New technology from startup ventures is transforming the global sports industry. This Startup Series has introduced over 300 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.
This series is supported by Stadia Ventures. If you are a sports technology startup looking for strategic investors, we recommend checking out their upcoming accelerator programs.
Company name: TeamSafe™
Founder(s): Steven Horwitz
Headquarters: Rockwall, Texas
1. What is your elevator pitch?
We all assume that when we drop off our children at sports practice that there is someone present who knows what to do in an emergency. What if that is not the case? The TeamSafe™ data collection and communication system provides coaches and parents immediate access to the lifesaving information and communication necessary in those first 5 – 7 minutes.
2. Problem & Solution
The Problem: Lack of Preparedness and the assumption that someone will know what to do. Who has the EpiPen® and how do you use it? Two kids collide – should they be removed from play? When is it safe to return them to play?
It is a hot day. Do the coaches know what to do in the heat?
Nearly all of the causes of death in sport are influenced by the care [provided] in the first five to seven minutes. There are rarely, if ever, sideline medical personnel at youth sports league/club games and practices. The best emergency response times are seven to nine minutes. Even pediatricians are unfamiliar with up-to-date concussion guidelines, so can you really expect your child’s coach to know what to do?
The Solution: TeamSafe™ is a safety management platform designed for the lay person that is easy to implement and use. Parents securely enter emergency contact and medical information for their child. The roster of the team populates the coach’s phone with athlete emergency contact/medical information; a team specific emergency action plan; concussion remove/return decisions are recorded, tracked, and communicated in real time; and emergency care instructions at your fingertips. Coaches receive education via our youth sports safety certification course.
3. Market – your target market and the overall market
Our main clients are teams, leagues, championships and sport organizations. According to WinterGreen Research, the youth sports market has grown to $15 billion with over 45 million participants in the U.S. alone.
The Aspen Institute Project Play Survey of Parents reported that more than “87 percent of parents worry about the risk of injury, with concussion cited as the injury of most concern. A quarter of all parents have considered keeping their children from playing a sport due to fears about head injuries.”
The long-term vision of TeamSafe™ is to take on these 40 million U.S. participants and grow globally.
4. Business Model – how do you make money?
We have a B2B business model and generate our revenue from selling the product to youth sports organizations.
In addition, we are pursuing sponsoring companies (Sporting Goods, Apparel, Medical Provider, Insurance Provider) as well.
Data acquisition may become our biggest revenue generator as eventually we will have the largest youth sports injury database of exactly what happens on the field of play and what are the most important metrics to measure so we can keep our kids safe while we watch them play.
5. Management Team – with titles
Steven Horwitz, DC, Founder & CEO
1996 United States Olympic Team Medical Staff, Former Chairman Maryland Council on Physical Fitness, Master's athlete
Kaleb Valdez- CSO (Chief Strategic Officer) - A serial entrepreneur with start-up experience with 12 different companies in 7 countries
Kelly Taylor- COO - 20 years as an emergency services manager, parent of 4 sports kids
Randy Naidoo, MD, Medical Advisor - Pediatrician, University of Miami Hurricanes football walk-on, Father of 3 youth athletes.
Ben Gonzalez, MD, Medical Advisor - 24 years active military service and was the chief of the busiest trauma center during the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom
Alejandro Zea, Paramedic, Medical Advisor - Mixed Martial Arts Champion, High School Wrestling Coach
6. Financial Needs: are you currently looking for investment? Have you raised investment already? If so, who are your investors?
We have raised $220,000 USD to date with which we have designed and developed the app and released it to the App Store and Google Play Store.
We are looking to raise $380,000 by end of 2017 / first part of 2018 to continue development and expand our sales and marketing efforts.
