As an Ole Miss graduate and passionate football fan living in Birmingham, I often heard then-Alabama football Head Coach Nick Saban express frustration over a persistent issue: fans, particularly students, weren’t staying for the entirety of football games. His plea, “We play for four, so stay for four,” stuck with me, and I felt there had to be a way to enhance fan engagement during games. While the games themselves were thrilling, the overall experience didn’t always cater to modern fans. Filling the stadium wasn’t the problem, but keeping fans there presented an untapped opportunity.
Leveraging my experience in growing tech ventures, I connected with Michael Testa, whose expertise in loyalty rewards and SportsTech made him the perfect partner. Together, we created Wunderfan, a platform and app designed to revolutionize fan engagement at live events like games and concerts. Launched during the first week of the college football season in September, Wunderfan has quickly gained momentum, particularly through campus takeovers at Florida’s top universities. Thousands of students at UCF, the University of Florida, FSU, and the University of Miami are now earning rewards for attending games, participating in campus events, and even attending classes. Rewards include gift cards from popular brands like Starbucks, Lululemon, Chipotle, and Panda Express.
Wunderfan’s initial attend-to-earn model is expanding to include pick-to-earn and soon, watch-to-earn features. The app will offer more opportunities for users to earn by engaging with its News Feed or watching sports events on TV. Michael Testa believes Wunderfan transforms spectators into active participants, fostering a culture of engagement. While sports were the starting point, the potential extends to live events, TV networks, brands, and businesses, creating endless possibilities through Wunderfan’s technology.
Our vision is resonating beyond our team. Wunderfan is preparing for nationwide expansion, backed by a $2.5 million funding round aimed at supporting growth and establishing partnerships with universities, live events, and top brands.
While Wunderfan’s rapid success is exciting, my focus remains on the core mission: bridging the gap that once saw Alabama students leaving football games at halftime. Our app not only offers financial rewards, or ‘wunder,’ but also fosters genuine participation and loyalty. By creating meaningful connections and memorable moments, Wunderfan ensures that everyone from fans to brands comes out a winner.
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