St. Louis Startup LockerDome Hits 4 Million Users, Preps for a Busy 2013

Two weeks ago, The St. Louis Business Journal reported that startup company LockerDome hit 3 million monthly unique users.

But there’s even more reason to celebrate today—another 1 million reasons to celebrate to be exact.

This week, LockerDome hit the 4 million monthly unique users mark.  The St. Louis-based startup grew its user base a whopping 5.6% on Sunday, December 8, 2012 alone.  The company saw more growth in that one day than it had in the first 12 weeks of launch. Fifteen times this year LockerDome has set a new single week growth record.  Each week, the startup’s user base grows about 14%.

LockerDome is a social media network for sports fans, professional athletes and even young athletes.  The social network allows for interaction, content production, posting and sports-related networking and connecting.  The platform allows its now 4 million plus users to create a profile for free, choose communities that interest them (over 1350 to choose from) and displays those interests in order to create connections.

“LockerDome is a place to interact with like-minded people who share the same sports interests that you do,” says LockerDome CEO Gabe Lozano.  “At first, we referred to it as Facebook for sports.  These days, however, LockerDome is all about consuming content and interacting in a manner that nurtures more relevant, deeper conversations about what you’re passionate about.”

What’s the secret sauce to LockerDome’s incredible growth?  According to both Gabe Lozano and LockerDome’s Director of Business Development, Mark Sanders, it takes a little bit of everything.  First and foremost, the platform incorporates a model that works seamlessly with the social media platforms we already use today, particularly Facebook and Twitter, while adding value in the places that those platforms don’t address particularly well.

“We figured out that we add an enormous amount of value to publishers, such as professional athletes and brands,” explains Lozano.  “Facebook doesn’t do everything on a social standpoint...especially for professional athletes and brands.  LockerDome fills the gaps.  It amplifies content and generates more followers and fans.”  In fact, professional athletes and brands utilizing the LockerDome platform have been noted to grow by 50% more Facebook fans and Twitter followers within just 4 and ½ months.

In addition to finding a niche-y need in the market, LockerDome utilizes contests in order to drive higher conversion rates.  The startup has seen immense success with their contests, with a 23% conversion rate.  The average rate of conversion for contests in the industry is around 2-3%.

Although 4 million users seems like a major reason to celebrate, both Lozano and Sanders believe that the startup has a long way to go.  On top of operating at a million miles per hour, the entire team at LockerDome is focused solely on “staying alive” and grabbing the opportunity while it’s still there.

“We’re taking things one day at a time,” says Sanders.  “We are happy to be in the situation we’re in right now.  What we do in 2013 depends on the users—we are going to build what they want.”

Many publications predict that LockerDome will quickly become one of the top 10 sports sites for online traffic behind (or perhaps in front of) competitors such as Bleacher Report.  All other top 10 sports websites are owned by major media or sports organizations.

“We believe firmly in the channelization of social.” states Lozano.  “There are times, especially in sports, when most people would rather communicate with like-minded people that share the same interests than merely with their friends. We are solving for that.”

Follow LockerDome! @LockerDome 

Missouri: A Top Spot for Conferences

Recently, the Kauffman Foundation announced that Missouri is the number 6 state for entrepreneurs, but did you know it’s also a hot spot for meetings and conferences as well? According to the article “More Meetings in MO” by William Ng, Kansas City, St. Louis and Branson (yes, Branson!) are some of the top choices for business gatherings.

Conference in KC

From the large-scale Kansas City Convention Center to the more intimate, loft-style spaces of the Crossroads District at bizperc, Kansas City has a lot to offer when it comes to meeting spaces.  Downtown KC has been recently revamped and is ready for eager professionals!  Ng writes, “In the first two months of 2012, the city hosted more than a dozen conventions that contributed more than $20 million to the local economy…In 2011, it recorded its best year ever in terms of hotel demand, with 6.6 million room nights sold.”  Tourists and business people alike are discovering that Kansas City is the new hip destination.

Synergy in St. Louis

The Meeting Professionals International World Education Congress love St. Louis so much, they even had their annual meeting there in July.  St. Louis offers the 500,000 square foot America’s Center right in the center of the lively downtown with four convention centers in one—including Cervantes Convention Center, Edward Jones Dome (yep, the football stadium is inside this place!), St. Louis Executive Conference Center and the Ferrara Theatre.  Walk out the door, and you’re immediately surrounded by restaurants, hotels and other attractions.  With room to play and sites to see, St. Louis offers more than just great sports teams and Budwesier beer!

Book it in Branson

You may be surprised to find Branson on this list, but it’s been gaining convention popularity.  At this family reunion destination, you’ll find not only large groups of relatives strolling around in matching t-shirts, but also business professionals attending conferences.  The Branson Convention Center is just moments away from golf courses, a lake and the Landing (filled with shops and luxurious dining). Plus, if you’re really feeling adventurous, Silver Dollar City is just nine miles away.  You’ll also find the lowest hotel room tax out of the three cities here – 12.1 percent!  It’s not just for tourists anymore either.  Branson is getting a well-deserved rep for hosting some pretty important people.

As the Silicon Prairie gains more popularity, the Midwest earns more respect. Missouri has a lot to offer – and professionals everywhere are starting to see it. 

LiveOn (Among Other Startups) Head to St. Louis for InvestMidwest

What do you get when you put 300 attendees, 60 venture capital companies and 44 startup organizations under one roof in St. Louis, Missouri?  You get an entrepreneur's dream; you get InvestMidwest.

InvestMidwest showcases 44 companies representing 10 states across the flyover region in three different industry tracks including life sciences, technology and clean energy/sustainability.  This venture capital conference has helped to generate over $850 million of investments in the past 12 years.

One company in particular is looking forward to the InvestMidwest opportunity.  The startup has been making a splash in the entrepreneurial world with appearances and nominations at SXSW and at during the Think Big Field Trip to Silicon Valley.  The startup, known as LiveOn, is hoping to make an even bigger impact at InvestMidwest today.

"We are looking forward to attending the InvestMidwest Forum as an opportunity to meet potential investors as well as to mingle with other entrepreneurs," said Jonathan Whistman, founder of LiveOn.  "The Midwest continues to be an interesting place to build a business and these types of forums always help with creating a platform to connect like-minded people."

LiveOn hopes to take what they learned during the Think Big Field Trip and implement pitching strategies at the InvestMidwest Forum.

"We just recently returned from a trip to Silicon Valley to participate in a two startup showcases.  One was put on by Silicon Valley Bank and the other by Kansas City's Think Big Partners.  It will be interesting to see the differences in the investment environment from the coast to here in the Midwest," said Whistman.

All startups presenting at InvestMidwest must be located within the center corridor of the United States.  These companies must be seeking $1 million to $20 million in funding and must have revenue projections of $20 million within the first five years.

InvestMidwest will take place on April 4-5, 2012 at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark in St. Louis, Missouri.  To learn more, please visit https://www.investmidwestforum.com/.

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