Tech in 26.2

Kamal Datta
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Tech in 26.2

Welcome to Tech in 26.2 podcast where I explore the technologies that enables the athletes, the organizers and the communities to create those experiences. So buckle up and join me on this journey as I deep dive into learning about the technologies and companies, their founding stories, finding product market fit, scaling of those companies/technologies and also where they are heading in the age of AI. Please make sure you subscribe to this youtube channel to get notified where I publish the episodes on this podcast.

  1. Capturing race day memories for 45 years - chat with Brad Kroll & Conor Gay of MarathonFoto

    OCT 19

    Capturing race day memories for 45 years - chat with Brad Kroll & Conor Gay of MarathonFoto

    In the next episode of the Tech in 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I sit down with Brad Kroll, President of MarathonFOTO and Conor Gay, VP of Internal Operations at MarathonFOTO. For 45 years, over 10 million runners have trusted MarathonFoto to capture and deliver the best in race and endurance event photography. MarathonFoto partners with the biggest and best names in running including Boston Marathon, Chicago Marathon, NYC Marathon, Stockholm Marathon to name a few. In our discussion, we cover a lot of grounds from state of race photography in early 2000s to how technology has enabled MarathonFoto to share race day moments with the runners almost instantaneously at the finish line. Enjoy listening! Here are the highlights from our conversation: ⛳ Evaluation of race photography ⛳  Overview of MarathonFoto's race day photography workflow and operations ⛳ Technological innovations enabling near-instant photo delivery at race finish lines ⛳ Examining the feasibility of fully automated race day photography ⛳ Exploring potential applications of race photography in identifying unauthorized participants References Marathon Photo - https://www.marathonfoto.com/ Chicago Marathon - https://www.chicagomarathon.com/ NewYork City Marathon - https://www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon Episode info: Youtube - https://youtu.be/up98519yT5k Apple Podcast link - https://apple.co/4hoayFc Spotify podcast link - https://bit.ly/3A2QLKA Transcript and Show notes: https://www.traxamo.com/tech-in-26-2-brad-kroll-conor-gay Enjoy the episode!

    46 min
  2. SMS Marketing is the most effective event marketing channel - Gerry Perez, Founder & CEO of RUNGP

    OCT 10

    SMS Marketing is the most effective event marketing channel - Gerry Perez, Founder & CEO of RUNGP

    In the next episode of the Tech in 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I have a conversation with Gerry Perez, the Founder and CEO of RUNGP, the leading CRM platform for the running industry. Gerry, who has a background in digital marketing, recounts how attending an industry event inspired him to transition his digital marketing agency into a software company. We delve into various case studies and the data supporting them, emphasizing the most effective channels that event organizers should prioritize to maximize their marketing ROI. This discussion promises to be extremely beneficial for event marketers and organizers alike. Enjoy listening! Here are the highlights from our conversation: ⛳ Pivoting from digital marketing agency to building a SaaS business ⛳  Deep dive into event marketing landscape in endurance industry ⛳ Why SMS marketing is the best marketing investment for event organizers? ⛳ Intersection of AI and event marketing - ⛳ Navigating compliance and what is SWAS (software with agency service)? Podcast Outline 0:05 Episode Summary 1:05 Introduction 1:51 Founding story of RunGP 3:03 What’s RunGP 3:55 Transitioning from Digital agency to software company 11:45 Background in endurance industry marketing and channels 13:19 RunGP’s core offerings 17:14 Why SMS marketing is the best investment for event organizers 21:29 Key metrics to measure ROI on event marketing investment 26:12 Approaching event marketing for different generation 28:31 Using AI for event marketing for FAQs, content or reputation management Conversation AI Content AI (writing creatives) reviews AI (reputation management) 33:54 Marketing trends in the endurance industry 36:45 Handling compliance in SMS marketing 40:21 Supporting the endurance sports ecosystem through Software as agency service (SWAS) 44:40 Scaling with SWAS business model? 46:19 What’s next for RunGP? References RunGP - https://rungp.io/ RunGP Podcast on SMS Marketing - https://rungp.io/podcast Special mentions Chris Tomlinson Episode info: Youtube - https://youtu.be/EROW332W_Q8 Apple Podcast link - https://apple.co/3zJgkAj Spotify podcast link - https://bit.ly/4eEPJmZ Transcript and Show notes: https://www.traxamo.com/tech-in-26-2-gerry-perez Enjoy the episode!

    50 min

  3. SEP 30

    A conversation with running legend Dave McGillivray - Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Motivational Speaker, Author, and Athlete

    In the next episode of the Tech in 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I sit down with running legend Dave McGillivray - An entrepreneur (Founder & President of DMSE Sports), philanthropist (Founder of Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation), motivational speaker (~1600 appearances from Ted Talks to corporate & local events), author (written 4 books), and athlete (ran more than 160,000 miles - 167 marathons, including 51 consecutive Boston marathons, 80-day trek across the United States, running the 3,452 miles from Medford, Ore., to Medford, Mass. in the summer of 1978 to benefit the Jimmy Fund, 9 Ironman Triathlon World Championships to name a few). He is also the race director of iconic Boston Marathon since 1988. Our discussion focuses on Dave’s approach to adopting technology in races and some of the challenges he believes technology can help solving. Wish Dave all the best for his 10th Ironman Triathlon World Championship in couple of weeks. Enjoy the episode! Here are the highlights from our conversation: ⛳  After running 160000 miles in his legendary career what still drives him? ⛳  Dave’s take on scaling races ⛳  How a trip to NYC Marathon expo in 1995 changed the course of timing races forever ⛳ Covid’s impact on running industry ⛳ Can technology solve for uncertainty posed by climate changes Podcast Outline 0:05 Episode Summary 0:53 Introduction 3:05 What drives Dave? 5:23 being the race director for Boston Marathon for 37 years 7:28 Dave’s take on scaling a race - Visualizing the event before it happens 8:34 Adopting chip based timing in Boston Marathon in 1996 - there gotta be a way to time and chip a race 11:47 Incremental improvement in race timing industry 14:35 How Dave approach technology to elevate race day experience - managing space and time 19:49 Under deliver or over deliver of promises from technology 24:16 Covid’s impact on running industry 27:39 Challenges on top of Dave’s mind that technology can potentially solve turning away people when the races are full - I wish I could accommodate everybody that wants to participate global warming and dealing with unpredictable weathers during races 34:03 Table top exercises for planning for weather forecasts 38:35 Maintaining integrity of sport in running events References Dave McGillivray personal website - https://davemcgillivray.com/ DMSI Sports - https://www.dmsesports.com/ Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation - https://www.davemcgillivrayfoundation.org/ Boston Marathon - https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon Fallmouth Road Race - https://falmouthroadrace.com/ TD Beach to Beacon 10K - https://www.beach2beacon.org/ MyLaps Championchip - https://www.mylaps.com/championchip-celebrates-25th-anniversary/ Episode info: Youtube - https://youtu.be/BWTY7Jgho8Q Apple Podcast link - https://apple.co/3XQjA4G Spotify podcast link - https://bit.ly/3XLA26b Transcript and Show notes: https://www.traxamo.com/tech-in-26-2-dave-mcgillivray Enjoy the episode!

    42 min
  4. Runredeem - Building loyalty in endurance sports, Johan Tigér, CEO of Tigertech

    SEP 20

    Runredeem - Building loyalty in endurance sports, Johan Tigér, CEO of Tigertech

    In this episode of the Tech in 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I sit down with **Johan Tigér,** CEO and Principal Consultant of Tigertech based in Sweden. Tigertech provides digitization services for endurance sports events to create bespoke experiences for participants. I was curious to learn about Tigertech’s RunRedeem solution that Johan did for New Balance where the goal was to reward runners for their effort when training. We cover quite a few grounds on different custom solutions Tigertech built since its founding during pandemic to trends and role of AI. Enjoy the episode! ⛳  Founding Story of Tigertech ⛳  Creating fun experience through digitization ⛳  Deep dive into RunRedeem and what’s next for it? ⛳  Scaling Tigertech as a services company ⛳ Trends and role of AI in endurance tech Podcast Outline 0:05 Introduction 4:25 Starting Tigertech - Digitization for endurance sports industry 9:43 Using technology to create fun experience for participants 11:59 What is RunRedeem 20:50 Finding first customer 22:27 Scaling Tigertech 24:23 What’s next for Tigertech 26:06 Trends in technology usage in endurance sports References - Tigertech - https://tigertech.se/ - RunRedeem project with New Balance - https://tigertech.se/projects/breakfaster/ - RunRedeem article on RunningUSA - http://www.run4amc.org/index-466.html - Gothenburg, Sweden Half Marathon - https://www.goteborgsvarvet.se/en Episode info: - Youtube - - Apple Podcast link - - Spotify podcast link - Transcript and Show notes: - Enjoy the episode!

    34 min
  5. A Conversation with Frankie Ruiz, Cofounder of LifeTime Miami Marathon

    SEP 5

    A Conversation with Frankie Ruiz, Cofounder of LifeTime Miami Marathon

    In this episode of the Tech in 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I have a conversation with Frankie Ruiz, the Cofounder of the LifeTime Miami Marathon. We delve into Frankie’s innovative approach to integrating technology as the race organizer for the Miami Marathon, which now boasts over 25,000 participants. Frankie also shares how, after selling the Miami Marathon to LifeTime, the event is utilizing LifeTime’s event management tools, such as Athlinks and Chronotrack, to enhance both the production quality and the runner experience. We wrap up our conversation chatting about what other interests Frankie is pursuing including to be the Mayor of City of Miami one day. Here are some key focus areas of our conversation: ⛳  Founding Story of Miami Marathon ⛳  Scaling Miami Marathon to 25000+ participants ⛳  Creating better runner experience through technology like crowd science, data drive coral verification, bandit control program ⛳  Areas race industry needs innovation ⛳  Reflection on selling Miami Marathon to LifeTime Podcast Outline 0:05 Episode summary 1:18 Introduction 2:04 Founding Story of Miami Marathon 5:53 Scaling Miami Marathon through acquisition 10:27 Approach to leverage technology as race organizer 16:39 Data points for the bandit control program 20:58 How Crowd Scientists help to better plan race course 28:18 Corral verification program by Athlinks and Chronotrack 32:32 Frankie’s top of the ming challenges- photography, running expos , interactive race medal 34:13 Frameworks to select technology for better production and runner experience 37:14 Frankie’s reflection on selling Miami marathon to LifeTime Fitness 44:27 What’s next for Frankie References Miami Marathon - https://www.themiamimarathon.com/marathon/ Marathon Guide - https://www.marathonguide.com/ Crowd Science - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_science Frankie's Tedx Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK3Wwzyybw4 LifeTime Fitness - https://www.lifetime.life/ Episode info: Youtube - https://youtu.be/pftasoyCmjQ Apple Podcast link - https://apple.co/3ARx3Sd Spotify podcast link - https://bit.ly/3MxUG4z Transcript and Show notes: https://www.traxamo.com/tech-in-26-2-frankie-ruiz Enjoy the episode!

    49 min
  6. Create the best volunteer experience with Rosterfy - Shannan Gove, Cofounder of Rosterfy

    AUG 22

    Create the best volunteer experience with Rosterfy - Shannan Gove, Cofounder of Rosterfy

    In the next episode of Tech in 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I sit down with Shannan Gove, Cofounder of Rosterfy - an Australia based volunteer management platform used by 3 million+ volunteers and staff globally. If you have been to any events, you know volunteers play a critical role for the success of events especially mass participation sports events. Supporting events like FIFA World Cup, ParaOlympics, ICC T20 Cricket World Up, Super Bowl etc.. Rosterfy manages end to end volunteer journey supporting recruitment, onboarding, expense management, integrations with other platforms thus reducing cost and increasing volunteer retention for organizers. Here are some key focus areas of our conversation: ⛳  How looking for volunteering opportunities to land a job after graduation lead to founding Rosterfy ⛳  How Rosterfy supports volunteer management for nonprofits & charities, mass participating events, universities & colleges, cities & local governments, sporting federations etc ⛳  Solving for having enough volunteers and retaining them for the event organizers ⛳ Why only volunteers and not larger workforce? ⛳ Trends in volunteerism and AI Podcast Outline 0:05 Episode summary 0:55 Introduction 2:35 How looking for volunteering opportunities to land a job after graduation lead to founding Rosterfy 6:16 How does Rosterfy support managing volunteers for Fifa World Cup, ICC T20 Cricket Worldcup, Super Bowl, Charities & Non-profits, Colleges & Universities 9:03 Improving volunteer retention 10:52 Solving for not having enough volunteers 15:53 Importance for integrating with other tools and processes 18:02 Why Rosterfy is only focusing on volunteers 20:54 “oh shit” moments 23:38 What’s next for Rosterfy 26:13 How Rosterfy is thinking and leveraging AI 28:36 Trends in volunteerism References Rosterfy platform - https://www.rosterfy.com/ Miami Dolphins - https://www.miamidolphins.com/ Spartan race - https://www.spartan.com/ Tough mudder - https://toughmudder.com/ Shannan’s top 5 tips for efficient volunteer management - https://www.rosterfy.com/blog/third-sector-featured-leader-interview-with-shannan-gove Episode info: Youtube - https://youtu.be/pDOkJKYy9ZA Apple Podcast link - Spotify podcast link - Transcript and Show notes: Enjoy the episode!

    31 min
  7. A conversation with Tom Fowler, Entrepreneur, Advisory Board Member & President (former), Polar North America

    AUG 15

    A conversation with Tom Fowler, Entrepreneur, Advisory Board Member & President (former), Polar North America

    In the next episode of Tech in 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I sit down with Tom Fowler, Entrepreneur, Advisory board member and former President of Polar North America. Tom’s impressive track record includes revitalizing endurance sports businesses like Polar North America, Recon Instruments, Cervelo Cycles or Nike European Operations, granting him with unique insights and thought leadership into the wearables sector of the endurance sports industry. As an advisory board member for several endurance tech companies, including Summa Labs, Nix Biosensors, Hanu Health, Stryd, and Form, Tom offers invaluable perspectives for founders navigating resource constraints, particularly financial limitations. His extensive experience in the sports technology sector, coupled with his background as a former professional triathlete, provides him with a distinctive understanding of both the business and athletic aspects of the industry. Here are some key focus areas of our conversation: ⛳  Turnaround story of Polar North America by focusing on core product strengths, streamlining distribution channels and expanding foot print on DTC (e.g Amazon) channels ⛳  Tom’s take on smart watch industry on how its evolving to be a life coach from sport coach ⛳  Approach & strategies on selecting the right wearable technology products for amateur athletes ⛳  Evolution of health centers/gyms to become life performance management centers ⛳  Handling data privacy in connected world ⛳  Finding minimum viable audience (MVA) to build minimum viable product (MVP) to iterate fast ⛳  Run towards challenges - Tom's reflections on his career journey and advice to those aspiring to follow a similar path

    1h 2m
  8. A conversation with Gary McNamee, Founder & CEO of Outside Interactive

    AUG 5

    A conversation with Gary McNamee, Founder & CEO of Outside Interactive

    In the next episode of 26.2 Podcast on Traxamo, I sit down with Gary McNamee, Founder & CEO of Outside Interactive and chat about Simulator product which recreates the race day experience of running a race on equipments in your living rooms. Let’s say you are running the 2024 New York City Marathon virtually during November first week and you have a Peloton treadmill at home; using Outside Interactive’s Simulator, NYC Marathon organizers can bring you the race day experience - running the actual race course with it’s electrifying crowd support that pervades the whole city. And we are going to experience exactly the same on Aug 10 & 11th where people from all over the world can participate on a connected race on the actual Paris Olympic 2024 Marathon Course on Kino Maps platform. Here are some key focus areas of our conversation: ⛳  Founding journey of Outside Interactive ⛳  Building Virtual Runner/Simulator - Importance of listening to feedbacks and iterating ⛳  Heralding a new era of physically interactive television starting in Paris Olympics 2024 Marathon ⛳  What’s in Virtual Runner/Simulator for race directors, charity organizations, advertisers, health clubs, equipment manufacturers etc ⛳  Discipline, Patience and Humility - Gary’s serial entrepreneurial journey Podcast Outline: 0:05 Episode summary 2:17 Introduction 3:41 Founding story of Outside Interactive 14:29 What’s ahead for Outside Interactive 16:57 Adoption of Virtual Runner/Simulation by the running community 30:28 Outside interactive Simulator and equipment manufacturer 34:31 Discipline, Patience and Humility - Gary’s entrepreneurial journey 42.21 What’s ahead for Virtual racing? References : - Outside Interactive - https://outsideinteractive.com/ - Paris Olympics 2024 Connected race by Kino Maps - https://challenge.kinomap.com/en-marathon-pour-tous-connecte - Paris Olympics 2024 Marathon Pour Tous - https://marathonpourtous.paris2024.org/en/l-evenement/marathon-pour-tous - Beach to Beacon 10K, Cape Elizabeth, Maine - https://www.beach2beacon.org/ - Boston Local news channel covering Outside Interactive’s Virtual runner/Simulator product - https://www.wcvb.com/article/company-creates-way-for-runners-to-enjoy-races-virtually/12035120 Episode info: - Youtube - https://youtu.be/WqgH87zJAU0 - Apple Podcast link - https://apple.co/3WwfZIl - Spotify podcast link - https://bit.ly/3yqBCSt Transcript and Show notes: - https://www.traxamo.com/tech-in-26-2-gary-mcnamee Enjoy the episode #runners #podcast #endurance #racetech #parisolympics2024 #parisolympics

    45 min
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About

Welcome to Tech in 26.2 podcast where I explore the technologies that enables the athletes, the organizers and the communities to create those experiences. So buckle up and join me on this journey as I deep dive into learning about the technologies and companies, their founding stories, finding product market fit, scaling of those companies/technologies and also where they are heading in the age of AI. Please make sure you subscribe to this youtube channel to get notified where I publish the episodes on this podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Kamal Datta
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kamal Datta
  • Show Website
    Tech in 26.2

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