In this episode of Masters of Max, host Tom Butta welcomes Jonathan Azouri, the CEO of CatchCorner by Sports Illustrated, North America’s top destination for booking sports facilities and activities. Jonathan shares his entrepreneurial journey and passion for innovation, highlighting the importance of keeping a human perspective in business. He emphasizes the impact of every interaction on user experience and the value of hands-on leadership in building successful teams.

Today, you’ll hear Jonathan talk about what inspired him to start CatchCorner by SI, emphasizing accessibility and seamless user experience. And while you may be familiar with similar booking apps made for restaurant reservations, Jonathan addresses the technical complexities and unique requirements involved in sports facility rentals, highlighting the importance of e-signatures and customer safety.

As the conversation progresses, Tom delves into the dual focus of CatchCorner by SI as both a B2B company and a consumer-facing platform. Jonathan explains the company's structured approach, with dedicated teams overseeing facility onboarding and operations, ensuring a cohesive user experience. The partnership with Sports Illustrated further validates Jonathan’s mission of making sports spaces accessible to all.

Jonathan's advice for aspiring app developers centers on meticulous planning, user-centric design, and continuous iteration before coding. He underscores the significance of maintaining quality standards and a strong foundation while scaling a business.

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Guest Bio

Jonathan Azouri, a Canadian entrepreneur, serves as the co-founder and CEO of CatchCorner by Sports Illustrated. His dynamic career took a significant leap in 2023 when he earned a well-deserved spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.

Jonathan studied at McGill University, graduating in 2016 on the Dean’s Honor List with a Bachelor of Commerce. His profound enthusiasm for both sports and technology has seamlessly converged to form the nexus behind his growing company.

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Guest Quote

"There's real people behind every single transaction or action being taken. A lot of the times, especially when you are scaling, you kind of just see these numbers but don't think that that's an actual human being. If you don't keep that perspective, as simple as it may sound, then you kind of lose touch. And when you lose touch, that's when the experience really goes down. So, each interaction with each different screen is going to impact how they felt and how they actually enjoyed your product.” – Jonathan Azouri

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Time Stamps

*(01:26) Jonathan's Background

*(04:12) What is CatchCorner by Sports Illustrated?

*(06:57) Expanding accessibility

*(07:48) Serving both sides of the business successfully

*(10:40) Matching your users' last great experience

*(14:15) The growth Jonathan & CatchCorner by SI have experienced

*(17:42) Jonathan's advice for other app builders

*(20:10) Rapid Fire Questions

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Links

• Connect with Jonathan Azouri on LinkedIn
• Check out CatchCorner by SI
• Connect with Tom Butta on LinkedIn
• Check out the Airship Website