14 December 2009
SWAIN (South West Angel and Investor Network) are pleased to announce that the green shoots of recovery or should we say the grass roots are appearing with another SWAIN company, mashsport, having successfully raised equity finance of over £300k from SWAIN business investors, otherwise known as angels. Mashsport are based in North Devon and though their product is targeted nationwide, they consider their origins as the South West.
Mashsport is the brain child of Dominic Risebro, who with several sporty children of his own, and a fifteen year career on the commercial side of professional sport has long recognised the breadth of talent and enthusiasm apparent at all levels of amateur sport. The clear goal is to “mash” the community together (the sum of the whole being far more powerful and influential than the sum of the parts!) giving individuals and clubs of all sizes the support that allows them to concentrate on enjoying their sport. Mashsport.com provides a platform for players, organisers and supporters to communicate, organise, and reach out to sponsors and professional bodies who can help. More than just a website, mashsport has already begun to roll out a series of events designed to educate and inspire young and amateur sports people, and attract more people to get involved in grass roots sport.
Dominic has built an experienced and passionate team to deliver mashsport, including Andrew Gomarsall MBE. With 35 England rugby caps and a World Cup winner’s medal, Andy is one of the Guinness Premiership’s most experienced scrum halves. In his role as Director of Sports, Andy is truly inspirational and is busy recruiting other high profile mashsport ambassadors from a wide range of sports. Andy says “It hasn’t been the 15 years of playing top flight professional rugby that has shaped my principles and beliefs, it is where I have come from: the amateur, grassroots sports that I have been associated with from an early age. I believe mashsport to be the epitome of what grassroots sport is and should be all about, the people that make it happen, and releasing the potential of the next generation of sports men and women. Mashsport can and will make a real difference and I am thrilled to be a part of it.”
Mashsport first came to SWAIN in September 2009 and after an evaluation process were introduced at an event held at the Arundell Arms, Lifton. The company proved an immediate hit with six angels showing serious interest. Mashsport were pleased to be able to select the angels most suited to the business, all of whom were incredibly keen to support and promote sport in the community. Two of the four angels are now on the board and the company is growing rapidly with seven employees and the intention to employ twenty five by this time next year.
The core mashsport service is free to end users, and the beta website, www.mashsport.com, is now live with an exciting programme of new features being released over the next quarter. Mashsport are using the finance raised to develop and launch the service, ably supported by the International Digital Media firm Twofour Group as their technology partner.
When asked why mashsport decided to raise equity finance Dom replied, “To me angel investors are more than just financiers, when they invest money in a company they also invest their time, experience and enthusiasm to help make the company a success. I am hugely proud of the world class team who are leading the business with me and am absolutely delighted with the quality of the investors we met through SWAIN, we wouldn’t have got to where we are today without them. I’m really excited with the progress at mashsport and am already delighted with how we have engaged with the local community and beyond.”
Bruce Colley, Investment Director for SWAIN said “I was particularly struck by Dominic’s passion and belief in the mashsport concept. He genuinely sees this as a way of growing grass root sports and getting kids (and adults) more active. I look forward to toasting their success and supporting their engagement with the South West Business and Sport communities.”