leans across the table and says, well, that's because you're doing it wrong. So we got a kick out of that. They gave us a shot and we did well. We had a few thousand seats we were serving. We showed them that it could be done logistically, we could make money off of it and that we had a good product. So from there we started to scale and and built a really good relationship with Aramark, one we maintain to this day. And you know the sports side. We work with them at other pro stadiums. We work with them at Minute Maid. Right now we work with them at Fenway Park. The Boston Red Sox, the New York Mets. Those are some key Aramark partnerships with us. Chris: Wow, that's a great story, fortuitous, like most, if you're working hard and you get that lucky break and take advantage of it. The combination of hard work and luck sometimes is a really good thing. Aaron: It is. It helps, and we were astute enough at the time to understand that there is a bigger problem. The bigger problem wasn't that a fan wanted a beer or a hot dog in their seat their seat. It's that the operators the arrow marks of the world were having trouble keeping up with that unfettered convenience. We'll call it right, okay. All of a sudden, you go from lines, which naturally throttle your demand, to cell phones and everybody can order as much as they want, whenever they want, and they all expect it to show up in two minutes. So we learned that the operational challenges were the real problem and that's where we turned our focus. So now, when you look at our platform, it's not just about delivering food, it's about streamlining that entire process. Yeah, if the kitchen can't keep up, then it doesn't matter. Right? That's exactly right. Yeah, that's exactly right. So building in the controls, the throttles, the reporting, the communication, all that stuff's baked into our platform. Chris: So a couple of things that come to mind as you talk about what sounds like a lot of focus in Energy One on product development, software and then trying to prove the concept. What did you all do to try to finance that? Did you have to go out and raise money? Were you doing it yourself? Because most startups and entrepreneurs face that conundrum and there's a number of different ways to handle it. Aaron: What did y'all do at Robbery, at the beginning we were self-funded, we were self-financed, we were bootstrapping it. I had a good job. I was president of a manufacturing company. Marshall has like three, four other companies, he's a serial entrepreneur and Craig was running Pino's Pallet. So we all had good jobs and we were able to fund the beginning parts of the company and ultimately it got to a point where really two things happened. One, I was spending more than 40, 50 hours a week on rivalry tech, and we saw that we were getting enough traction that it needed full-time focus, and so as a group we decided, okay, it was time for one of us to leave, and that was me. So I left my job and we financed a salary to get it going and do some fundraising, and we raised our first round of funding from Venture Capital probably about a year into operations, when we really wanted to start scaling, and that was interesting as well. That was a fun experience, but now that's how we got it started Just a lot of sweat, blood, tears and a lot of our own money. Chris: Yeah, that's a common theme for anyone kind of starting something from the ground up. Aaron: Yeah it is, and it's interesting when you do it that way, and I'll give credit to know when you have an idea and you want to start a company. You've got about a thousand ideas. Here's what it should be, and Craig was really good at saying, ok, but we can only afford to build three of those things out of the thousand things. What are the three things we really need to prove? What's going to help us get to that next round of funding or what's going to help us get that next customer? And it's not all the super convenient stuff right. It's not about sending you a text message when you're within a mile of the stadium. That's not going to generate revenue. So we really had to spend time and figure out what are the most most important things to build, and that's how we got the first version of the platform out right. We just wanted to prove that, a people would use it. B people would spend money to use it. And C we could help the customers make more money. And that was it right. So that's how you get to a platform where you have to have your kids deliver food. Chris: I'm sure that was great. Yeah, they enjoyed that a bit. They did, they had a blast. So then you know, the next, I guess, issue you face, I'm guessing is, as that success is coming, you've got to start building your team to service the customers that you're bringing in. Yeah, how did y'all go about doing that and kind of going through adding key people in the right spots at the right time? Aaron: You know that was a really interesting journey for us. You know, at the beginning we knew it was mostly about tech, like we had to build the technology and the software. We did hire an operations guy in January of 2020. It was a great time to hire a field ops guy, no-transcript. And so you know, at that stage we were really trying to figure out where we scale and how we scale, and we got to go hire all these operations, people et cetera. But then something happened in March of 2020 that changed the course of live sports and entertainment. Just a little bit. Chris: Right. Well, our good friend Jamie. I remember him saying at the time it's a terrible time to be in the mass gathering business. Aaron: That's exactly right. So you know, when COVID shut everything down, it was really funny we were actually in an investor meeting. It was, I think it was March 11th, 2020. And we're talking about raising a series A and we're going to raise some more money, and then the phones kind of start buzzing and vibrating and everyone's looking down and they're like, oh man, the rodeo just canceled and or just shut down. And then a few minutes later it was like, oh, the Rockets have postponed, you know, their season already. And or no, it was the Astros. I'm sorry, the Astros postponed their season, start dating all of this. And so we said, okay, well, maybe we shouldn't have this investment meeting right now. And that really kind of set the stage for, quite honestly, was a better growth phase for us, and I actually give COVID not that it deserves any, but I give it credit for turning us into the company we are today. We took COVID and took that time to build the software we really wanted to build, if that makes sense. So, rather than splitting resources you know we had precious resources at the time rather than splitting it between operations and marketing and all the other things you're normally spending money on, we put it all into tech and by then we had established a good relationship with Aramark. We had established a good relationship with the teams like the Texans, like the Astros, and we had established a good relationship with Major League Baseball through some of our other connections at Aramark. And so we just spent all that time in isolation talking to these other people who were in isolation. So, mlb, they became really good, almost friends, and said here's what hasn't been built, here's why you don't see it at every stadium. And we listened, and so we somehow managed to raise almost $2 million during COVID throughout 2020 and just put it all towards the software Wow. And so we were able to come out of 2020 better funded, but also with a product that MLB signed off on it we launched at the New York Mets in 2021, coming out of COVID. So that really helped us allocate those tech resources and then we could start. And, if you think about it, covid also gave us a really nice kind of gradual increase in activity with operations. So we hired one ops guy, because ballparks are only at 10% capacity, sure, and they were at 30, then 50, and then 100. So we were able to scale. It was a lot better runway than just getting hit with it all at once yeah, I guess it makes sense right. Chris: You were able to kind of that hiring process that we kind of started talking about you were able to ease into that right and not have to throw a lot of investment at it because of exactly the ramp up exactly and we were able to take our time and find good people. Aaron: You know, culture is huge for us. Startup life is a grind. Startup life in live sports and entertainment is probably worse because it's a lot of nights, it's a lot of weekends. It's going to happen, whether you want it to or not, you know. I mean, the schedule is the schedule and so we had to find those people who, you know, kind of thrive on that life. They like going and the insanity and the chaos around. You know, trying to serve food to 80,000 people, you know, on any given Sunday. Chris: Oh, I can't imagine right. The other thing, though, that you know, I hear from your lessons and the advantages you took during, you know, kind of the COVID shutdown, if you will, was you really and this applies at any time but the importance and value that you gain by listening to your customer? And we have what were the issues, what did they like, what would they change if they could? And then you were one listening and you took that back to the developers or maybe they were in the meeting too to make those adaptations and modifications. Aaron: Yeah, yeah, exactly. It really helped highlight a lot of those bigger challenges right, where we got to understand, okay, well, we did have the good fortune of working through Texan season in 2019 and we saw the issues, and then COVID just allowed us to sit face-to-face from the customer when they weren't distracted, when Aramark and the Texans weren't distracted by the season. They're just sitting at home literally and let's talk through it and we're going to build it for you guys. So, yeah, it really helped put a magnifying glass in without the chaos, and that made all the difference, right, because we have a lot of competitors who just build on the fly and they're just trying to build and learn and they're getting beat up every day and that, and they're getting beat up every day and that's the advantage we have. Chris: That's great. Advert Hello friends, this is Chris Hanslick, your Building Texas business host. Did you know that Boyer Miller, the producer of this podcast, is a business law firm that works with entrepreneurs, corporations and business leaders? Our team of attorneys serve as strategic partners to businesses by providing legal guidance to organizations of all sizes. Get to know the firm at boyermiller.com, and thanks for listening to the show. Chris: Well, you mentioned culture, and I definitely don't want to gloss over that. Couldn't agree more. I mean, culture is everything. What have you done at Robbery to build the culture that you appear to be proud of, and how would you describe that culture? Aaron: with grit. I mean a lot of people use that term as part of their core values, but for us it's. We really make sure, whoever sitting across the table, they know that this isn't an eight-to-five job, that this is going to be some nights and weekends and you may have a thought at 2 am and you know Marshall and I talk at 2 am all the time. We don't expect that from everybody, but hey, just know that you don't have to answer that 2 you in text, but if you want to, that's okay. But we've got a really fun culture. I mean, look, first of all, we're doing a lot of fun things. I mean whether we're at sports or, you know, I mean resorts. We do the Margaritaville up in Conroe. I mean there's worse places to go to have to do work, right. I mean we even enjoy going down to the hospitals. We're at Methodist in the Med Center. We've got some robotics stuff. It's just a lot of fun. And it's really fun to go into areas where, you know, people aren't using a lot of technology on the food and beverage side, and so we really focus just on people who are creative and they like to question and they like to come up with answers or solutions, you know we don't have. We try not to have any of those barriers where they feel like they can't approach me with an idea or criticism or feedback. You know, I think part of our success has been allowing everybody in the company to have a voice and there's no such thing as a stupid idea or a bad idea. You never know where it's going to go right, and so you know we like that everybody can feel safe just throwing it out there, right, I mean? And we've had some crazy ideas come across the come across the whiteboard, and some of them have gone on to become parts of the product and some we've tucked away and some we've giggled at and erased, you know yeah. And then we've got definitely a culture of you know, just a very candid culture, right? I'm trying to think of what the phrase is, but our candor is very important. So, you know, we have a lot of meetings where we'll share ideas and opinions and then we'll fight about those ideas and opinions and voices will get raised and pulses will increase and language will be thrown around. But at the end of the day, everybody does it respectfully and you can scream and yell at your partner all you want, but we always make up and we realize it's coming from a place of trying to better the company. Chris: Yeah, Sounds like transparency, but also in a safe environment, right. Aaron: It is. Chris: Yeah, the other thing that sounds like you've created within that culture is one that fosters innovation you talked about. People are encouraged to bring their ideas to the table. Yeah, their ideas to the table? Yeah, how? I mean? Are there things that are meetings you have to, or challenges you present to people so that they know that innovation is respected and welcomed? Aaron: Yeah, we do. I mean we have weekly meetings where we kind of go through everything from the tech roadmap to the operational roadmap to sales and marketing, and we just talk through what we're seeing in the market, try to identify the gaps, right. So we're really trying to teach everybody in the company look for those gaps. Where are we seeing, you know, areas where there's no solutions? And so I mean we love whiteboards. I mean if I could have every surface in the office be whiteboard, it would be whiteboard. I mean, put it up on the whiteboard and go and let's start playing with it. And we've gone through some sessions where we've covered a whole room and come up with new ideas or better ways to execute. Right, I mean we're dealing with, you know, a stadium or a hospital. They're not simple organisms, they're very complex. And then when you get back into the food and beverage service side and fragmented technology stacks that they're using in the back and how do you tie it all together? And then you got to pull in the different stakeholders the hospitals, the aramarks, the employees. It becomes a lot of moving pieces and within that is opportunity, yeah, and so we spend a lot of time just talking through you know where and how can we do this? Chris: so let's let's talk a little bit about you. Know you start in sports missing the home run of the World Series. You mentioned this and alluded to it earlier. You've grown in sports. While you still do. That's not your primary area. Tell us a little bit about you. Know how you moved into health care, as an example. Aaron: And what are some? Chris: of the innovative things that you're actually doing, that when people show up, you know hopefully not at a hospital, but at a resort or or something that they could see to know that this is your technology in play. Aaron: Yeah, so sports and entertainment was our focus market for a very long time and we realized that the needs existed everywhere. Right, the problem that we were solving wasn't just at large stadiums, so large operators like Aramark, they operate in a whole host of other industries, right, like we talked about hospitality or leisure hospitals, etc. And so we knew we wanted to expand into those other verticals at some point. And we got really lucky again where and you can obviously tell Aramark's been a great partner throughout all this Right, they called us out of the headquarters up in Philly and it was really funny. I'd gotten to know the guy well and he says, hey, great job in sports, you've solved a lot of issues for us. You've built a great platform. Can you do it in other business verticals? Could you do it in health care? And we said, absolutely, yeah, we've been wanting to for a long time. What are you looking for? And he goes well, we've got a customer down in Houston and you can hear the papers kind of flipping through. You ever heard of MD Anderson? Yeah, yes, I've heard of MD Anderson. He goes. Yeah, they have a need down there. We want you to go look at it, and so worked through some of that. But what ended up happening is we actually got in front of Houston Methodist and their innovation team is really great, really employee focused, really patient focused. But they wanted us to focus on putting in our mobile platform for the employees because you think about it a doctor or a nurse, 30-minute lunch breaks you don't want them waiting in line for 15, 20 minutes, right. So we saw that as our opening. We knew we wanted to expand here. We have a customer pulling us into this other market, right. So that's how we got started. We built the platform for hospitals at first, but the really cool thing about it is that that same platform applies to every other market in the world, right? Sports is unique. It's a four-hour event, five-hour event. You turn it on, you turn it off. A day or two, a couple days a week, depending on a baseball home stand football once a week, exactly, but a hospital, a hotel, fast food, I mean 365 days a year, sometimes 24 hours a day. So we built this new platform for them. And let's use Houston Methodist as an example. So we've got our mobile at all. And let's use Houston Methodist as an example. So we've got our mobile at all eight of their locations in Houston. We have our kiosks at all eight of their locations, so you can walk up to a coffee shop, order a coffee at one of our kiosks and the barista will make it. You don't have to wait in line and then we're doing some really fun stuff. So, like in the Med Center, we are integrated with a big robot made by ABB Robotics, and this thing makes your food from fresh ingredients to. It actually cooks it, it puts it in a bowl and puts it in a locker for you. That robot didn't have any way to communicate with the guest or for the guest to communicate with the food preparation system, right, which normally is a person behind a counter you talk to Right, and it didn't have any way to communicate with Aramark in the back. Hey, here's the reporting for the day. Here's what I've made. Well, we do all of that, and so we essentially said look, just let's and to oversimplify, just run a line from the robot into our platform and we'll take care of the rest. And that's what we we did. So you can order food from our app and the robot will make your food. It'll tell you when it's ready. It'll tell you what locker it's in. You walk up and you scan a little code we give you, and your locker just opens up, and then we do all the reporting for the customer at the end of the night as well, so they can see what you know delivery or make times were, etc. Now we're getting into delivery. Robotics have the just, so we're controlling that order fulfillment process again from the very beginning to the very end, right, Whether it's a human or a robot. So it's pretty fascinating. Chris: Sounds like I'm still trying to wrap my head around a robot cooking in the kitchen. Yeah, it's pretty cool. Aaron: It's their induction cookers. They look like concrete mixers and so it's tossing these, this pasta or this chicken, and like a concrete mixer and it's cooking it. So it's pretty neat. That's amazing. Chris: So you know clearly. You mentioned AeroMark several times and, based on the story, I can see that they're a key strategic partner for you, as are some others. What are some of the advice you could give others about how to cultivate those relationships that are so central to your business? Aaron: So I mean, Aramark was an obvious one for us in the early days because they were the gatekeeper to a lot of our stadiums. And the other part of that is we knew we didn't want to go door to door knocking on different stadiums' doors. They are in hundreds of stadiums, so build for one major customer, make them happy and they'll sell for you and they'll take you along right, and they'll take us along. That's exactly right. So we were very intent and strategic on a relationship like that and we've worked with Aramark's competitors as well. We work with a lot of them and it's that same mentality, right. But then, you know, we started looking for other partnerships and this was a really interesting one where Comcast Business, comcast Sports Tech, has, or Comcast Business has, a sports tech accelerator and we were asked to join a couple of years ago and we thought we might have been a little too big. We said, well, we've grown, we don't know that we need a tech accelerator. But they said, look, we're trying to give our partners in the space some more developed platforms and their partners are like PGA Tour, wwe, nascar, and so we signed up with. But we were very upfront with them. We said sports is not our focus market anymore. We want to work with Comcast business and they came back to us and said absolutely We'll intro you to the mothership big Comcast, join our sports tech accelerator. So we did, and great relationships out of that right We've. We now work with PGA Tour. We've got some agreements with them, working with them in a few locations, but Comcast Sports Tech did exactly what they said they would and I'll respect them forever for this, because you never know, right, like, do they really have any pull with the mothership Whatever? And so we are now fully ingrained in the Comcast business and what's called Comcast Smart Solutions, where they sell internet right, they sell connectivity and it's a commodity, but what they're using us for and a few other companies are where the value add wrappers right. So we're working with an NHL team. Right now Comcast is going to provide the Wi-Fi, the access points, but hey, guess what NHL team? We also provide mobile kiosk back of house software. There's other companies doing digital signage, iot, and so now they've got this whole ecosystem that they're taking out to their customers and we work with them, not just pro sports, but major franchise chains with 30,000 restaurants, more major hospitals, hotel chains with thousands of hotels, and so now we start going in and we've got this really strong partnership with a major player. And they had a lot of people knocking on the door and we just took the same approach Build, listen to them first, build what they want, build what their customers want, and they'll take you wherever you want to go. So that's great. It's not without its challenges, right. It's a slow process. You're building something for a multi-billion dollar company like a Comcast or an Aramark. You don't get sales overnight. You've got to dig in and you've got to understand that it's going to take time and investment. But when that flywheel gets spinning it's sure hard to slow down. Chris: Yeah, that's great, yeah, but you're right. I mean we talk about it. It doesn't happen overnight. You've talked maybe a little bit about it, but I think we also learned. I'm sure there were some mistakes made, setbacks that you and your team learned from. That also helped you later become as successful as you have been 100%. Anything that comes to mind that stands out as one of the bigger ones. Yeah. Aaron: You know, in software it can be challenging because people, customers, will just say, hey, I want this, I want it to do this, and the proper answer is do you really need it? Do you really need it to do that Other than a? Chris: programmer going sure, I can do that, yeah, and they will right. Aaron: And you could spend all the money you want. And I remember this isn't a major mistake, fortunately. But I remember we were at an NFL team and it was a customer and they said we want the ability for the app to, or the users to, pay with cash. And we're like why do you want to pay with cash? We're digital, we don't need, and they're like we have to have it. You have to have the ability to say this was a cash payment and then reconcile the end of the night. And we were like and this was a week before the season, and so we hired a couple of extra developers, we spent I don't know 50 grand to add this cache functionality. And we go back a week later and we're proud of it and we're like check it out, and you know what the team said oh man, we decided afterwards we didn't need it anyway. I wanted to strangle them. Aaron: I was going man, we jumped through hoops. You could have told us, right, yeah, you could have told us, like, when you decided you made the decision, but here we go and we built it. So you know, in the early days of a company you're really eager to please and you do have to kind of take a step back and say, look, we can't build it all, you'll go broke or you'll build need and you'll never use. That goofy function is still sitting out there somewhere attached to our platform, right just turned off, yeah like an appendix right. We don't need it and it's just there forever. That's probably one of the biggest things we learned in the early days. You know we've learned as well that I mean you've got to keep your head on a swivel for new developments in the market. You've always got to be looking at what's coming down the pipeline. You know we probably erred a little bit and not getting into kiosks earlier. When COVID hit, we thought no one's going to, no one wants a kiosk, they don't want to touch anything. Right, remember the early days we were fogging everything and the reality is kiosks are probably the biggest thing out there right now and it's a natural extension of our platform. We had the time to do it and we're getting in the game and getting in the game a good way and you know, to be fair, it's we're not worried about that first mover advantage. We've got a lot of mistakes from our competitors that we're learning from and gaining ground very quickly. But you do learn to start looking farther down the road. Right, we were maybe looking a year down the road. You've got to be looking two years down the road. What's really coming down? So now, if you look at what we're focused on biometrics, computer vision there's a lot of components that are on our roadmap or on our current integrations that we're building, that you won't even recognize our platform six months from now. Chris: Wow, that sounds pretty cool. Yeah, it's fun. So while we have some time, let's turn and talk a little bit about leadership. As you said, you kind of were the first to really step in full time. You were running a company before. How would you describe your leadership style and why do you think that style has been successful in helping Ravelry grow to the company? It's been. Aaron: Yeah, we like to hire people who take a lot of initiative on their own, who aren't afraid to go out and do something and maybe make a mistake and try it again. So you know, in the startup world or in the tech world there's a and this applies to a lot of places but you know it's hire slow and fire fast. And we hire slow and we'll fire like medium fast. You can't make everybody think they're going to get fired for making a mistake. My leadership style I'm not a micromanager. I very much. When we hire people, I say look, I'm not going to give you a book to tell you how to do your job. We're going to write this book together because we're breaking new ground every day and we're learning something new every day and I'm not going to pretend to know everything. So I'm hiring you because you're smarter than me. Hopefully. You're known for what you do and do it well. And if I'm going to teach you anything, it's going to be how this company operates and where you can find your best fit and your best purpose. You know, if it's a salesperson, where and how do they make their best fit as a salesperson. You know, if it's a salesperson, where and how do they make their best fit as a salesperson. So you know, that's been my style it's give them some autonomy, give them some ability to go out and make it their own and if you hire slow, you've got a good feel for the person, you know what they're going to be capable of and if you're comfortable with them. So that's how I've tried to lead the company. We've got you know, it hasn't always worked we've had people come and we've had people go. And then we've got some people who, just, you know, they grind it out every day for this company and they're always thinking of new ideas and their days. You go, man. You know when is this guy going to leave me? He's so good, he's bound to go find something better. And they don't and they stay and and I think that speaks to the culture and the loyalty and the environment that we've built- Well, that's certainly true, especially for those high performers. Chris: If they're staying, the reason they're staying is because of the team that they feel like they're a part of, which goes to the culture. Aaron: It does. Yeah, it does, and I'll share a little bit more on the intimate side. We're a tech company, right, and you have your ups and your downs you always do and teams come, teams go, covid happens, covid goes away. We've been through times in our history where we, you know, you're strapped for resources, you're strapped for capital, right, because you're raising venture dollars, sure, and we've let people go who have said can we work for free, like, can we still keep doing our job? We know you can't, you know, afford to have this big team. And you know, I mean I get emotional when I think about that. Sure, that we have people and it's been multiple people who've done that and you bring them back. And the goal is to bring them back. And I mean you can't buy loyalty like that. No, that's not something money buys. And so, you know, if we, as we grow, you know I know that would get harder to keep that part of the culture, but man, it's the early days. If you can just capture that magic of the stress and the trenches and have responses like that from all your employees, you know you can go out and teach a pretty good course. Chris: Yeah, yeah, absolutely Well, and get to your point. I think you know one of the goals of a company should be hire really good people, give them good opportunities, autonomy, training so that they become really good so good that they're marketable anywhere else in your industry or others, but also have a culture that's so good they don't want to leave. Yeah, Right, and if you can hit on those two things, man, it's like the key to the kingdom. Aaron: It is, it is and those people are priceless and you know our goal is down the road. If there's a big exit or something like that, I mean loyalty gets rewarded right, and you don't forget those times, because those are meaningful for business owners. Chris: Very good. That's great, man. It's great. What a cool story. I mean like seven years, yeah, it has been. So let's, we'll turn it a little bit on the lighter side. What you know growing up, what was your first job? Aaron: My dad's a large animal vet and so I was shoving the proverbial you know what. So, yeah, I worked at his vet clinic quite a bit, so it was a lot of painting, a lot of fence building a lot of you know cutting hay out in the pasture. Chris: So I was a farm boy. That's funny. So my dad was a primarily large animal and there was a big pile behind the stalls and that was one of the jobs and his partner's sons and I, yeah, I could totally relate. Exactly, that's too funny. Well, you know, not necessarily the best segue from shoveling that stuff, but I'm going to ask you do you prefer Tex-Mex or barbecue? Aaron: oh, tex-mex. All right, tex-mex. Yeah, you know it's. I've lived around the world and I you know, I know it's not exactly true, but I mean, it seems like you can find barbecue or barbecue adjacent foods almost everywhere, man, tex-mex, you just cannot find it. I mean, it's just you. There's tex-mex everywhere, but it's not Tex-Mex unless it's here. Chris: I think that's a pretty true statement. Yeah, and then the last question. I'm curious to know if you could take a sabbatical for 30 days, where would you go and what would you? Aaron: do. Oh man, if I could take a sabbatical for 30 days, you know I would go back. So we spent a lot of time as a family over in Europe and in France and in small towns. So you know there's just a, it's a part of that world. You know, if you asked me where I would go you ask a lot of people where they would go in France they'd say Paris. Paris is okay. I like the small towns, I like the history, the quietness that you get in a lot of those places. You know rivers and streams running through it. So I just found that part of the world to be especially peaceful. And if it's a sabbatical, you know that's where I prefer to be. Good food yeah, can't beat it. Good wine yeah, really good wine yeah, can't leave that part out. Chris: No, not at all. Well, aaron, this has been an amazing conversation, love and your story that you and Marshall and others have created. So thanks again for taking the time. Yeah, appreciate it, chris. Thank you, Special Guest: Aaron Knape.

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