Startup Bubble’s Post

Just when we thought sports fan engagement had reached its pinnacle, Uplause rolls in to push the boundaries of what's possible! Imagine syncing your roaring applause with millions of fans in real time, boosting the energy of your favorite team like never before. That's what the passionate founders of Uplause, Heikki Aura, Jussi Marin, and Veli-Pekka Marin set out to create - The Uplause Engagement System.👏🏟️ This Helsinki-based startup, a pioneer in fan engagement and interactive event advertising space, not only enhances the stadium experience but also allows teams to capture invaluable data on fan energy and participation. With their innovative technology, we're entering a new era of interactive sports fan engagement and stadium advertising. Could this be the future? 🚀 Step into the exciting and dynamic world of Uplause! Check our latest article 🔥 [https://lnkd.in/ekF_zGnC] #Startups #SportsTech #FanEngagement #NextGen #Innovation Uplause, Heikki Aura, Jussi Marin, Veli-Pekka Marin

I covered a lot of technical blogs last week but I think it is important to address what happens AFTER you launch technology... While Locker Room Labs will always focus on great sports software development, ongoing maintenance and feature enhancements, you need users to to stay in business. Here are some key areas of focus for sports technology companies post launch: User Acquisition: Most startups don't have the budget to compete with the market leaders. Be scrappy, find white space in your vertical, be unique with your content and don't just "follow the leader". User Retention: Everyone spends all of their available budget on user acquisition, but often forgets to build processes for retention. Getting someone to try something once isn't as hard as having a sticky product that retains and scales. Strategic Partnerships: An easy way to get exposure to other potential users is to find similar apps with overlapping audiences. Do some co-marketing, create offers for other user bases, make contests across companies. What are the most important areas to focus on post-launch and what recommendations do you have aspiring sports technology startups to grow and scale? #sportstech #sportsbusiness #startups https://lnkd.in/dstc_ZsJ

It’s official - Canopy | Techstars '23 has entered the group chat!  A huge thanks to Lauren Forristal and the entire TechCrunch Team for letting #Creators know that there’s now a dedicated community for them to ask questions, gain industry insights, and spill the tea in a safe space.  It’s been one week since our pilot launch and the feedback we’ve been receiving from Creators is incredible. As a Creator-first platform, we know how challenging it is to actually get access to the right information and insights when it comes to growing your platform and scaling your business. You simply don’t know what you don’t know! Enter Canopy. We recognize how lonely it can be, which is why we love seeing our Creators now connecting in app, starting to collab on IG, and meeting up in person!  If you want to be part of the Canopy Community join the waitlist TODAY. https://lnkd.in/gVyvZcXJ We can’t wait to let more of you #UnderTheCanopy. 🚀 #CreatorEconomy #InfluencerMarketing #SocialMedia #CreatorCommunity #Startup

Kickoff to Glory: The Epic Journey of Onefootball and Lucas von Cranach. Chapter 6: Diversification of Features. Amidst its global expansion, Onefootball, under the guidance of Lucas von Cranach, evolved from a mere scores provider to a multifaceted digital hub for football enthusiasts. This chapter unfolds as a narrative of diversification, innovation, and the strategic incorporation of features to enhance the overall fan experience. Von Cranach recognized that modern football fandom went beyond scores and statistics. This realization fueled the expansion of Onefootball's offerings, introducing features such as live match commentaries, videos, and personalized content tailored to individual user preferences. The chapter explores how the app transformed into a one-stop destination for football-related content, engaging users not just during matchdays but throughout their football journey. Interactive elements, polls, and community features fostered a sense of belonging among users, turning Onefootball into a social platform for fans to share their passion. Von Cranach's leadership played a pivotal role in identifying trends and user needs, driving the development of features that kept Onefootball at the forefront of digital sports engagement. The chapter culminates in the app's metamorphosis from a scores app to a dynamic, interactive, and indispensable tool for football fans globally. #startup #strategy #football

Understanding how the game is played is one thing, but have you ever wished to connect more deeply with the players you love, to be part of their journey, and to experience their stories in their own words? Thanks to the startup OTRO, this level of engagement is no longer a distant dream, but a thrilling reality! We explore this exciting evolution in the world of football content platforms in our latest article, "Transforming Fan Engagement: The Next Big Evolution In Football Content Platforms?" Check it out at this link: https://UKT.news/?p=9123 OTRO, founded by Eduardo Brandalise, provides a digital platform that brings football fans closer to the players they love. Otro is a modern, global community where players and fans engage, providing unparalleled access and unique insights into the lives of the footballers directly from them! Join us for an inside look at how OTRO is shaping the future of fan participation like you've never seen before! #football #fanengagement #technology #innovation #startups #sportsmedia #digitalplatforms #Otro

Are we on the cusp of a gaming evolution? Is proprietary software changing how players engage with brands and monetize in gaming apps? The answer appears to be a resounding "Yes!" according to our latest article. Meet Iconicfuture GmbH, the Hamburg-based startup that is pushing the boundaries in brand marketing and software in the gaming world. Founded by Malte Barth and Ze'ev Rozov games, and they are driving increased engagement, retention, and significantly boosting monetization! Dive into our article to find out how their proprietary platform, developed by a versatile team of experts, is revolutionizing the licensing process, making it fast, simple, and cost-effective. With an extensive network of licensors, they’re offering unlimited access to top entertainment brands, selling millions of branded items, and seeing a significant increase in game and app downloads. Discover how they're changing the game! Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/d68b-Dtu #Startups #GamingInnovation #BrandEngagement #Monetization #ProprietarySoftware #Iconicfuture.

BeReal. acquired by Voodoo for €500 Million! #BeReal, the popular photo-sharing app known for its authenticity, has been acquired by French video game developer #Voodoo for a whopping €500 million. This acquisition marks a significant move in the tech industry as Voodoo aims to enhance BeReal’s profitability and expand its user base. BeReal was founded in 2019 by Alexis B., who will remain actively involved post-acquisition. The platform gained rapid popularity among teenagers and young adults for its unique approach that contrasts the heavily filtered and edited photos on rivals like Instagram and Snapchat. Users receive a daily notification to take an unedited snapshot using both their front and back cameras, fostering a sense of authenticity and engagement. The acquisition was advised by JPMorgan and is the largest in Voodoo’s history. Aymeric Roffé, currently head of Voodoo-owned social media app Wizz, will take over as CEO of BeReal. Alexis Barreyat will continue to play an active role in the company’s future. BeReal has previously raised $90 million through venture capital, with support from investors like Kima Ventures, co-founded by French billionaire Xavier Niel. BeReal's user base, primarily composed of Generation Z, has remained steady with about 50 million monthly active users since the end of 2022. However, user growth has stagnated, and downloads have decreased from 35 million in the third quarter of 2022 to 5 million in early 2023. Voodoo plans to introduce paid advertising to BeReal, aiming to balance monetization with user experience. This move mirrors Instagram's strategy, which incorporated ads three years post-launch. The integration of advertising into BeReal’s business model is expected to drive the company towards profitability. Alexandre Yazdi, Voodoo’s CEO, emphasized that advertisements will be integrated smoothly to avoid disrupting the user experience. Despite the slowdown in growth, BeReal’s high engagement levels, with most users logging in at least six days a week, make it a promising candidate for expansion and monetization. Voodoo’s acquisition comes at a time when the French tech sector is witnessing significant investments, as seen with Mistral AI’s recent €600 million raise. Voodoo aims to regain confidence in BeReal’s existing markets, particularly the US, France, and Japan, while also expanding into new regions in Europe and Asia. The shift towards an ad-based model follows the company’s exploration of a subscription model, which proved challenging for a predominantly young user base with limited disposable income. The article on the Financial Times in the first comment. Want to stay up to date with the market? Here my newsletter: - Linkedin: https://t.ly/s541W   - Substack: https://lnkd.in/dzfGJzmW

I have spoken with 50 sports technology executives in the last 3 months while building the foundation of Locker Room Labs and here are some of the main trends I have come across... ◾ Startups are struggling to bridge the gap from vision to MVP cost effectively ◾ Direct-to-consumer apps are transitioning to B2B service offerings, most likely due to the difficulty of scaling B2C in today's competitive market ◾ Emerging sports are seeing an influx of new fantasy and betting opportunities ◾ New data companies are trying to change the status quo. Will legacy operators be quick to integrate and evolve? ◾ Media is turning to tech for greater monetization of their audience What other trends are you seeing in the sports technology space? #sportsbusiness #sportstech #startup #technology #B2B

The Transformative Power of Influencer Marketing: Beyond Individual Fame The meteoric rise of influencer marketing has redefined the landscape of engagement, consumer behavior, and brand promotion. At the forefront of this transformation are influencers—individuals who leverage social media platforms to shape opinions, trends, and purchase decisions. The phenomenon exemplified by digital celebrities, such as Jake Paul, underscores the broader implications and effectiveness of influencer marketing. Influencers like Paul have demonstrated the potential to cross traditional industry boundaries, venturing into areas such as professional sports and entertainment with notable success. Their ability to draw significant attention and engagement through their platforms illustrates a fundamental shift in how audiences consume content and develop affinities with influencers like Jake Paul drawing eyes, and dollars, to brands. The essence of influencer marketing lies in the authentic connections established between influencers and their followers. This direct line not only amplifies the visibility of brands and events but also engenders a level of trust and relatability that traditional advertising struggles to achieve. The success of influencer marketing also reflects in the evolving dynamics of sponsorship and advertising. Brands are increasingly recognizing the value of aligning with influencers whose followers embody their target demographics. The commercial viability of influencer-led events has been further validated by substantial sponsor interest and pay-per-view sales, marking a shift towards a new paradigm of content consumption and fan engagement. This effort and Netflix backing, illustrates the merging of entertainment, sports, and digital culture. This convergence has not only expanded the scope of what influencers can achieve but also opened new avenues for brands to engage with younger, digitally-savvy audiences in innovative ways. In conclusion, the power of influencer marketing extends well beyond the fame of individuals like Jake Paul. It represents a pivotal shift in marketing strategies, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, direct engagement, and the blending of entertainment and branding. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the influence of social media personalities on consumer behavior and brand visibility will undoubtedly grow, underscoring the need for brands to adopt more integrated, influencer-centric marketing approaches. Is your business ready to embrace influencers in your marketing strategy? #influencermarketing #automotiveinfluencer #digitalmarketing