CHRISTOPHE CARNIEL is the co-Founder & CEO of Montpellier, France-based mobile technology company VOGO. Offering spectators multiple camera angles and live replays, the VOGO Sport app is changing the way users experience live events. VOGO Sport is addressing the growing trend of users wanting to be more connected than ever at live events, and has partnered with more than 40 events worldwide already in ’16. The company was named Best Sport Startup at the iSport Forum 2016 in Barcelona last month, and Carniel spoke to SBD Global about VOGO Sport’s origins and its goals moving forward.
On how VOGO Sport got off the ground ...
Christophe Carniel: VOGO was founded in June 2013, by three engineers and entrepreneurs, passionate in sport and technology: myself, PIERRE KEIFLIN and former NETIA CTO DANIEL DÉDISSE. Our goal: develop an app enabling the spectator to enhance live sport events, with instant replay, from the comfort of their seat. After 18 months of research and development, VOGO Sport was implemented for the European Judo Championships, in April 2014. In June 2015 VOGO raised €4 million to finance its growth.
On VOGO's continued development ...
Carniel: Since then, VOGO has sped up its international development, creating a subsidiary in North America and building a distribution network for the Americas, Japan, the Netherlands, and has won a few awards. VOGO responds to users' needs with the emergence of the “smart stadium” and the advent of fans that demand to be connected everywhere, all the time. VOGO’s mission is to enhance the spectator’s live viewing experience.
On the business model ...
Carniel: We focus on activating B2C communication streams (users), to create a real need to get the app for their attendance at the events. Those actions should strongly interest our clients on B2B market. There are a number of potential revenue streams to be considered for our target markets: organizers, advertisers and spectators. Our business plan is based on two complementary business models that are linked in time to ensure a ramp-up of activity and to optimize the financial equilibrium in terms of results and the amount of working capital deployed.
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| Source: VOGO |
On the target markets ...
Carniel: The B2B model targets big events: This model aims to cover key international events, such as the European Judo Championships. VOGO sells its service to the organizers of these events: international sports federations and private organizers. The B2C model targets venues to be equipped, the spectator is the end-user: The targeted events are, in this model, competitions such as championships which use the same indoor and outdoor venues on a regular basis. VOGO has then three key target markets:
- Event organizers (IOC, federations, leagues, etc.) and the managers of sports venues.
- Spectators at sporting events.
- Brand owners and advertisers that are looking for new ways to reach and connect with sports fans.
On current and future partnerships ...
Carniel: VOGO covers a large range of indoor and outdoor events with VOGO Sport, 30 events in 10 sports in 2015 and 50 events already planned for 2016. Mainly through clubs and partnerships such as Rugby at TOP14 side Pau; Montpellier Handball Club; Kandahar 2016 (ski); the LFP Coupe de la Ligue, Olympique de Lyon and Monaco; French Swimming Federation: Water Polo World League; National Rugby League: TOP14 Matches; French Gymnastics Federation: European Championships; French Wrestling Federation: Paris Grand Prix 2015; French Volleyball Federation: France-Brazil; TDF: Tennis Open de Moselle; French Judo Federation: Grand Slam Judo 2015/2016. Also in the Netherlands: the National Championships of Athletics and Equestrian championships and in Japan: Rugby Japan Top League matches.
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