ClubSpot is right on target
MEET THE FINALISTS: MOST INNOVATIVE BUSINESS
ClubSpot has taken the software and technology industry by storm since inventing an app to bring communities together all in one place on their phone.
Over half a million users avail of ClubSpot daily - to buy match tickets, lotto tickets, pay for their club membership or to get club news.
Employing 34 members of staff, the company went live with its first customer in August 2020.
It was while he was out working with his father building football pitches and golf courses that ClubSpot founder and CEO, John Hyland, gained insight into how clubs operate. Involved with his own club also, the Gowna man “spotted a problem” and set about creating a solution for it.
That solution came in the forms of an all-in-one club management system for sports and social clubs, which helps them grow their revenue and cover administration aspects.
There are just over 500 clubs now using ClubSpot’s system in Ireland, with a customer base in the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, where they recently gained their first customer.
“We’re the only product in the area of our market that gives clubs their very own mobile app. We try to provide an elite level solution to grassroots sports and that help members to connect and engage with their favourite club,” Mr Hyland told the Celt.
He says “ease of use” has made the app popular among users.
“It’s been designed to make actions very fast and very simple. You can buy a ticket for a match in Cavan in ten seconds, you can buy your membership in ten seconds. You get all of your club news straight to your phone.
“People are very involved in their clubs, that’s how communities are built in Ireland. We have just become the digital way of connecting people and their clubs.”
The positive response to the app is proved in their customer retention rate of 98.6% in 2024.
“Customers are loving it, it’s working really well.
“The product is really successful.”
Looking to the future, the Cavan company hope to expand their business internationally by growing their customers base in the UK and the US. Mr Hyland has already completed a trade mission to Australia this year and will head to the United States later this year.
“The big thing for us is the talent. There’s good people in Cavan, there’s lots of good talent that wants to return to Cavan and come back and live in Cavan and we’re glad to be able to offer them a job in an industry that maybe didn’t exist.”
“That’s how we’ll look to grow. The company is built by Cavan people and that’s the biggest reason we’ve been able to grow how we’ve grown.”
Mr Hyland was “delighted” upon receiving the nomination. While the business has won “a few awards” this year, he said it’s “nicer to win them at home”.
“It’s great to be in amongst those other companies.”
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