Apex Sports is quickly gaining traction in the Cincinnati entrepreneurship scene. The startup, created by three Miami University class of 2017 graduates, was accepted into the UpTech accelerator program in 2018, and Cincy Inno placed its founders — Connor Morris, Marcus Davis and Austin Fenstermaker — on the Cincy Inno 25 Under 25 list that same year.
Now in 2020, the interactive online platform that curates drills, techniques and tips from professional athletes, made its way onto the Cincy Inno Startups to Watch list, too. That’s because Apex Sports, based in Covington, Kentucky, is far from slowing down.
Apex Sports gives users the opportunity to buy video content and written curriculum, with well-known professional athletes as a user’s coach. When Cincy Inno last spoke with Apex Sports, the team was focused on football with plans to break into lacrosse. Fast forward to 2020, and Morris, Davis, and Fenstermaker have a milestone partnership with Major League Lacrosse.
“This partnership gave us a direct pipeline to some of the best lacrosse players in the world, and access to the MLL’s distribution network,” Morris said. “This allowed us to launch three new lacrosse training packages and reach future agreements with over 20 MLL players covering all positions. It also significantly increased our user base by unlocking an entirely new market with lacrosse.”
Speaking of its user base, Apex now has thousands of website users. Lacrosse users are distributed across the U.S., while football users are in the U.S. and several countries across Europe. The target market consists of beginner and intermediate-level athletes for their core sport categories: lacrosse and football. While the lacrosse side of the business spiked with the MLL partnership, their football base is growing, too. The founders filmed a new training package with NFL Hall of Famers Cris Carter (formerly a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Minnesota Vikings and the Miami Dolphins.). This video will be live on Apex Sports by early March. Carter is now a member of the Apex Sports advisory board, too.
“Cris has the resume and knowledge that very few football players can match,” Morris said. “Also, his connections and activity within and around the NFL will be invaluable as we aim to grow our audience and partner with some of the best football players in the world.”
As Apex looks to the future, it will continue bolstering its football and lacrosse offerings while helping athletes in the early stages of their career.
“Our goal is to level the playing field when it comes to competitive sports,” Morris said. “It doesn’t matter where you live or if you can afford an expensive private coach. All athletes who desire to get better can learn the skills and tools they need, from the best players in the world.”
