Key facts
- Former Intel president Renée James and former Intel Products CEO Michelle Johnston Holthaus launched Rule42 Sports Technology Group.
- The platform provides a digital stage for amateur athletes to showcase their abilities.
- College recruiters and professional scouts will pay to access the platform and identify prospects.
- The initiative aims to solve the problem of expensive travel and tournament participation for athletes seeking exposure.
- Rule42 is initially focusing on baseball and softball before expanding to other sports.
- The company will not function as a social network or a sports gambling platform.
Two former Intel executives, Renée James and Michelle Johnston Holthaus, have launched Rule42 Sports Technology Group, an online platform designed to connect amateur athletes with college recruiters and professional scouts. James, who previously served as Intel president and co-founded Ampere Computing, stated the idea was inspired by the costly and challenging process her son faced when seeking to be drafted by a professional baseball team.
The platform's business model involves providing aspiring athletes with a free digital space to showcase their skills, while college recruiters and professional scouts will pay for access to identify potential talent. James highlighted the opportunity to assist athletes from less affluent backgrounds who may not be able to afford expensive travel and tournament participation.
Rule42 is initially launching with a focus on baseball and softball, with plans to expand into other sports. The company has enlisted Tara Henry, a former collegiate softball champion and current coach, and Jed Lowrie, a veteran Major League Baseball player, to its team. James clarified that Rule42 will not operate as a social network or a sports gambling platform. She also noted a particular opportunity to support the growth of women's sports, where infrastructure for talent identification is currently lacking.