New technology from startup ventures is transforming the sports industry. The mission of this series will be to introduce startup companies in the sports technology space to a broader audience and allow Founders of promising new ventures to tell their story. Feel free to contact us if you know of a startup that should be considered for this series.
Company name: Helper Helper
CEO: Krista Clement
Headquarters: St. Louis
1. What is your elevator pitch?
At Helper Helper we’ve partnered with the NCAA to help student-athletes engage in community service. Our web portal and app makes it easy for student-athletes to find volunteer opportunities and track their time. By centralizing all the service data, the NCAA is able to recognize schools and students for their outstanding commitment to the community.
2. Problem & Solution
Managing and tracking student service is difficult. Schools rely on 1 or 2 coordinators to track the service efforts of the entire athletic department. This is a time consuming and antiquated process that leads to inaccurate data and a decrease in student engagement and service. Helper Helper’s platform makes tracking student service convenient, user friendly, team orientated and really SIMPLE.
3. Market – your target market and the overall market
Helper Helper entered the market through collegiate athletics. The strategy was to initially target the NCAA and NAIA schools was a result of the founder’s personal network, industry relationships, and experiences. After learning from college athletic departments and their student volunteers, the transition across campus and into the high schools that already receive volunteers from Helper Helper, makes growth to the 50,000 schools and student organizations in the U.S. that have community service requirements very organic.
4. Business Model – how do you make money?
Helper Helper generates revenue by selling software as a service to schools and student organizations. The app is free for the students, but the schools sign 2-4 year contracts and pay between $1,000- $5,000 per year for access to full reporting and management of their volunteers.
5. Management Team – with titles
Krista Clement: President, Co-Founder
Alex Kliman: Vice President, Co-Founder
Steve Glauberman: CTO
6. What else do you want the audience to know about your venture?
Helper Helper was built to connect more students to meaningful experiences in the community. One co-founder was a middle school math teacher when she first came up with the idea for Helper Helper. Inspired by her students competitive spirit, she built the platform so young people could create competitions around giving back. If you have a group of students or team looking to make a positive impact in the community, please reach out to us and we’ll help you coordinate the whole service competition!
We know the time demands of student-athletes and students are high. We also know that the Team Volunteer experience is one of the most memorable and meaningful aspects of a student-athlete’s collegiate career. Because of these two things, it’s imperative that the process of engaging with the community is as simple as possible. Please go to our website or email us if you’d like to get involved.