From Innovation to College Business Entity
Who we are Bryan Woodhouse Jason Verhelst Associate Vice President Associate Athletic Director, for Strategic Partnerships Founder, & Innovation SportReporting.com
Where we are Madison College Madison, Wisconsin Founded in 1912
Who we serve Five campuses serving 12 counties
The Environment
Our Vision • Leverage existing talent and ideas at Encourage champions within the institution all levels of the organization Allow space and support • Encourage & support big thinking to take risks Encourage • In support of our mission experimentation, imagination, and learning
Innovation R&D Process Feasibility Scalability Return on investment Timing Sustainability Urgency Impact on mission, vision, values
SportReporting.com Beginnings Identify Issue Frustrated by communication hurdles and inefficient process result reporting scores Create Solution An easy-to-use responsive online platform that combined many communication steps into just one single step Find necessary skills to deliver solution Identified an IT colleague with PHP programming skills
Recipe for Early Success Willingness to Try Buy-in from colleagues and the users who would demo it (our coaches) Inside Knowledge to the Process Knowledge of what all the parties in the process wanted and needed (coaches, fans, media, staff) Ability to Listen Able to understand and adapt to feedback & requests
Creating a Business Entity Funding & Additional Support The college’s innovation program provided the seed money to transform the platform from a Madison College only platform to one that all high schools, colleges, and club teams can use Business Plan Created a detailed business plan with needs for personnel to marketing resources Relationships Collaborated with and fostered relationships to help build the brand/platform
Initial Needs Time Critical to getting everything up and running... allows the inventor to work. Marketing Assistance Needed a domain name, website, business cards, flyers, exhibit materials for conventions, giveaways, and more Sales Focus Identify the target market and target them
The Product – SportReporting.com 2019 Innovation of the Year
The Product - What it does... FAN ENGAGEMENT Send game-day results directly to fans, parents, alumni, administrators, media, and more Send in the format supporters want to view it in… via email, text, social media Fans receive results soon after the final event or horn Eliminate the need for fans to search for results
Communication
Social Media
The Product - What it does... EASY REPORTING Single-click reporting to multiple entities Report to newspapers, TV & radio stations, online news outlets. and more with just one click With the same click, post to all social media accounts, saving precious time while spreading the word
Branded & Customized Per Sport
The Product - What it does... DIRECT MESSAGING Communicates directly to fans, student-athletes, parents, administrators, media, and more Examples are rainouts, game venue or time changes, apparel sales, special events, etc. Email, texting, and social media channels
Easy Sign-up & Messaging
The Product - What it does... GENERATE REVENUE Sell email banner ads to local businesses Clients keep 100% of the money they generate Easy way to pay for the platform AND allow their coaches to fundraise for their programs
Banner Advertisements
The Product - What it does... FIFTEEN SPORTS AND COUNTING... ALL LEVELS. Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball, Wrestling High School, College, & Clubs Freshman, Junior Varsity, Varsity, etc... Any levels.
Things We Learned Overcoming Internal Processes New business entities require new processes and finding new Paths through a system not built for business entities Time is precious Needed more personnel to tackle projects (website, marketing, sales) Need to be flexible and nimble Despite roadblocks have to find a way
Moving Forward Sales, Sales, Sales Focus on getting clients and being responsive to the clients Student Collaboration Marketing and App development projects for students College Involvement Advertising to potential high school students and parents Sustainability of the product & platform
Outcomes to Date FY 2017-18 FY 2018-19 33 proposals submitted 25 proposals submitted 42% funded 76% funded • 27% funded elsewhere • 8% funded elsewhere Submission by Employee Group Submission by Employee Group • 59% faculty • 68% faculty • 3% PSRP • 12% PSRP • 38% Administrator • 20% Administrator $492,000 awarded $374,300 awarded
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