EarlyShares is partnering with Varsity Networks, a networking portal that provides online services to help over 9,000 high school sports teams manage information and stay connected. The partnership is intended to facilitate the online donation capability for VN’s 350,000+ members, through the creation of Boosters Unite.
Founded in 2011, EarlyShares provides a secure, user-friendly Equity Based Crowdfunding platform that connects entrepreneurs with investors. Furthermore, as part of EarlyShares’ growing umbrella, Boosters Unite will be a donation site that gives schools’ sports clubs, teams and programs, as well as other associations and clubs outside of schools, the opportunity to obtain general support for ongoing activities, as well as, specific sports events, programs and causes.
“This new donation tool will incorporate Varsity Networks’ extensive catalog of sports teams and supporters in a new way: integrating both their spirit to promote, as well as a user-friendly way to fundraise. We envision that BoostersUnite.com will use the synergy of communities across the country to come together to support themselves in an unprecedented way,” says Paul Bauersfeld, President & CEO of Varsity Networks, who will also serve as Chief Data Architect for EarlyShares.
Varsity Networks is a highly recognized network, which provides high school teams easy to use, reliable, and free communication tools and a web site to manage their sports team online. Each team site is the center for communication among coaches, players, parents and alumni with shared schedules, rosters, statistics, rankings, photos, videos, stories and alumni histories.
EarlyShares is expecting to roll out the initial site of Boosters Unite as early as April 2013. As part of the site, teams will have the ability to customize their landing page integrating their team colors and logo. Through Boosters Unite, members will be able to promote their events as well as fundraise, by sending a direct link to their network, all the while getting additional exposure to other members of the site.
“We were looking to expand our donation and philanthropic efforts and came to the conclusion that varsity sports is a great way to impact these communities. Varsity Networks’ great track record and vast database of high school teams make the network an ideal partner for EarlyShares. We share a passion of propelling these networks forward, by providing the needed exposure and bringing the crowd’s financial support into the mix,” says Heather Lopes, CEO of EarlyShares. “Furthermore, Paul brings a wealth of knowledge, not only to Boosters Unite but also EarlyShares, from his vast experience in companies like Apple, Xerox and MTV Networks. We are looking forward to this new initiative.”
