OpenSponsorship operates a subscription-based marketplace where brands search and filter athletes, teams and events by criteria such as social media, logo placement or appearances, then create campaigns, select athletes (or receive matches), launch and measure results. The company was founded in 2016 by Ishveen Anand and Ron Nesbitt. It touts the largest marketplace of athletes with over 11,000 profiles, has facilitated over 10,000 deals across 400 brands, and works with clients including Walmart, Foot Locker and Levi’s. OpenSponsorship has 15 employees and is on target for $5 million in top-line revenue and $1.5 million in net revenue this year. The new capital will be used to continue building product and integrations and to expand into new verticals, sales and marketing, including testing music. OpenSponsorship provides a web-based marketplace that automates matchmaking between brands, agents, teams, sports athletes, and esports athletes. The platform lets brands search a database and view an athlete’s social followings, demographics, interests, fees, and contact options at a glance. Brands can post campaigns and athletes can bid to participate; OpenSponsorship also handles contracts, terms, and payments so talent is paid only when a deal is complete. The company tracks multiple media channels (recently adding Twitch) and has listed more than 2,500 athletes, teams, and events across over 40 countries. OpenSponsorship is expanding exposure among esports and says it aims to open offices in new geographies to broaden reach. The company is based in New York with a development team in London and has 10 employees.

Total raised

$5M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Oct 2021