If you have a teenager who has always wanted to be a basketball player but inherited your two left feet, how do you help him or her improve on the court?
Many parents search for private coaches, but struggle to find qualified ones in their area who can be vetted for their expertise and price. CoachUp, a Boston startup founded in 2011, is revolutionizing the way athletes and coaches connect — and 2016 has been a big year for the growing company, CEO John Kelley (below) said.
Kelley is coming up on his two-year anniversary with the Boston-based startup, so we caught up with him to talk about the future of CoachUp and how the website, which connects athletes in over 30 sports with thousands of vetted, private coaches around the country plans on disrupting the $30 billion fitness market.
Why did you join CoachUp?
I was contacted through General Catalyst about the opportunity at CoachUp and as soon as I heard about it, I was excited. My favorite place is early startups, but first and foremost, it was about the people. I met Jordan Fliegel (the founder) and was very impressed with the guy. The second thing that stuck out to me was the vision. I have three kids of my own and sports is very important to my family, which has dealt with issues with coaching. Third, I thought I could make a difference. And I thought, ‘Oh my God, everything I’ve been doing before this has set me up for this point.' For me this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
For me, it’s working with a bunch of people and feeling like you’re doing something of value. We like to celebrate successes here, so I like when someone from the customer service team onboards a new coach and they come on strong. We just filmed the latest Stephen Curry film and that was so exciting, a big deal.
Describe the company culture of CoachUp in three words?
It’s collaborative, respectful and fun.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging thing is that it is a lonely role, being the CEO. You don’t have anyone telling you what to do. Your relationships go up and down, but you can’t necessarily talk to everyone.
Describe a typical day.
I make sure everyone has a clear vision of the company and what our priorities are. I try and make sure every individual understands how they fit into the big picture, which means helping to make sure communication lines stay open, providing feedback and guidance where I can be helpful, and looking at customers’ reviews.
I also spend time keeping a pulse on the business and checking in on the experience perspective from coach and client. The CEO also always spends time thinking about fundraising and communicating with our board.
What are you working on right now?
We just launched new tools for coaches, so previously they could only do one-on-one coaching or work with small groups with up to four athletes. Now, coaches can do whatever they want; if they want to do a four-day clinic or online coaching, they can now do all of that on the CoachUp platform.
What do you look for in employees when hiring?
There are two key things I probe on. One, I really try and understand someone’s personal narrative. Why did they choose this school? Why did they choose this job? This helps me understand their values and how they think about work and life, and helps me decide if CoachUp will be a good match for them. The second thing I look for are examples of them overcoming adversity. For early-stage companies, you need people who show grit and resilience because they tend to do better in this type of environment. I like people with positive attitudes.
What do you do to unwind from your job?
I try to run; exercise is definitely one way. My wife and I love to cook. We were really into Blue Apron for awhile but we OD'd. I also like to paint but I haven’t been able to lately.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Photos via social media
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