In this episode of the Sports Tech AllStars Podcast, we present John Stewart, CEO and Co-Founder of FastBreak AI.
The conversation explores how a routing and scheduling engine built for field sales became the dominant infrastructure behind professional sports scheduling globally, and how FastBreak AI is now leveraging that same technology to transform the $70 billion youth sports market in the United States.
Takeaways
Professional sports scheduling is one of the most complex combinatorial math problems in existence
FastBreak AI is the dominant player in pro sports scheduling globally
The company entered at the top of the market intentionally
Youth sports in the US is a $70 billion market ripe for consolidation, with private equity now arriving in force
Facial scan comparison to sexual predator databases is coming to youth sports ticketing
Continuous background checks are replacing point-in-time checks for coaches and volunteers working with children
AI-driven voice prompts may become the default user interface for consumer sports tech applications within the next two years
Affordability in youth sports is an emerging crisis that technology and smarter operator economics can help solve
Smart capital - not just more capital - is what changes the trajectory of the sports tech industry
To learn more, visit: https://www.fastbreakai.com
Get in touch with John Stewart at: linkedin.com/in/john-stewart-3528a38
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:47 The Origin Story of FastBreak AI
04:24 How Scheduling Went From One Consultant to a Global Platform
06:42 Why Sports Scheduling Is One of the World's Hardest Math Problems
09:59 The NBA, Media Rights and Why Complexity Only Grows
11:15 Market Dominance
13:06 How European Soccer Adds Another Layer of Scheduling Complexity
14:10 Lessons From Selling a Company to Salesforce and Entering Sports Tech
15:10 Youth Sports Is Fragmented
17:09 Land and Expand
19:12 What's Next
22:08 The Wallet, Rewards and Payment Infrastructure Play
22:13 Big Trends for 2026
25:17 The Capital Flooding Into Sports Tech Right Now
27:05 Favourite Sporting Moment
