A Chicago startup that helps high school athletes with college eligibility requirements landed a $50,000 investment at the first-ever Chicago Bulls Venture Competition.
Last night Honest Game, a company that creates a tool to help high school athletes navigate the college eligibility process, took home a $50,000 equity investment from LOUD Capital, a Columbus-based VC firm that partnered with the Bulls on the competition. Honest Game was named the winner during halftime of the Bulls' game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Founded by Kim Michelson and Joyce Anderson, Honest Game is a public benefit corporation that tracks a student's academic progress in real time so they can access available college athletic scholarships, providing a pathway for athletes to play at the next level. High schools partner with Honest Game to help coaches and counselors navigate NCAA eligibility for their students, and can provide academic eligibility status for each player. Honest Game can identify when a student needs summer school or credit recovery courses to become college eligible, for example.
Honest Game was one of five finalists in the competition who pitched their companies Monday at the United Center. Judges included former Bulls player Horace Grant and Cameo CEO Steven Galanis. Honest Game also received additional business services as a result of winning last night's competition.
"This partnership with LOUD and the Bulls is going to impact millions of young lives by providing equal access to college athletics," Anderson said in a statement. "We are so grateful for this opportunity to amplify our mission and continue to impact youth in Chicago."
