PROFILE

Booking technology is not just for travelers anymore. They’re for sports fans and athletes too.

Enter Jonathan Azouri, Co-Founder and CEO of CatchCorner, who takes us through this breakthrough idea and how it all came together.

What is CatchCorner?

CatchCorner is an app available on iOS, Android, and web that allows users to rent ice rinks, basketball courts, soccer fields, and other playing surfaces in various cities across North America.

It is the first-of-its-kind platform for renting sports facilities.

What inspired you to build this?

I co-founded CatchCorner with my sister Maya and best friend Ryan in Toronto in 2019. Growing up, we all experienced firsthand the difficulties of finding an available ice rink, basketball court, tennis court, etc. We thought, “Why can’t it be as easy as booking a flight online?”

CatchCorner was born out of a genuine desire to streamline the process of booking sports facilities, making it easier for people to find available venues and reserve their preferred time slots.

How has it been received by the market?

CatchCorner is growing tremendously. I believe that a big reason it is well received is the genuine problem that it solves. People prefer convenience - the more convenience we can provide to this ecosystem as a whole, the better of a job we are doing.

What has been the most challenging part of the founder's journey so far?

Many moments of this journey have been very tough - from the extensive hours required to the mental resilience needed.

Before we launched, working every day on something so intangible felt like the hardest part, until we launched and a number of other obstacles instantly showed up. Delegating work to new team members was very challenging initially, working with companies both big and small has been tough, and finding an equation for scalability has been demanding.

If I have learned one thing from all that, the hardest thing is likely still ahead of us on this journey… Keeping this mindset allows me to always be focused.

What has been one of the biggest developments recently?

We partnered with Sports Illustrated in 2021, two years after we launched. Sports Illustrated is not only an iconic media brand, but also the most trusted name in sports.

Working with SI’s team gives us that extra level of edge, whether it comes with credibility or further marketing capabilities which we’ve scratched the surface of, that’s something that can’t be replicated.

What is a piece of advice you’d share with other entrepreneurs?

Find your niche and stick to it.

Are you hiring?

Contact [email protected] if there's any interest!

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