Casey Trujeque knows the pain of trying to find a space for basketball training. He also knows the pain of being an independent sports facility operator trying to find ways to rent the space during idle time.
Trujeque is a former NBA trainer — his clients include former Portland Trail Blazer Allen Crabbe. He is also former owner of a basketball facility. It’s these experiences that inform his latest venture Sport Source, a new app designed to, as he puts it, be the Airbnb of sport facilities.
Trujeque teamed with Molly Kline, a youth sports organizer, and they have built the app over the last year. It goes live Aug. 4. With it, folks who either own small, independent facilities — as Trujeque once did — or people with backyard facilities can post their spaces for rent. Those looking for space for everything from personal training, to club games, to birthday parties can find a nearby location.
“We are bringing out this project to bridge the gap between users and hosts,” said Trujeque.
The duo is focusing on building out the inventory on the app in the Portland market so that when the focus shifts to consumers there will be ample choices of facilities. To start they are zeroing in on pools, basketball and volleyball facilities for rent.
“We are niching down to go big,” he said, adding that limiting to the Portland market will allow the team to work out any kinks in the system.
They are tapping Trujeque’s network of college and professional athletes and trainers as well as Kline’s network within youth sports organizations.
So far their idea has been validated in discussions and focus groups.
Technology of product: Sport Source built a marketplace to help players, trainers or teams find sports or fitness facilities. Owners of those spaces can also find new customers. It's also a way for individuals who have their own private sport spaces to rent those facilities to others.
How it makes money: As a traditional two-way marketplace, Sport Source charges a service fee and commission on successful booking: 10% to the host and 7.5% to the user. Founders made the fees lower than the industry average of 25%.
Size of market: The global market around physical activity is $828 billion, with about half coming from the three main areas Sport Source is targeting: sports and recreation, mindful movement and general fitness.
Competition: There are a handful of other companies in the area, Squadz is focused on the San Francisco Bay Area or Spotz, which is focused on the midwest.
Competitive advantage: Sport Source founders have deep ties within the broader sports world and youth sports. The company is also focused on the West Coast market, which is one of the most active in the country. Plus, the app was built with user experience at the center to make the whole process simple.
Business it could disrupt: Sport Source wants to change the way athletes, trainers, youth teams and families get active. The startup is replacing old sports scheduling systems that can be cumbersome to use.
Managers and their background: Casey Trujeque is CEO and former Division I athlete. He is also an NBA, WNBA and NCAA trainer. Molly Kline is COO and has a background in youth and family organizations.
Investors: Former Trail Blazers Brian Grant and Allen Crabbe; Former Laker Anthony Brown; and Former Milwaukee Bucks Jeff Teague
Capital raised: $650,000
Capital sought: a total pre-seed round of $1.5 million
Closer Look
Company: Sport Source
Headquarters: Portland
Founded: 2020
CEO: Casey Trujeque
Employees: 2
Web: www.sport-source.com
