From Miles Apart to PlayStats: Our Journey Across Borders, Time Zones, and Barriers

When Mike and I started PlayStats, we weren’t in the same office, city, or even continent. I was based in Jordan, and he was in Ireland. Our partnership began with video calls scheduled around time zones and late-night brainstorming sessions that blended into early mornings. It was unconventional, but that’s what made it work—we were both committed to the same vision, even from thousands of miles apart.

Building Across Borders

Starting a business is hard enough when you're in the same country. Doing it internationally? That’s a whole different challenge. Registering the company meant understanding different legal systems, tackling paperwork that seemed endless, and jumping through administrative hoops in both Ireland and Jordan. But we knew that if we could get through the foundation phase, we’d be ready for whatever came next.

We began with zero outside funding—just belief and sweat equity. Every dollar that went into the business came from our own pockets. We knew that before we could pitch to investors, we needed proof of concept. That meant creating value, validating our idea, and showing real potential. The hustle was real.

Market Gaps and Sharp Focus

The sports analytics industry is packed with numbers and graphs—but we noticed something missing. There wasn’t a product out there that truly spoke to athletes and coaches at all levels with both accuracy and usability. Most solutions were either overly complex or wildly overpriced.

So, we dove into research. We spoke to coaches, athletes, and sports scientists. We studied trends, pored over data, and tracked competitors. What we found was a significant gap in accessible, affordable, and powerful performance analytics—especially for emerging markets and semi-pro athletes. That’s where PlayStats was born—not just as a product, but as a tool that could actually help people perform better.

The Tech That Took Time

Building the tech wasn’t easy. We spent months working on the algorithms and software. Countless iterations, user testing, and sleepless nights went into creating a system that could deliver accurate, real-time data. We didn’t just want another device—we wanted something coaches could trust, and athletes could rely on.

The GPS device itself was its own journey. We designed and assembled it in Germany to ensure quality and precision, then moved production to China for scalability and efficiency. Every component was chosen carefully. Every line of code was tested over and over. We were obsessed with getting it right.

A Growing Industry, A Bigger Dream

From where we stand, the potential in sports analytics is massive. We’re not just talking elite athletes or pro teams—there’s a rising wave of grassroots talent, semi-pro leagues, and youth academies all hungry for tools that help them compete smarter. As tech becomes more accessible, data is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity.

With PlayStats, our goal isn’t just to sell devices. We’re here to empower performance. To democratize elite-level analysis. To create a future where every player, no matter where they are, has access to the tools they need to level up.

This is just the beginning.