Grandstand Expands Platform with First Collective of Professional Women Athlete Partners and Investors

February 13, 2024

As part of strategic alliance with Parity, the collective of women athletes join the creator platform to increase fan engagement and create new revenue opportunities

New York, NY, February 13, 2023 /SPORTSWIRE WOMEN/ – Grandstand, the startup bringing the best of the creator economy to sports, today announced the launch of the platform’s first collective of women athletes, offering them an unparalleled avenue for revenue generation and direct engagement with their fanbases. Every Grandstand athlete is also a stakeholder with equity in the business, ensuring that athletes have a vested interest in building their brand and business on the Grandstand platform. The launch is part of the platform’s larger partnership with Parity, the sports marketing and sponsorship platform dedicated to closing the gender income and opportunity gap in professional sports.

Athletes on Grandstand benefit from a dedicated community manager and an engaged fan community that values positivity, fostering a supportive online environment. Unlike other platforms that withhold data from their creators, Grandstand empowers athletes by granting full access to their fan list. This direct line of communication enables athletes to engage with their audience on a personal level, fostering a more meaningful connection. Additionally, with a majority of net revenue going directly to the athlete, Grandstand ensures a fair and transparent compensation structure.

The collective of athletes include Promise Amukamara (professional basketball player, Olympian); Shasta Averyhardt (professional golfer); Marija Bogavac (professional javelin thrower); Temi Fagbenle (professional basketball player, Olympian); Shakima Wimbley (National and World Champion sprinter); and Katrina Young (2x Olympic diver). They join Grandstand athletes including James Nicholas and Nakeie Montgomery on the platform.

“We are thrilled to provide a revolutionary platform designed to elevate and empower athletes to monetize their unique stories and connect directly with their fanbase,” says Sandeep Rajan, founder and CEO of Grandstand. “Grandstand is not just a platform; it’s a community that values equity, support, and genuine connection. As Grandstand continues to redefine the intersection of sports and the creator economy, this collective represents a significant step towards fostering inclusivity, empowerment, and financial independence for women athletes.”

“While creators with niche audiences have leveraged membership solutions for additional income, athletes, and in particular women athletes, have been underserved, lacking a dedicated solution tailored to their unique needs and stories,” says Leela Srinivasan, CEO of Parity. “Grandstand addresses this gap by empowering athletes to directly earn revenue from their fans, providing a lucrative opportunity for women athletes who boast some of the most engaged and supportive fanbases in sports.”

“Grandstand is a platform where I can be seen for who I am: a true warrior, athlete, leader, friend, family member, passionate traveler, and dedicated sports player,” says Bogavac. “Grandstand means that I can be comfortable sharing my content and interacting with my true fans on a daily basis. Having a separate app where people can go in and follow my journey means more than just scrolling through social media apps. What really matters is to truly share my journey for what it really is, full of ups and downs and like life, meant to be enjoyed and shared with other people.”

In October 2023, Grandstand announced a new $2.75M round of funding led by Will Ventures. Grandstand empowers athletes to create exceptional experiences for their true fans. By combining creator platform superpowers, a deep focus on sports, and a simplified direct-to-consumer subscription structure, Grandstand makes it easy for athletes to engage and monetize their true fans as effectively as their favorite creators can. 

Grandstand is currently available on iOS only and can be downloaded through the Apple App Store. 

For visual assets: HERE 

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About Grandstand:

Grandstand is a pioneering startup revolutionizing the sports industry by seamlessly integrating the creator economy. Through innovative solutions, Grandstand empowers athletes to directly engage with their fans, monetize their content, and take ownership of their brand and business. Grandstand was founded by CEO Sandeep Rajan, who previously led product teams at Patreon and Dropbox. For more information, visit https://grandstand.io/ or follow Grandstand on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

About Parity:

Minority-founded in 2020, Parity is a sports marketing and sponsorship platform dedicated to closing the gender income and opportunity gap in professional sports. By developing high-impact collaborations between brands, professional women athletes and their fans, Parity has proudly put millions of dollars in the pockets of women athletes, attracting dozens of brands to the movement in the process. The platform connects brands like Microsoft, Morgan Stanley and Strava to more than 900 women athletes from 75+ sports, including well over 250 Olympians and Paralympians. For more information on how to tap into the rapidly rising influence and popularity of women athletes, visit https://paritynow.co or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Threads.