Co-founder of Sun Microsystems, Chairman of Wayin, named as strategic advisor and equity partner
OAKLAND, Calif., Sep. 12, 2017-Mobile golf technology startup, 18Birdies, today announced that Scott McNealy, co-founder of Sun Microsystems and chairman of Wayin, has joined as a strategic advisor to the company.
Considered a business visionary and one of the most successful entrepreneurs to come out of Silicon Valley, Scott also has a long history with the game of golf. He was a golf team captain at Harvard University and for many years ranked by GolfDigest as the top Fortune 500 CEO golfer. Scott has also been actively involved in raising four sons who are all accomplished golfers. Maverick’s (21) golf career includes winning this year’s Ben Hogan Award, given to the top NCAA golfer, and being ranked first or second in the World Amateur Golf Rankings for most of the last couple years. Dakota (19) is a sophomore on the Stanford golf team. Colt (18) played in this year’s Web.com Tour’s Ellie Mae Classic and Scout (15) has won numerous junior events.
“As long as I’ve been in the technology game, golf has been a part of my life for even longer and I’ve had the great pleasure of passing the game on to my sons,” said McNealy. “I want to see this game continue to grow and 18Birdies has shown me they can connect with younger audiences and has grown its user base at an astonishing rate. I’m excited about the technology platform they are building that will make it even easier for people to manage their golf lifestyle.”
18Birdies has quickly risen in the ranks within the mobile golf app space. Since launching in 2016, 18Birdies has been the fastest growing golf app in terms of user growth and has added more golfers than any other golf app in the last 12 months. In addition, DreamGames, the first-of-its-kind loyalty program that the company launched last May has been a big hit with Millennials as they represent 67 percent of all participants and 73 percent of all repeat participants.
“I’m so honored that a Silicon Valley legend like Scott is joining the team,” said 18Birdies founder and CEO, Eddy Lui. “He brings the perfect mix of passion for the game and entrepreneurial track record. I’m looking forward to having him on board as we scale the 18Birdies platform to bring technology to the forefront of the golf industry.”
About 18Birdies
18Birdies is reimagining the world of golf through technology. Our mobile app leverages the power of gamification and social communities to make golf a more fun, exciting and connected experience. We offer features that inspire golfers of all generations to enhance their game, share their experiences, play more and increase their enjoyment of golf. For more information, visit www.18Birdies.com
Contact:
Anish Patel
18Birdies
anish.patel@18birdies.com
