Why StatSheet will win…

Once I’ve gotten involved with a company, I become a fierce advocate. It’s not unlike, I guess, my blind support for Georgia Tech, the Falcons, the Braves, the Hawks. And so, with that understood, I begin a series on my blog about the companies I am deeply involved with. I think they are all going to win – if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be involved with them. These are start-ups or high growth companies that I advise in some capacity. In some cases, like in the case of StatSheet, which I will write about here, I am an active board member. In some cases, I am an advisory board member, or simply a friend and cheerleader.

So, why is StatSheet going to win?

1. The Entrepreneur – Robbie Allen personifies all the great qualities of a winning entrepreneur. He isn’t just a great technologist. He is a brilliant thinker – and he thinks with his whole brain, proud of both his right and left brain contributions to the product he’s building. I can’t reveal too much about what he’s building, but suffice it say that it is a revolutionary approach to building relevant, fan-centric sports content.
2. A Problem worth Solving – The network of sites that StatSheet is building solves two important problems – one on the user side, by providing insight the passionate fan will find nowhere else, and the other on the business model side, by inventing a new way by which real content is created and monetized that reflects the changing economics of IP delivered content.
3. Passion – if you find yourself in Durham, shoot over to 4601 Creekstone Dr and pay a visit to StatSheet HQ. The office is a reflection of Robbie’s passion, deep passion, for sports. He’s a beneficiary of his own invention, and the excitement around the company is palpable. Don’t be surprised if he challenges you to a ping-pong match (he keeps the records of everyone in the office up on a hall of fame/shame board) or a lively game of DOG, his abridged version of HORSE.
4. His Ecosystem – Robbie has assembled an incredible team of advisors and investors. Some entrepreneurs worry from day one about dilution and having too many cooks in the kitchen, etc. Robbie subscribes to the idea that you can’t get enough smart people around an idea. That requires modesty and self-confidence, both of which Robbie possesses in abundance.
5. Competitive Spirit – building a business that ultimately has to take on well established players (big media) and overyhyped start-ups (I won’t call anyone out) requires a large measure of “I’m going to beat you into the ground” thinking. Add to that the fact that this is a sports related venture, and it’s pretty clear how important a competitive spirit can be to ultimate success. StatSheet possesses this in abundance, too.

All of these great things have to measure up to the innumerable challenges any start-up faces, but my money is on StatSheet to ultimately be a big winner.

Stay tuned…

Tagged as: Robbie Allen, Start-ups, StatSheet, Winners