Athlete Network adds hall-of-famer Warren Moon to its roster

April 13, 2017  |  Bobby Burch

Chris Smith

It’s not everyday that you add a hall-of-fame quarterback to your team.

In establishing a new, high-impact advisory board, Athlete Network has landed former NFL superstar Warren Moon as a team member that will help guide the startup moving forward. Moon previously played for the Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings and other pro teams, racking up 70,553 total passing yards and other records that have since been broken.

In addition to Moon, the Lenexa-based firm tapped Mary Davis, CEO of Special Olympics International, and Philip Sanderson, managing director of Ridge Ventures.

Launched in 2015, Athlete Network created an online community for athletes that’s quickly growing around the nation. The community offers members an avenue to connect to like-minded athletes and resources to grow.

Athlete Network CEO Chris Smith said he’s excited to have the trio help advise his company.

“The advisory board that we have begun to assemble is truly exemplary in their individual and combined expertise in leveraging technology and guiding world class athletes. We expect them to help us deliver the same to our members,” Smith said in a release. “I am thrilled to welcome them to Athlete Network’s Advisory Board and I look forward to working closely with them as we grow Athlete Network nationwide and expand internationally.”

In July of 2016, Athlete Network raised $2 million and few weeks later, the firm announced that it landed an agreement with the U.S. Olympic Committee to customize its platform for America’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Led by a team of former collegiate athletes, Athlete Network’s mission is to fuel athletes’ driven lifestyle.
In January, Athlete Network was recognized by Startland News as a Top Kansas City Startup to Watch in 2017.

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

Tagged , ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder

      2017 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        ‘This is the dream’: Starty Party turns up the volume on Kansas City tech, collaboration (Photos)

        By Tommy Felts | November 13, 2025

        It isn’t a party without the people, said organizers of the Starty Party, gathering a crowd of startup veterans, early stage founders, investors and community leaders Wednesday for a one-night celebration of innovation — set against the backdrop of homegrown music and vibes. “This is amazing,” said Melissa Vincent, CEO of Pipeline Entrepreneurs, from the Starty…

        KC preps for World Cup all-nighter, taste testing 23-hour drinking window for summer games

        By Tommy Felts | November 13, 2025

        Entrepreneurs want to tap into all the potential business they can when an estimated 650,000 visitors descend on Kansas City for the World Cup, said Jim Ready, detailing plans for a temporary expansion of alcohol sales in KCMO to accommodate a global audience in June and July 2026. The move is more of a stress…

        Kauffman narrows Uncommon Leader contenders to five finalists from community orgs

        By Tommy Felts | November 12, 2025

        Kansas City leaders advancing toward the Kauffman Foundation’s high-profile impact award all demonstrate bold, creative, and inclusive leadership, said Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, announcing five finalists for the inaugural honor. “Each of these leaders reminds us that one person can make a difference, and that compassion and dedication can change the lives of the people we…

        KC-built app locks down vulnerable users’ data before they can share it with online scammers

        By Tommy Felts | November 11, 2025

        He’s a startup founder today, but a protective brother first, said Danny Moran, describing how his sister with special needs motivated the launch of an app to protect vulnerable people engaging in a digital world too often filled with bad actors. “She’s been scammed online multiple times over the past 10 years, causing significant financial…