Today’s guest columnist is Blake Patterson.
As an Ole Miss alum and avid football fan living in Birmingham, I kept hearing then-Alabama football Head Coach Nick Saban lament a recurring problem: fans, especially students, weren’t staying in the stadium for the full game. As Saban pled to students, “We play for four, so stay for four,” I just couldn’t shake the idea that there had to be a way to get fans more engaged at the games.
It was clear there was a disconnect.
The games were incredible, but the experience didn’t always feel like it was catering to modern fans. There didn’t seem to be an issue getting people in the stadium, but I saw so much untapped potential when it came to keeping them in the stadium.
My experience in scaling tech ventures eventually connected me with Michael Testa, whose background in loyalty rewards and SportsTech was ideal, and we created Wunderfan, a platform and smartphone app redefining how fans engage with games, concerts and other live events.
Wunderfan launched week one of the college football season in September, and it’s quickly gaining attention from its latest campaign, campus takeovers at Florida’s biggest universities. Thousands of students at UCF, University of Florida, FSU and the University of Miami are now earning rewards for attending games, engaging with campus events or even going to class. Rewards can be redeemed from Starbucks, lululemon, Chipotle, Panda Express and more.
While Wunderfan started with attend-to-earn technology, it’s evolving with pick-to-earn and soon, watch-to-earn. The app has plans to offer increased earning opportunities by engaging with its state-of-the-art News Feed page or even just watching sporting events on television.
My partner, Michael Testa, says that we’re turning spectators into active participants and creating a culture of engagement. This started with sports, but we see an opportunity for live events, TV stations, brands and businesses. With the Wunderfan technology, opportunities are endless.
We aren’t the only ones who believe in what Wunderfan can do. Our company is currently gearing up for nationwide expansion with a $2.5 million funding round to support its growth and secure partnerships with universities, live events and leading brands.
While Wunderfan’s rapid growth is thrilling, I’m remaining focused on the original idea: eliminating the disconnect that had Alabama students football fans leaving the games at halftime by fostering connection and creating moments that matter.
Earning money, or ‘wunder’ is a huge part of the app, but we’re rewarding participation and loyalty in a way that’s genuine and meaningful. We’re creating opportunities for connection and conversation like never before. Wunderfan is a platform where everyone wins.
Blake Patterson: Blake Patterson is an accomplished entrepreneur and problem-solver, dedicated to creating social impact by empowering businesses, creators and fans. As the founder of Simpeo, he scaled the company to over $100 million in annual revenue before its acquisition by GMS, the largest privately-owned PEO in the United States. Blake’s current mission is to transform fan experience using innovative technology through his newest venture, Wunderfan.
David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).
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