Group Y Content : Future Of Competitions

In this Week’s Group Y Content, Chris Friend, co-founder of LiveHeats, takes us on his journey from competitive surfing to revolutionizing grassroots action sports events with innovative technology. Chris shares insights into his early surfing career, the challenges of transitioning into the business world, and how LiveHeats is transforming the competition experience for both athletes and organizers.

Future Of Competitions  

From Waves to Tech: Insights from LiveHeats

In the latest episode of Group Y Live, host Oli Russell-Cowan sits down with Chris Friend, co-founder of LiveHeats —a groundbreaking technology platform transforming grassroots action sports events.

Chris shares his fascinating journey from a competitive surfing career on the Sunshine Coast to the bustling tech scene in London. He discusses the challenges he faced while transitioning from athlete to entrepreneur and how his passion for surfing continues to drive his business endeavors.

Chris recounts his early days in competitive surfing, where Volcom sponsored him at the age of 13. He highlights the evolution of his career, including his time in management consulting, which ultimately led him to identify a significant gap in the market for technology solutions in the action sports industry.

The idea for LiveHeats was born out of a desire to modernize the archaic, paper-based systems used in grassroots competitions, making them more efficient and accessible for both organizers and athletes.

“We want to create a really powerful and nice loop of the competition framework.”

The conversation explores the unique challenges faced by various action sports, including surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding, and how LiveHeats is addressing these challenges through innovative technology.

Chris emphasizes the importance of being deeply embedded in the communities they serve, ensuring that their solutions are tailored to the specific needs of each sport. He also shares insights into the future of LiveHeats, including plans for enhanced data analytics and streaming capabilities that will elevate the competition experience for athletes and fans.

As the episode wraps up, Chris reflects on the recent investment round that brought notable figures like Joel Parkinson on board, further solidifying LiveHeats' position in the action sports industry.

With a clear vision for the future, Chris and his team are committed to raising the bar for grassroots competitions, making them more engaging and data-driven.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of sports and technology.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Identify Inefficiencies: Look for outdated processes in your industry that can be improved with technology.

• Community Engagement: Immerse yourself in the communities you serve to better understand their needs and challenges.

• Embrace Innovation: Stay open to new ideas and technologies that can enhance your product or service offerings.

• Focus on Core Values: Keep your mission clear and prioritize what matters most to your business and its impact on the community.

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The Group Y Live Podcast with Oli Russell-Cowan offers insider access to the minds shaping youth culture, creativity, and innovation across sports, art, music, tech, and lifestyle. Featuring candid conversations with influential creators, brand leaders, and disruptors, each episode dives into the ideas and strategies driving authentic engagement in today’s fast-moving world.

Whether you're a marketer, entrepreneur, or creative thinker, you'll walk away with real-world insights, inspiration, and connections that fuel cultural relevance and community impact.

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