What is the name of your website?
Fantasy Judgment
What is your name?
Michael A. Stein
Is their more then one founder? If so, who are they?
I am the sole founder of Fantasy Judgment and I serve as the Chief Justice. However, the Fantasy Judgment bench is comprised of four other Associate Justices who help render legal decisions on disputes presented: Marc Stein, Ari, Teplitz, Nick Steffens and Jeff Mickletz.
What is your background and qualifications?
I am a lawyer and currently work as a complex claims director for a large insurance company in New York. I have over 25 years of experience participating in fantasy sports, both as a league member and as a commissioner. Through the years, I have seen just about anything and everything that can happen in a fantasy sports league. This, coupled with my professional experience and legal writing skills enable me to author Supreme Court-like decisions based on fact, precedent, and common sense.
What does your website do?
Fantasy Judgment provides independent, expert dispute resolution services for fantasy sports issues. We also provide assistance and guidance in drafting fantasy sports league constitutions, as well as advising on appropriate and effective league management decisions. I also utilize Fantasy Judgment to analyze and comment on the fantasy sports industry itself in various media outlets.
How do you generate revenue?
If through ads, what ad network do you use? I charge $15.00 per dispute or $100.00 for unlimited disputes per sports season. I did not begin this venture with the goal of quitting my job and earning a living solely based on Fantasy Judgment. I think there is truly a niche and a need for such a service. I know there are a few other websites out there that provide similar services, but I feel Fantasy Judgment has a superior bench with impressive backgrounds that lend to credibiity, reliability, and accuracy. I also am very passionate and enthusiastic about the fantasy sports industry as a whole, and I would like nothing more than to be able to contribute to the business that has provided me with so much enjoyment over the years.
How have your marketed your site?
Because this is currently a side venture, I did not have a lot of capital to start it up. The costs of building a website, obtaining a trademark, purchasing business cards, and filing the appropriate paperwork to create the entity pretty much exhausted my initial funds for Fantasy Judgment. So I have aggressively utilized free mediums of advertising, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Google, and word of mouth.
Are you profitable?
Not currently. I believe that once I am able to spread the word effectively within the fantasy sports world, the business will take off and perhaps spin a profit down the road.
Funding: Self funded, Angel Investment, or Venture Capital?
I am 100% self-funded.
Are You currently looking for funding?
As much as I would love to maintain my status as the sole decision-maker and owner of this entity, I am also realistic about its ability to grow, survive and thrive. I am not actively looking for funding, but it is something I know I will need to do. I want to build up some sort of database of customers and/or contacts to provide me with some credibility and sustainability so I can effectively negotiate with any potential investors.
What type(s) of technology do you use?
I have my own website for Fantasy Judgment, which also includes a blog. I have a Facebook page dedicated to Fantasy Judgment, and I use LinkedIn to promote my services as well.
What is your favorite feature on your website?
My favorite feature is the archived links to my previous decisions and articles. My writing skills for the decisions and articles I write are what will sell my abilities, so I take a lot of pride in being grammatically, factually, and conceptually accurate.
Any Bold Predictions for Sports and Technology in the future?
I foresee a mixed bag for fantasy sports down the road. I see there being a lot of backlash against the industry, including lobbying efforts to include fantasy sports under the ambit of gambling. However, I think fantasy sports has successfully attained mainstream status in the United States, and I do not see the business or industry slowing down at all except in the event that Congress or the U.S. Supreme Court does something inexplicable to contradict itself.
