Transforming Sports Engagement: The Vision Behind Break Sports
Founded by Trisha Goyal, Break Sports emerged as a response to the challenges many casual adult athletes face in getting involved with sports, particularly tennis. This article examines Goyal’s journey and the innovative platform she has developed to make sports more accessible.
The Genesis of Break Sports
In 2019, Goyal found herself eager to return to tennis but felt overwhelmed by the lack of options for casual players like herself. “After a 9-to-9 day, I was kind of tired of having to hit the gym by myself. I was looking to get back into the sport that I grew up playing, which was tennis,” she stated. Her realization that there was a significant gap in opportunities for sports engagement led her to explore solutions not just for herself, but for others facing similar dilemmas.
Her informal inquiries revealed a widespread desire among her peers to find a way to get into tennis, prompting Goyal to research the existing resources. This highlighted an educational and accessibility gap, as scheduling lessons often required cumbersome phone calls and limited online resources.
Building the Break Sports Platform
Recognizing a market opportunity, Goyal set out to create a platform that would streamline sports participation. The result was Break Sports, launched in 2020, which has since positioned itself as a leading online social sports booking platform catering specifically to casual players in the United States. “You can think of us as ‘Meetup.com’ meets a ‘Mindbody’ for sports,” Goyal explained, emphasizing the integration of social interaction within sports booking.
Through the Break The Love platform, Break Sports has catered to over 360,000 users across the U.S., focusing primarily on racquet sports like tennis and pickleball, as well as golf.
Integrating Sports into Popular Culture
Break Sports aims to redefine the sporting experience by merging it with cultural trends. Goyal believes that to attract a diverse audience, the company’s messaging should resonate with contemporary culture: “Bringing pop culture into our messaging is really at the core of our DNA,” she shared. This strategic approach not only aims to elevate sports but also engages non-athletes by incorporating fashion and lifestyle elements into their branding.
The firm has partnered with various brands and participated in events, like Art Basel, to reach active adults in creative spaces. Collaborations with entities such as Liquid I.V., Bumble, and Walmart further enhance their visibility in the lifestyle sector.
The Challenge of Female Leadership in Sports
Goyal’s experience as a female founder in a male-dominated industry has presented unique obstacles. She noted, “Female run start-ups earn $0.78 for every dollar of funding, which is more than double of what male-run start-ups earn.” Despite these challenges, Goyal has successfully driven Break Sports to impressive financial growth, reporting a doubling of revenue year-over-year and setting sights on reaching eight figures in overall earnings.
The company has garnered substantial interest from investors including the Dassler Family and Antler Ventures, while Goyal has received recognition as the first Tory Burch Foundation Sports Fellow in partnership with Billie Jean King.
Future Prospects
With the rising interest in women’s sports, Break Sports is witnessing a notable growth in female participation, with women constituting 54% of its user base. Goyal commented, “It’s usually flipped with other kinds of booking platforms in the sports space.”
As part of its expansion strategy, Break Sports is venturing beyond racquet sports, testing the waters in golf with their initiative Break The Birdie. Looking ahead to 2025, the company plans to innovate further by introducing offerings in team sports, particularly soccer and basketball, to engage more casual athletes.
