Athlete Network adds hall-of-famer Warren Moon to its roster
April 13, 2017 | Bobby Burch
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.

2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Inc. 5000 report: Kansas City retailers among metro’s fastest growing companies
Shoppers are buying, spurring retail growth in Kansas City, according to details gleaned from the 2018 Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies list. Released Wednesday morning, the report showed a slight dip in performance for Kansas City overall compared to 2017. Three dozen Kansas City-area firms landed on the 2018 Inc. 5000 list, a drop from the…
KC-based Contract Canvas earns finalist slot for WeWork Creator Awards in Nashville
Returning to WeWork’s Creator Awards to pitch Contract Canvas was a defining moment for Chris Brown, as well as the year-old legal startup, he said. “I worked harder on this pitch than perhaps any pitch I’ve ever given,” said Brown, hours after a flight back from meeting with Creator Awards judges in New York City…
LaunchKC nets 32 percent gain in tech startups vying for $500K in prizes; selection under way
LaunchKC is off to the races toward its fourth annual, national grants competition for tech entrepreneurs. The program attracts hundreds of tech entrepreneurs each year – including a 32 percent increase and a near-record 586 applicants this year — to compete for up to $500,000 in grants and an opportunity to build and grow their…
First down for Healthy Hip Hop: Roy Scott teams with Champ for game-changing reboot
If it’s making money, don’t give up on it, said Roy Scott, rapper-turned-founder of Healthy Hip Hop. A new partnership with Champ System — a growing Kansas City sports apparel company with a popular hip hop-inspired mascot — will keep the performance- and tech-based startup in school gymnasiums and beyond as Scott’s company continues a…
