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Ian Shipman (left), South East Regional Director for Angels Den, with Stephan Eyeson, Founder of GetProBasketball.com.
(Scroll down to the bottom of the screen to hear the radio interview with GetPro)
GetPro is a new website for basketball players to showcase their talents to coaches and teams worldwide. Launching in February 2010 by founder Stephan Eyeson, it is the first of its kind in Europe and aims to provide a forum for basketball players across Europe and the USA to promote their skills and establish links with coaches across the globe.
Basketball is becoming increasingly popular in the UK and Europe, particularly as it prepares to launch as an Olympic Sport for London 2012.
Stephan, 20 years from Luton, was inspired to start the business as he was frustrated at the lack of information available to players and the time consuming nature of making contact with individual coaches. Stephan is a seasoned player himself and combined with his passion for the sport he saw a lucrative business opportunity, which is supported by subscriptions and advertising.
“I approached Angels Den as they had a good reputation and I was fortunate to speak to the founder, Bill Morrow. Bill offered me plenty of advice and suggested that my business idea would work well at one of their SpeedFunding™ events where I could met 15 Angel investors in one night,” said Stephan. “I was particularly drawn to Angel investing as I was looking for a business mentor as well as the financial boost I needed to get my business off the ground.”
“After loading my business plan onto the Angels Den site, I attended a SpeedFunding™ event in November 2009 where I met my investor. We hit it off really quickly and, as I had hoped, as well as providing financial input, he also provides me with significant guidance and advice on a daily basis which is absolutely invaluable”.
The investment secured with the assistance of Angels Den has enabled the GetPro website to be launched professionally, as well as assisting Stephan in marketing the business.
“In our first year we aim to sign up over 200 coaches and 2000 players across Europe and the USA, with the long term aim of promoting the site to Africa, Australia, South America and Canada. We also hope to put profits towards setting up the first basketball academy in Ghana, in order to branch out to other African nations. In future years we will be improving and promoting the service by adding events such as basketball games, tournaments and speaking at basketball events,” said Stephan. Stephan is a second year student at Canterbury Christ Church University, where he studies Theology and Health, and in his spare time trains with the Kent Crusaders.
Radio Interview
Below is the link for the radio interview at the end of January 2010. If it is not working, you may need to click on the new bar at the top of the screen, then chose option 'run add on' to hear it.
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