Lynn Boggs and Greg Boggs of University Fancards
An exclusive Tech Tribune Q&A with Lynn Boggs (co-founder and CEO) and Greg Boggs (co-founder and EVP of Operations) of University Fancards, which was honored in our:
Tell us the origin story of University Fancards – what problem were you trying to solve and why?
LB: About five or six years ago, I was trying to find a gift card for my son Greg’s birthday. We’re Alabama fans, so I drove all over Birmingham trying to find a ‘Bama gift card. Come to find out, there was no such thing as an open-loop (gift cards available to use anywhere the issuer is accepted) college licensed gift card for Alabama or any other team. Living in one of the most college sports-loving areas in the nation, it seemed like someone would have been producing those. So we decided that we should be the ones to bring it to life.
What was the biggest hurdle you encountered in your journey?
LB: The biggest challenge at the start was getting the first school on board. Fortunately, we were able to
partner with Alabama as our first school. Once that happened, IMG College, now Learfield IMG College,
worked with us to sign more than a dozen other schools pretty shortly afterward.
GB: To build on that, in addition to continuing to add more partner schools to our
roster and appeal to more fans, we are also looking to enhance the customer experience as much as
possible. For example, with one of our partners, USIO, we are in the process of launching a new digital
storefront through our website to make your favorite teams’ gift cards more accessible than ever.
What does the future hold for University Fancards?
GB: Definitely adding more teams to keep up with customer demands. We are also developing new
applications for prepaid banking to augment teams abilities to handle in-stadium transactions, payrolls,
stipends, and more (and not just at the collegiate level). The fandom of college sports is unlike anything
else, but in the future, we aim to provide prepaid cards for professional sports franchises and
organizations, or potentially pop culture IPs if it makes sense.
What are your thoughts on the local tech startup scene in Birmingham?
LB: Well, you love to see it and we’re proud to be a part of it. At different times, Birmingham has been a
major center for industry, banking, finance, healthcare, and now we are part of the tech boom happening
in the city. With some of the newer startups entering the scene and some other shifts that appear to be
happening around the nation, the city looks like it will only continue to develop as a center in the tech
industry.
What’s your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
LB: If you have a really good idea, you just have to go for it and be willing to commit the time, effort, and whatever else it takes to get it over the top. Plus, you have to have the will to power through when things get tough.
GB: To build on that, surround yourself with good people that you believe in. It’s kind of cliché, but you
hear successful coaches talk about surrounding yourself with people smarter than you. The reason
that’s a cliché is because there is a lot of truth to it. A strong team working together is going to succeed
more often than not