Shivaas Gulati, a longtime Seattle entrepreneur and investor, recently took a break from the tech industry to recharge and explore new passions and hobbies. This break led him to focus on his love for soccer and sports, prompting him to research how soccer clubs are run and explore potential opportunities for his tech background to intersect with the sports industry. After talking to various clubs, Gulati decided to join an ownership consortium that purchased Southend United, a football club founded in 1906 in Southend-on-Sea, England. With his investment, Gulati became the 11th member of the consortium known as Custodians of Southend United.
While Gulati remains connected to the Seattle tech scene and serves as a board member for Foundations, an organization supporting startup founders, he will primarily focus on his involvement with Southend United. Through frequent trips back to England, Gulati aims to leverage his tech expertise to enhance technology adoption at the football club. This includes advancements in player analytics, game analytics, scouting, recruiting, fan engagement, commercial opportunities, strategic partnerships, and the use of artificial intelligence to reach fans on a personalized level.
AI will play a significant role in the future of sports business, with more forward-thinking organizations beginning to invest in and utilize AI technology. Gulati believes that clubs will test and refine AI initiatives similarly to the way startups develop and scale their products, ultimately transforming the sports industry. In Southend, Gulati plans to utilize software and AI to engage with the region’s half a million residents, enhance coaching staff capabilities, and uncover new business opportunities without the need to hire additional personnel.
Gulati and Justin Rees, chairman of the consortium, even utilized AI to draft purchase agreements and contracts without the need for lawyers. According to Gulati, sports businesses face similar challenges to other industries, including strategic alignment, execution, goal tracking, performance measurement, idea generation, and metrics development. Through his experience in startups and tech companies, Gulati hopes to bring grit, tenacity, planning, and iteration to Southend United, giving the football club a competitive advantage.
As Gulati delves deeper into the world of soccer club ownership, he aims to implement technology solutions that drive innovation, efficiency, and fan engagement at Southend United. By leveraging his tech background and focusing on the intersection of sports and technology, Gulati hopes to propel the football club forward in areas such as player performance, business operations, and fan experiences. With the use of AI and software solutions, Gulati envisions a future where Southend United embraces cutting-edge technology to enhance all aspects of the club’s operations and interactions with fans.
