Finally, athletes and coaches can connect for free! We talked to the creator of the Starter App and IdeaPros Partner, Corky Riley, about his entrepreneurial journey and how he will revolutionize the athletics recruiting process. Read on to learn more!
Corky’s Story
Corky has seen too many athletes go unnoticed since the late eighties in athletic recruiting.
“Athletics is like a business: if you don’t play for the right team, then you can fall through the cracks.” – Corky Riley
Trying to help athletes work on their marketing, Corky realized he couldn’t reach as many kids as he wanted. But, what if there was a platform that could connect people from all over the country? So, he reached out to IdeaPros about his idea, and today, the Starter app is getting ready to launch in the app stores.
So, How Does the App Work?
Nowadays, in sports, there are too many complicated metrics. The apps got extensive, and the info got more confusing. Corky felt it was time to simplify it. The idea is that anyone can use the app without being a tech genius.
As a former athlete and a coach, he knows what makes a difference in the recruiting process. The statistics alone are not enough. On the Starter App, athletes create their profile and capture their best moment on video, so the coaches can get the first impression without traveling anywhere. The highlights don’t have to be the touchdown or some glorified play. It could be something simple like footwork.
“You have to have a video because that’s the first thing a coach will see, and it determines whether they want to move on.” – Corky Riley
From there, they can continue their conversation through direct messages within the app.
Start App Will Always Be Free To Its Users
One of the essential things for Corky is that his app stays free. Not being able to connect due to service fees is a shame. With Starter, you have the same chances even if you live in a remote area and can’t afford to pay for a travel team.
On the other hand, recruiting budgets, especially in women’s sports, are limited. Small schools don’t have the resources to go far to find kids. So, the more athletes can market themselves to these coaches, the better. Coaches can keep track of the athletes they follow and message the ones they are interested in knowing more about.
“I wanted to create a platform where an athlete and coach, even if they’re across the country or the world, will be able to find each other and hopefully make a connection.” – Corky Riley
The Challenge & Advice For Other Entrepreneurs
Corky was not only working on his app; he was working on the website and marketing, too. He did a lot of recruiting seminars helping kids market themselves instead of paying for services. Now he can help many more athletes who can do that easily through Starter, with no costs involved.
“The biggest challenge in building an app is patience.” – Corky Riley
You want to get your idea to market as fast as possible. But rushing can set you back. So instead, get the right team to bring your dream to fruition. Corky is working with Crowdbotics and their designers. They have done a great job on the app.
The other thing to have in mind is communication. Quick responses and a smooth exchange of ideas will help you speed up the process and get your app out there faster. Still, remember not to rush – you want to do it well and have an impact on your world.
If you want to be a beta tester and try out the system, or you know athletes and coaches who would benefit from it, send them to mystarterapp.com, the app that evens out the playing field!
The “Idea Pros” at IdeaPros have the resources, experience, and tools to help you at this step or any step in the entrepreneurial journey. We partner with entrepreneurs at any stage and who are ready to invest their ideas. Apply for an interview and let’s explore partnering together.