Varsity News Network (VNN), a Grand Rapids, MI-based sports information technology platform is now expanding nationally and providing online communication platforms of high school athletics with a new round of funding.
Roughly $3.7 million of financing was completed that will go towards the expansion of the company and the launch of a mobile application. In February 2014, the company received $3 million Series A financing. Arsenal Venture Partners, a Florida-based venture capital firm, led the most recent financing.
“VNN is quickly building the largest school athletic digital media platform in the country and is growing at a pace that will allow it to continue to dominate the market,” said Ryan Wadding, partner at Arsenal Venture Partners.
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Other investors financially supporting VNN are North Coast Technology Ventures, RSL Venture Partners, Start Garden, Nik Arkin, Detroit Innovate, Grand Angels, Northern Michigan Angels, Michigan Angel Fund, and the former head coach of England’s Chelsea Football Club, Avram Gram.
VNN began in 2011 as a blog called West Michigan All Star. But co-founder and CEO, Ryan Vaughn, changed the direction of the company from a traditional news outlet to a customizable digital hub for high school athletic departments in 2012. “The team is excited to take the next step in its mission to simplify high school sports communication and connect student-athletes and families in local communities across the country,” Vaughn explained.
Content can be uploaded to VNN with a one-step process, which will be automatically cross-posted to the school’s website and social media accounts. The mobile app, available for both Android and iOs devices, includes schedules and driving directions to games, a team roster page, post-game scores, articles, and photos and videos to let users relive every play.
The company customizes communication platforms for different high school athletic departments. Not only does VNN give athletes, families, and local communities access to information about their teams, it also works with schools to sell advertising to local companies and organizations.
“We’re the leading platform for high school athletic departments, but we think we can do better,” Vaughn comments. “We think we can fundamentally change communication in K-12 sports.”
VNN released an updated version for its mobile app in March. Users can expect the release of VNN 2.0, which allows users to create profiles to connect with families and teammates, in early 2016.