The RinkLink team of two will combine their business and computer science backgrounds to create a yield management platform for rink owners to better manage their businesses.
For many industries, business is conducted online where customers can place orders or make reservations. But to the surprise of Charlie Brodigan ’24 and Mariana Antaya ’23, that is not often the case for hockey teams looking to rent ice time.
“The more we looked into it, the more we learned that most rink managers operate using notebooks and white boards in their offices to keep track of ice time rentals,” said Brodigan. “We knew there was an opportunity to use analytics to optimize rental capabilities and maximize revenue.”
Before coming to Fairfield both Brodigan and Antaya were interested in the StartUp Showcase. Antaya saw a banner downtown advertising the Showcase competition and Brodigan learned about the Showcase through his sister who also went to Fairfield. The two attended StartUp events last semester. After tying in the Elevator Pitch Competition Brodigan and Antaya teamed up to build a business together.
RinkLink is an online platform that automates the ice rink industry with yield management to improve financial outcomes and facilitate member communication. The platform will allow rink managers to see stats on which ice times are most popular as a way to inform pricing to increase revenue. Coaches will be able to communicate with rink managers, book ice time, and then confirm those times with their players. Brodigan and Antaya plan to pilot the platform in the North East and expand from there.
“The more mentors we talk to, the more excited I get about the fact that we’re in the Showcase,” said Brodigan. “We’re working with so many great people. Right now I’m spending more time with Jeff Hendrickson over Zoom than with my roommates. We’ve received so much great advice and support already.”
"I’m really interested in entrepreneurship and building businesses,” said Antaya. “The StartUp program gives students a vast amount of opportunity, and the networking and resources available motivates me to do more.”
Save the date: Wednesday, April 28, 2021 to watch team RinkLink make its pitch to investors at this year’s Fairfield StartUp Showcase and vote for the audience favorite at fairfield.edu/startup.
