Clubessential Acquires Stretch Internet
CINCINNATI (PRWEB) May 22, 2018 -- Clubessential, the leading provider of membership and club management solutions to the private club, college athletic and health and fitness markets, today announced the acquisition of Stretch Internet. Stretch, based in Phoenix, Arizona, pioneered the development and deployment of streaming video technology that delivers high quality, real-time, immersive video broadcasts of more than 70,000 live college sports events a year.
“We are excited to welcome Stretch Internet, their valued customers, employees and partners to Clubessential’s Sports Division. Stretch Internet successfully serves over 40% of the 4-year schools in the major athletic programs such as the NCAA and NAIA,” said Randy Eckels, CEO of Clubessential, which is majority owned by investment firm Battery Ventures. “The company’s innovative video streaming solution delivers a compelling user experience, to any screen, providing students, parents, alumni and sports fans realtime access to every touchdown, home run, goal and basket scored. The company’s creative integration of live statistics, instant highlights and social media provides a truly unique viewer experience unmatched in the industry.”
Chad Waller, Director Athletic Communications & Media, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), said: “Stretch Internet is a strategic partner providing exceptional streaming video service to 164 of our conference school athletic programs.” Waller added, “Stretch Internet continues to innovate working with our conference staff to ensure our members have the most cost effective, broadcast solution powering their digital sports presence. Stretch Internet’s client support has been instrumental in helping our member colleges successfully deliver their athletic program content to a growing fan base.”
“We couldn’t have found better partners than Battery Ventures and Clubessential to help lead our company and technology platform through the next phase of our growth,” said Ryan Ermeling, Stretch Internet’s Founder, President & CEO. “Our clients will benefit tremendously from the experience and resources made available through this new investment and partnership in the college athletics market.”
About Clubessential
Founded in 2002, Clubessential provides a full suite of membership and club management Software as a Service solutions to private clubs, health & fitness clubs and college athletic programs through the Clubessential, ClubReady and PrestoSports brands. The company offerings consist of websites, mobile apps, accounting, point-of- sale, payments, CRM, reservations, camps and statistics software solutions which help over 1,400 private clubs, 2,500 fitness clubs and 950 college athletic programs better attract, engage, and retain their members and fans for life. For more information, visit http://www.clubessential.com; http://www.clubready.com; and http://www.prestosports.com.
About Stretch Internet
Stretch Internet was founded in 2003 by former college sports information director, Ryan Ermeling, with a vision to transform college sports broadcasting through the Internet. Since day one, the company has focused only on streaming and delivering “freakishly good support.” With over 500 clients, representing 40% of the college market, and 70,000 broadcasts per year, Stretch Internet is the #1 streaming provider in the U.S. collegiate athletics space. For more information, visit http://www.stretchinternet.com.
About Battery Ventures
Battery strives to invest in cutting-edge, category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, Web infrastructure, consumer Internet, mobile and industrial technology. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at stages ranging from seed to private equity and invests globally from offices in Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, Israel and London. Follow the firm on Twitter @BatteryVentures, and visit our website at http://www.battery.com.
CONTACT:
David Higgins
CLUBESSENTIAL | CLUBREADY | PRESTOSPORTS | STRETCH INTERNET
513.533.5731
dhiggins(at)clubessential.com
4600 McAuley Place | Suite 350 | Cincinnati, OH | 45242
David Higgins, Clubessential, http://www.clubessential.com, +1 513.533.5731, [email protected]
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