Sports are essential today, serving as a key contributor to physical and mental well-being. Playing sports helps people stay physically fit, reducing the risk of chronic conditions such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Beyond physical health, sports are also vital for mental health, providing an effective outlet for stress, anxiety, and depression. They foster a sense of discipline, teamwork, and perseverance, which are valuable life skills.
Equally, even sports venues play a vital role in society, serving as hubs for economic activity, community engagement, and cultural expression. Sports venues are central to community life, providing spaces where people can come together to support their teams, celebrate victories, and share experiences. They also contribute to the cultural identity of a city, often becoming iconic landmarks that symbolize local pride. Moreover, these venues support the physical and mental well-being of the community by hosting sports and recreational activities, making them essential not just for the sports industry but for the social fabric of the areas they serve.
Courtsite is an organization with the sole purpose of empowering sports venues, which have traditionally relied on pen and paper for bookings, by providing comprehensive digital solutions. Courtsite was founded to address these challenges—the founders sought to eliminate unnecessary paperwork and manual processes in sports venues. Since its inception, Courtsite has facilitated 4 million booking hours, helping people stay active and empowering over 270,000 registered users and 130 venues across the country. And these numbers continue to grow! Their suite of products is continuously evolving to meet market demands, enabling them to stay agile and adapt to trends in the sports industry while ensuring their partner venues receive consistent bookings. For example, they are capitalizing on the growing popularity of pickleball in the Klang Valley, onboarding over 20 pickleball venues in the past six months.
A Glimpse into the Courtsite Team
Courtsite’s dedication to bridging the gap between the sports industry and technology is also evident in its strategic collaborations with national sports associations and government agencies. A notable partnership is with Perbadanan Stadium Malaysia (PSM), a statutory body under the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), supporting initiatives at Kuala Lumpur Sports City and various national multi-sports complexes. The founding team was inspired by diverse backgrounds and that brought a wealth of experience to the table. Samuel Siew, the CEO, has over 10 years of experience in the sports industry, having served as the Head of Grassroots at the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and as Head of APAC at Train Effective in London. He is also a Member of the Board of Trustees for Impact Integrated, under the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Other key team members include Azraei, the Tech Lead, who brings expertise in IoT automation and holds a Master’s degree in Engineering from Imperial College, London. Jo Yo contributes valuable experience as a former Business Development Executive, having managed major sporting goods brands like JD Sports in Malaysia.
The advisory team features Dato’ Sheah Kok Fah, who has over 40 years of entrepreneurial experience and three decades as a solicitor. Co-founder Joey Ng, a former IBM consultant, brings experience in the sports-tech industry, while Co-founder Ian Lai, the architect behind Courtsite’s digital infrastructure, is currently a full-stack software engineer at global crypto exchange Coinbase. Last year, they introduced the Self-Service Reschedule feature, giving registered users the flexibility to adjust their bookings at any time.
Courtsite’s Flagship Products
Currently, they are in the early stages of launching Courtsite Teams, a flagship product designed to provide sports teams with a seamless experience in organizing matches. This all-in-one solution allows teams to book games, manage players, secure certified referees, and process payments with ease. They have already onboarded over 50 football and futsal teams from more than five leagues, with plans to expand to flag football, volleyball, badminton, and basketball by early next year. They encountered challenges when transitioning partner venues from traditional methods to a digital approach. Many venues were hesitant to abandon their familiar practices and were uncertain about adopting online systems.
To ease this transition, their Customer Success team dedicated time to demonstrating the benefits of going digital. They highlighted how current trends, such as the increasing preference for online payments and bookings, were crucial for staying competitive. This helped partner venues recognize the need for change. Additionally, they focused on building strong relationships by working closely with partner venues and providing tailored support and solutions to meet their specific needs. This approach facilitated a smoother transition and fostered trust, ultimately making the shift to digital systems more successful for all parties involved.
The Future of Courtsite
In addition to the Courtsite Teams product, they are actively engaged in grassroots initiatives through partnerships and events aimed at building sports communities. This approach not only allows users to enjoy their favourite sports in a communal setting but also provides partner venues with opportunities to retain and attract new customers. With features like real-time availability, AI-powered insights, and advanced data analytics, they continually optimize their platform to ensure a seamless experience for both registered users and partner venues. Their system also integrates with facility management tools to enhance convenience and improve customer satisfaction.
Looking ahead, they plan to expand their venue network, adopt new technologies, and introduce features that boost user engagement. They are also committed to sustainability and regional expansion while continuing to deliver exceptional sports booking experiences. For instance, they are automating tasks such as lighting and entrance controls using IoT and streamlining payments with e-invoicing in line with government mandates. Moreover, they are dedicated to giving back to the community by refurbishing and repurposing equipment from their 140 venues, including rubber mats and goalposts. These items will be donated to rural areas, helping to improve local sports facilities and providing better access to quality sports gear in underserved communities.
Drop a Hi on their socials to know more about them
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/courtsite/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtsite/
Website: https://www.courtsite.my/
