From Sports Exec to Startup Founder: How VRTL is Revolutionizing Fan Engagement
Courtney Jeffries, founder of VRTL, describes herself as a “recovering sports executive.” After a successful 20-year career in marketing and sales for teams like the Oakland Raiders and the New York Rangers, she took a leap of faith to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams. But her transition wasn’t a complete departure from her previous life; it was a natural evolution fueled by a powerful observation.
Spotting the Gap in Fan Engagement
While working at Madison Square Garden, Jeffries noticed a significant opportunity. “My whole job was to focus on extracting the lifetime value out of the fans, but quite obviously, there’s an over indexing of attention on fans in the building,” she told TechCrunch. “The majority of fans are outside of an arena […] and there’s no platform, no way to scale in-person experiences that we know will trigger their loyalty.”
Introducing VRTL: The Virtual Fan Experience Platform
In 2022, Jeffries launched VRTL, an enterprise platform designed to empower entertainment companies, including sports teams and record labels, to capitalize on the growing demand for virtual fan experiences. VRTL seamlessly combines livestreaming, video chat, and proprietary fan engagement tools to foster deeper connections and ultimately drive fan loyalty.
“It’s a very versatile platform that combines livestream, video chat, and then our proprietary suite of fan engagement experiences to drive those loyalties,” Jeffries explained.
Beyond Video Chat: VRTL’s Unique Selling Proposition
What sets VRTL apart from existing video chat or livestreaming services is its unique combination of valuable data insights and proprietary fan engagement tools. One popular feature allows celebrities to offer personalized virtual autographs, such as signing a .gif of an iconic play for each individual fan. From a management perspective, virtual meet and greets are significantly more cost-effective than traditional in-person events, eliminating the need for venue rentals, security, and staffing, while reaching a wider, geographically dispersed audience.
“Why can’t we just do this on a Zoom?” Jeffries questioned. “Sure, you can, but Zoom is optimized for office work. It isn’t optimized for fans.”
Real-World Success: Building Loyal Fanbases
VRTL boasts a 60% conversion rate for pilot events, with a growing roster of high-profile clients including the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Minnesota Twins, ESPN, and Atlanta United FC.
The Falcons utilize VRTL to host exclusive monthly meet and greet events for season ticket holders with former players, creating memorable experiences that strengthen fan loyalty. VRTL has even helped the Jacksonville Jaguars cultivate a dedicated fanbase in London, where the team has played four games over the last two years.
Embracing Change: The Future of Fan Engagement
Jeffries believes the entertainment and sports industries are ready for a paradigm shift in fan engagement.
“When I worked for the Raiders, I was there the day that Twitter launched. Everyone was like, ‘What the hell, no one’s going to communicate in 140 characters,” she recalled. “It is now unheard of for a team or league to launch without a social media manager… within my career lifetime, this has happened.”
Ready to Connect with Your Fans in a New Way?
Are you ready to unlock the potential of virtual fan experiences and deepen your connections with your audience? Explore the possibilities of VRTL today.