As part of our Sacramento Inno coverage of the startup, technology and innovation economy, the Business Journal has compiled a list of startups to watch in the new year. These startups are poised to make big moves, either in growth, funding, technology or development. We're highlighting 15 startups, generally with fewer than 100 employees, about 5 years old or less and that have raised less than $50 million.
A 2021 startup, El Dorado Hills-based GameMic Inc. is the developer of a free app of the same name that allows people interested in youth sports to broadcast live audio of games online so that people who can’t make it to the game can hear what’s happening.
The company had more than 10,000 listeners to its broadcasts of five of the California Interscholastic Federation football championships in December, for which it had obtained the audio rights.
GameMic in the spring was a nominee in the category of Best Use of Social Audio in the fourth annual Hashtag Sports Awards. GameMic competed with an entry by the NBA on Twitter Spaces, and it won the contest in July in Las Vegas.
The company is now looking to raise capital or find a strategic partner to take GameMic across the country, said Chris Rivas, CEO of the company. “People consume a lot of sports, especially youth sports,” he said, adding that following the pandemic, more people have gotten used to consuming sports remotely.
GameMic can be used by the school or by teams. In some cases, the games are broadcast by student sports journalists. Only a small percentage of high schools have radio equipment. “Everyone has their phone with them. All you need is your phone,” said co-founder Steve Montoya.
The app is free and free to use. GameMic is exploring potential revenue models.
