Open Sponsorship

OpenSponsorship operates as a digital marketplace designed to streamline the process of securing sports sponsorships. Founded in 2014 by Ishveen Anand (also known as Ishveen Jolly), the New York-based company was established to address significant inefficiencies, a lack of transparency, and high barriers to entry within the traditional sponsorship industry.

Anand's professional journey provided the foundational insights for the venture. An Oxford University graduate in Economics and Management, she worked as a sports agent in India and the UK, brokering deals for prominent teams and companies like the Mumbai Indians and Hero MotoCorp. This firsthand experience revealed how fragmented and unanalytical the market was, particularly for the 99% of athletes who are not at the top of their fields. After founding a cross-border sponsorship firm called Auxus and later relocating to New York, Anand launched OpenSponsorship to create a more efficient, accessible, and data-driven solution.

The company's business model is centered on its technology platform, which serves brands of all sizes, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies like Walmart and FootLocker. Brands pay a monthly subscription fee, ranging from approximately $79 to $1,250, to access the marketplace, post marketing campaigns, and connect with a database of over 20,000 professional athletes, teams, and leagues across 160 sports. For athletes and their agents, joining the platform is free, with OpenSponsorship taking a commission of 10-20% on deals secured through the marketplace. Deals range from single social media posts for as little as $100 to extensive, long-term campaigns valued at over $100,000.

The platform's service provides a comprehensive suite of tools for managing the entire sponsorship lifecycle. It utilizes AI-based matching to connect brands with suitable athletes based on campaign goals and audience demographics. Key features include campaign creation and management, a comprehensive search tool with filters for athlete interests and social footprint, social media content and keyword search, proposal submission, and analytics for tracking deliverables and return on investment (ROI). The system manages contracts and holds payments in escrow until deliverables are met, adding a layer of security and transparency to the process.

Financially, OpenSponsorship has secured a total of $5.3 million in funding over four rounds, including a Series A round led by Serena Ventures and David Blitzer. Its investor list includes notable names such as 500 Global, Rosecliff Ventures, and former NBA player Baron Davis.

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