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What started as an idea between siblings to make sports more accessible has grown into a force modernizing the industry.
Jonathan Azouri is CEO and co-founder of CatchCorner by Sports Illustrated, an app for booking sports facilities and coordinating activities. Under his leadership, CatchCorner is forging new paths within the recreational sports industry, earning him and his co-founder Maya Azouri—his sister and the company’s COO—a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
Since its launch in Toronto in 2019, CatchCorner has grown rapidly, partnering with Sports Illustrated in 2021 to expand across other markets including Calgary, Vancouver, New York and Chicago. Azouri spoke with Chief Executive to share CatchCorner’s journey and the lessons he’s learned in launching the venture.
You’ve earned accolades for your app. Tell us about that.
In 2023, my sister Maya and I had the incredible honor of being recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. It was a surreal moment that validated the years of hard work and perseverance we put into building CatchCorner from the ground up. This recognition wasn’t just about us but also a testament to our entire team’s dedication to making sports more accessible and booking facilities simpler for everyone.
We launched CatchCorner in 2019, and just a year later, the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. With sports facilities locked down, we faced significant roadblocks and had to rethink many aspects of our business to adapt to unprecedented circumstances.
The first few years of launching a startup are always the hardest, and those challenges taught us resilience and creativity. Being recognized by Forbes is an incredible milestone, as well as a reminder of how much more work we have to continue to do.
How have you been able to grow your business, and what lessons have you learned along the way?
Growing CatchCorner has been a journey fueled by strategic partnerships. One of the most pivotal moments came in 2021 when we partnered with Sports Illustrated to help expand our platform geographically and enter the U.S. market. This collaboration significantly boosted our visibility and credibility, allowing us to generate nearly $35 million annually for our affiliate partners and grow our user base to more than 250,000 monthly active users.
One of the most important lessons that we’ve learned is the value of staying closely attuned to the needs of both users and facility operators. By understanding their challenges and priorities, we’ve improved our platform and provided meaningful solutions.
You work alongside your sister, Maya Azouri, who serves as the COO. Share your secrets for successfully working with a sibling.
Working with my sister Maya has been an incredible experience. There is a level of understanding and communication that we have with one another from childhood and growing up together close in age. Having that built-in trust is a huge advantage. With that, working with a sibling does not come without challenges.
In the initial year, it was hard to separate the business from our family time at home. For example, we would be at dinner with our parents and brother Ethan, and find ourselves primarily speaking about work. Over the years, we have really worked hard to refine and compartmentalize the two where needed and continue to refine our working relationship. Maya and I respect each other’s strengths, and differences, and stay aligned on the bigger picture.
What’s in the future for CatchCorner?
This past year has been a year of growth for CatchCorner, and we’re excited to keep building on that momentum as we explore new opportunities. We’re always focused on enhancing the user experience, constantly updating our features to meet the evolving needs of athletes and facility operators alike. We partner with more than 800 facilities across North America, and that number continues to grow.
Moving forward, our goal is to expand into new markets, with the ultimate vision of booking a sports facility becoming as seamless as booking a flight or hotel.
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