As a full-time teacher and fitness trainer, PickUP Sports CEO Kevin Dailey constantly sees the positive affects of physical activity and coming together with other people, and that at some point adults stop outdoor playing games as frequently as they used to.
With his Cincinnati-based startup PickUp Sports, he hopes to eliminate this issue by reminding users how fun casual group physical activity can be, and illustrating how important exercise and relationships are in the fights against loneliness, depression and obesity.
“We’re all about making our community a better place to live,” Dailey said.
It works like this: Users build a profile on the free PickUP Sports app. There, they can then search for and add games they're playing, such as kickball or pickup football. Those looking for an opportunity to join a game can search for an opportunity, schedule pickup games and set other preferences.
Users will get alerts based on their interests, so they’ll know when a pickup game is in their area with the sport they like.
“We’re not just passively posting events and hoping people log in,” Dailey said.
The app is the result of a partnership between Dailey and developer Chris VanDyke, a military reservist and technology professional. While VanDyke provides the technological expertise, Daily provides ideation and design — all while maintaining full-time jobs.
“We’re all about making our community a better place to live."
They plan on earning income from the app by partnering with local businesses and folks in the sports service industry. One of their target audiences is CrossFit gyms, who often struggle to get new members. Dailey said gyms can counteract this issue by running targeted ads on PickUP Sports.
The PickUP Sports team also plans on getting other businesses, such as restaurants and bars, to use target marketing on their program, too. For example, if a team is out for a game of basketball or volleyball, they will get targeted ads from area restaurants to have food or grab a drink after the game.
While they haven’t gone through any funding rounds or accelerators, as Dailey said the team wants to build a meaningful product first, PickUP Sports has plans for a soft launch this year, with initial focus on the Cincinnati area. Louisville, Lexington and Columbus are on the docket for future launches.
