Matt Fornataro of TorchPro
An exclusive Tech Tribune Q&A with Matt Fornataro (co-founder and CEO) of TorchPro, which was honored in our:
Tell us the origin story of TorchPro – what problem were you trying to solve and why?
As a former professional athlete, I always felt the access point to the best athletes in the world was muted or hidden. We are very used to seeing the highlights on SportsCenter, but rarely do we see the story/behind the scenes of how that athlete got to the pinnacle of their sport. This became our mission: to provide fans unprecedented access to the best athletes in the world, as well as give those athletes a place to help tell their story.
What was the biggest hurdle you encountered in your journey?
The hurdles and obstacles have been plenty as is the case for any new venture. Early on, it’s hard to get people to take you seriously. I’ve learned that action is always better than words. For us at TorchPro, that meant creating content with athletes. Once we started to be able to showcase our capabilities through our storytelling, the doors began to open to more possibilities. Problems never go away, but learning to manage emotions and work through challenges as a team has become a huge source of our strength as a company.
What does the future hold for TorchPro?
The future is very exciting. We are always thinking about the athletes we work with and how we can help them make an impact on those next generations. We are excited about our new content series and programming this year that will feature athletes from the NFL, NBA, PLL, MLS, and MLB. Storytelling will always be a core component to our business, which we believe will allow us to be on the leading edge of innovation and access for sports fans and athletes.
What are your thoughts on the local tech startup scene in Manchester?
Manchester, NH is somewhat of a hidden gem in terms of really smart, successful people willing to invest, mentor, and help startups. We have been extremely blessed to have partnered with York IE and YCC – they have become integral partners in our growing business.
What’s your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
The best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is that it will be way harder and take way longer than you think. Perspective is a huge word for me. I’ve learned that everyday you have the opportunity to lay one brick/take one step – focus on that, not on building the huge stadium ‘of your dreams’. Focus on the process, even in the hard times, keep faith, keep an open mind, find smart people, and lay one brick everyday. Before long you will look around and be pretty proud of where you’ve come.