The Imes Story
Founder and also Chief Executive Officer of HIO Media, Inc., and also the maker of ReelGOLF™. Imes accommodates an MBA coming from the McCombs College of Organization and also an undergraduate’s level in power design.
He made each of his levels coming from the College of Texas at Austin. Imes is actually a respected maker along with over one hundred U.S. and also global licenses around numerous markets, featuring cell phones, mobile phone popular music, IoT, electronic image resolution, substitute electricity, AI videography, and also very most lately golf.
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What was actually the origin for ReelGOLF?
A handful of years earlier, I was actually delighting in a cycle of golf on the Old Program at St. Andrews. This was my very first time at St. Andrews, and also I intended to grab every instant. As the cycle took place, I made an effort and also neglected to grab the remarkable appeal of the Old Program and also my individual knowledge.
Several out-of-focus online videos and also unstable mobile phone pictures later on, I related to the awareness that there was actually no fool-proof, simple technique to grab and also maintain this on-course knowledge. This influenced me to make an innovation that could resolve this issue for gamers all over.
What was actually the size of the amount of time structure coming from theoretical tip to true consumer engagement?
As my principle began forming, I started Victory (HIO) Media, Inc. to aid produce this modern technology dream a truth. HIO Media started researching in the spring season of 2020, straight prior to the global smash hit.
I went to the Athletes Champion investigating cam innovations when the PGA closed down viewer watching—little bit of performed I understand that while the global roared, thus would certainly the hunger for golf coming from brand-new and also devoted gamers identical.
I persevered, and also 2 years later on, ReelGOLF was actually birthed.
On Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, my crew and also I filled in the storm at Huge Cedar Resort in Missouri, where the ReelGOLF cam unit was actually put together on the renowned par-3 19th opening at Payne’s Lowland. Equally the storm removed and also the sunshine jabbed with, the ReelGOLF unit captured none, however 2 amateur golf enthusiasts’ hole-in-ones within mins of one another—a 17 million-to-one probabilities task. If there were actually any type of uncertainties concerning ReelGOLF modern technology in the past, they were actually undoubtedly compressed then.
How carries out ReelGOLF function?
The ReelGOLF unit is available in 2 choices: Problem and also Premier. ReelGOLF Premier entails putting up AI-enabled Bosch® electronic cameras inconspicuously near tee packages and also veggies of trademark the same level threes, enabling gamers to merely check a QR regulation to trigger the unit. ReelGOLF at that point tapes their go, incorporates go mapping along with the gamers’ titles, programs, and also supporter company logos, and also sends out the high-def online video to the gamer’s phone within mins – packaged moments prepared to discuss on social media sites.
With ReelGOLF Problem, that exact same AI-enabled online video modern technology is actually made use of to locate and also assess a golf reception’s range to the pin within much less than half a reception (18 millimeters), permitting correct and also automatic sizes on par 3 openings. Gamers that opt-in possess accessibility to 2 par 3 competitions: Closest-to-the-Pin and also Band of Fire (a solo activity where the deeper the go reaches the pin, the even more loan the gamer creates). The gamer at that point turns on the token on their phone once they get to the par 3 obstacle opening and also takes their best effort.
While Band of Fire pays gamer payouts by the end of the time, those participating in the Closest-to-the-Pin obstacle may obtain updates on the leaderboard by means of content. In the end of the time, the leading 3 gamers obtain an alert coming from ReelGOLF to accumulate their payouts. While the programs are actually creating a percent on each token obtained, they don’t need to raise a hands on the remainder – ReelGOLF manages everything.
How does ReelGOLF differentiate itself from your competition?
There is no other technology like ReelGOLF that exists, so there isn’t much concern about competition. That’s exactly why ReelGOLF was created – there was a clear void that existed for players looking to capture and preserve their memories out on the course.
The nearest competitor to ReelGOLF from a video standpoint is players using their mobile phones to try and record shots. From an on-course challenge standpoint, aside from the old move-the-stick method of measurement for competitions like Closest-to-the-Pin, the defunct Swing Kings camera system was the only technology that could be considered somewhat similar to the basics of what ReelGOLF can achieve.
ReelGOLF has not only differentiated itself, it has aligned its technology with like-minded partners. In addition to using Bosch for its camera system and Starlink, ReelGOLF also entered into a marketing partnership with popular online sportsbook BetMGM, who is now helping to fuel its on-course challenges.
Who is your customer?
ReelGOLF is a B to B to C play. First and foremost, we align with golf courses to install and promote the product to their customers. From the Pro Shop to the tee, we work with our customers to ensure that players are both aware of and excited about the technology when they arrive.
We also work with courses to ensure their branding is seamlessly built into the final video, while also integrating any additional partner branding for special events. Our end customers are the players that receive our videos. Within minutes of playing the hole, we send players a link to their video that can be shared on socials.
The video includes the players name, and a tee to green Reel that includes outgoing view and incoming green view, shot tracing (which, to our knowledge, an incoming shot has never been done before – another industry first). We host the video in the cloud free of charge and distribute payouts for winners of our Challenges on a daily basis.
What is your approximate membership base? Just how many courses are currently using ReelGOLF?
We have ReelGOLF installations up and running and/or scheduled at several courses, including: Seascape Golf Resort in Cali, Payne’s Valley, the Tiger Woods course at Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri, Old Corkscrew, a Jack Nicklaus course in Florida, Carter Plantation, the David Toms course in Louisiana, and Druids Glenn in Ireland. We are also in beta mode at Pebble Beach on The Hay, another Tiger course.
Recently, we entered into a license agreement with Bridge Castle Golf, a leading innovator in on-course golf experiences and technology integration, to help bring ReelGOLF to courses across Scotland.
Many companies tout the importance of customer service. Define the term and how it’s carried out at ReelGOLF?
Since ReelGOLF is such a new concept for course owners and players alike, we rely heavily on providing exceptional customer service to make sure our courses feel confident in our technology.
We’ve redesigned and personalized entire operational aspects of our systems on some of our courses to meet their individual needs and ensure each of our clients knows how far above and beyond we will go for their course and its reputation.
Customer feedback is also important for companies. How do you solicit it and what aspects of such feedback have been helpful in your efforts?
Since ReelGOLF is a technology created specifically for the golfer and their unique experience, we take all customer feedback seriously. In fact, we’ve made several changes to our operational process and the technology on its own based solely on the real-time feedback of players using the system for the first time.
Recently, we were at Carter Plantation with Ronnie Rantz, former LSU baseball pitcher and longtime sports broadcaster, who was testing out the ReelGOLF Challenge system on their signature par-3. Rantz loved the technology, but said, “I wish it gave me more time to set up for my shot after hitting the record button on my phone.” That small but important piece of first hand feedback was all it took for me, who was within earshot, to change that setting.
Biggest challenges short and long term is what?
Like any start-up or new invention, you have your standard kinks to work out coming from an operational standpoint. We’ve made several improvements and evolutions to our technology and the services we offer to get ReelGOLF up and running in the way it is actually today. Our biggest challenge in the short term is meeting demand and fine tuning our installation process (and ensuring we have access to plenty of Mic cameras from our great partners at Bosch!).
We’re also focused on ensuring our product meets the needs of each course and that the golfer/consumer journey is seamless from the time they first interact with ReelGOLF in the pro shop or on the course, to the time they leave the course with their video (and if they’re lucky, their monetary winnings!).
Our long-term challenge will be to continue innovating our modern technology as course and consumer needs evolve. We’re confident that the concept of ReelGOLF is here to stay, and that word will continue to spread to courses across the country (and the world).
What specific strategies are being implemented to deal with each of those challenges?
We continue to train and educate our installation teams and fine tune our onboarding process for golf courses. We’ve made improvements in the quality of our shot tracing technology and have enhanced our AI for both video production and on-course competitions.
To scale our business, we have trained several installation teams and have brought our installation process down from 14 days to as few as 3 days. We are currently seeking a Series A round of financing to support a larger scale roll out of ReelGOLF in U.S and International markets.
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Related: My side of the bag
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