New technology from startup ventures is transforming the global sports industry. This Startup Series has introduced over 200 startup companies in the sports technology space to a broader audience by allowing Founders of promising new ventures to tell their story and pitch their idea. Feel free to submit your startup’s answers to the below questions or contact us if you know of a startup that should be considered for inclusion in this series.
Company name: Pitchero
Founder(s): Mark Fletcher and Jon Milsom
Headquarters: Leeds, United Kingdom
1. What is your elevator pitch?
Providing online infrastructure for 70,000 sports teams and social content for more than 1.4 million active individuals, Pitchero is the largest digital network for amateur sport in the UK. Inspired by a mission to make grassroots sport easier to run and more fun to take part in, last year the brand launched the innovative Pitchero Play platform, enabling teams to grow their online communities by capturing and sharing instant match highlights in real-time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGNj0AG-PXA
2. Problem & Solution
Amateur and grassroots teams have traditionally lacked the digital platform to organise and grow their community. Pitchero provides the necessary infrastructure to do so with its innovative club management tool that enables clubs to track membership, manage teams and collect payments via a bespoke website. There is also, an overwhelming appetite for grassroots video content yet no platform consistently provides high quality footage. Pitchero Play delivers this capability, and through a recent broadcast deal with the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League, will deliver high quality match footage and highlights for the first time to the loyal clubs and supporters at this level of non-league football.
3. Market – your target market and the overall market
Pitchero currently focus on the UK grassroots and semi-professional football, rugby union, rugby league, hockey, cricket and netball markets. With the introduction of Pitchero Play, there is particular focus on the 11-18yr old demographic and the need to make their grassroots experience as positive as possible via engaging content. Pitchero’s ambition is to breakthrough into the global soccer market.
4. Business Model – how do you make money?
Pitchero’s primary revenue stream is club subscriptions, where a clubs pays a monthly fee to use the service. Other revenue streams include fee commission, sponsorship and retail partnerships.
5. Management Team – with titles
Mark Fletcher, CEO & Co Founder
Jon Milson, CTO & Co Founder
Alex Kaye, Product Manager
Jennifer Armstrong, Marketing Manager
6. Anything else you want the audience to know about your venture?
Pitchero has recently received £3.1million in Series A funding from ICM, a global fund manager who have now become minority stakeholders in the business. The funding will be used to aid the expansion into the global soccer market.
Pitchero will release a new video app ahead of the 2017/18 football season giving every fan the opportunity to record and tag live match events.
