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: Sports Solutions LLC
Founder(s): Charles E Norman II
Headquarters: Chino Hills, CA
1. What is your elevator pitch?
The current practice of collegiate student-athletes attending combines, showcases, and viewing tournaments hoping to “be discovered”, by college coaches is a dated and inefficient process for the desired goal which is to find the “right fit” college for the student-athlete. Sports Solutions LLC. created SaaS-based AthleticSOS™ to give student-athletes and parents a technical tool to research colleges based on academic, athletic, financial, and campus fit, while allowing high school and/or club coaches the ability to assist them by providing credibility and initial outreach to college coaches using a separate tool within the system. This approach minimizes the frustrations, pressure, and uncertainty for all involved, including college coaches.
2. Problem & Solution
The desire to gain exposure to college coaches drives and dominates high school sports. Instead of enjoying the high school athletic experience student-athletes are jumping from school to school and club to club, and high school and club coaches are under extensive pressure from parents to “do more” to give student-athletes the best possible chance of receiving an athletic scholarship opportunity. While there are numerous online and offline services to help promote student-athletes athletically, none of them connects and allow the student athlete’s family and the coaches that know them personally to collaborate in finding the “best fit” college opportunity both academically and athletically.
3. Market – your target market and the overall market
Our target markets are high school athletic departments, travel and club sports programs, and individual student-athlete families. We are specifically targeting athletic programs that desire to improve their recruiting process and results by using technology. There are approximately 7 million student-athletes participating in sports at US high schools.
4. Business Model – how do you make money?
AthleticSOS™ is available as a SaaS model for institutional and organizational sports teams on a variable pricing scale based on the number of athletes and desired support and service level. A ‘Solo’ program is available to individual families at a set price. We also offer an API program to existing youth sports-oriented businesses and recruiting services.
5. Management Team – with titles
Charles E Norman II, CEO/Founder
Craig Rice, CIO
Chas Norman, Marketing / Partnerships
6. Financial Needs: are you currently looking for investment? Have you raised investment already? If so, who are your investors?
Sports Solutions LLC is a boot-strapped privately financed startup. We are currently seeking collaborative partnerships, but are willing to entertain direct investment if progression goals align.
