March 16, 2021 / TorchCo, a sports media company, today announced the launch of a new digital platform, TorchPro.com, that provides fans and young athletes unprecedented access to elite figures in the sports world. TorchCo, rebranded from Kompany39, is also announcing the acquisition of NYC-based daily sports newsletter startup Morning Blitz.

The newly formed company further announced the strategic addition of Drizly veteran and go-to-market executive Bryan Goodwin as a co-founder of the new entity and the company’s President & CRO to lead this next phase of growth. The company is backed by the teams from York Creative Collective and York IE, as well as other prominent angel investors, raising a total of $1.5M USD to date.

“The vision of TorchCo is a big one: to Inspire Greatness by providing a place to access information, knowledge, and inspiration for anyone looking to gain an edge in sports and life”

said Matt Fornataro, CEO, and Co-Founder, TorchCo. “Today’s announcements of the launch of the platform, growth of the team behind what we’re building, the athletes involved, and our future roadmap are all big steps forward in pursuit of that vision.” Fornataro founded Kompany39 alongside Joe Diamond and NHL all-star Joe Pavelski in 2017.

Digital Platform – TorchPro.com

TorchPro is TorchCo’s Athlete Services business that helps athletes build and grow their digital brand, tell their authentic stories, and open up new doors during and long after their playing careers are over. This includes brand-building services, content strategy, and content creation for business-savvy athletes. TorchPro.com is the platform that is the safe place where those stories are brought to life and can be accessed by fans, Inspiring Greatness in future generations through the transfer of knowledge and information from the best in the world. It also will provide an ever-growing collection of elite athletes and their stories, offering a unique place for brands to interact with these players and their engaged audiences. Join TorchPro.com today.

The platform launches with featured content from:

• TorchCo Co-Founder and NHL All-Star Joe Pavelski (Current Dallas Star, Former SJ Shark Captain, former captain of Team USA)
• Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins Defenseman)
• Kacey Bellamy (Team USA, Olympic Gold Medalist)
• Brandon Yip (Former NHLer & 2022 Chinese Olympic hopeful)
• Mike Green (Former Washington Capital, Detroit Red Wing NHL defensemen)
• Riley Sheahan (Buffalo Sabres forward)

TorchCo will be expanding the platform through the addition of new athletes and other sports, as well as creating and distributing more authentic content created with those players.

“We wanted to create a place for both athletes and fans to engage and fuel the next generation,” said Pavelski, co-founder, TorchCo. “Today, we’re seeing the evolution of that vision with the launch of TorchPro.com, something I would have benefited from greatly as a young athlete and well into my career. Additionally, the company can provide athletes with guidance and a safe space to understand the best way to tell and share our stories with consumers,” Pavelski added.

Morning Blitz powered by TorchCo

In addition to the platform expansion, TorchCo will now power the Morning Blitz, one of the hottest daily sports newsletters enjoyed by pro athletes, sports reporters, die-hard and casual fans alike. The newsletter, which was founded by Danny Healey and Noah Cartwright, will continue to cover the “need-to-know” information across all major sports, delivered every morning at 5:30 a.m. EST. Sign up for the newsletter at MorningBlitz.com.

“Today marks a huge step forward for the Morning Blitz as TorchCo will accelerate our ability to expand our loyal subscriber base at an increased rate,” said Healey. “Looking ahead, we are excited to share the stories of TorchPro athletes with our readers.”

Bryan Goodwin as Co-founder President & CRO

Goodwin was most recently a senior executive at Drizly, the leading on-demand alcohol marketplace in the US, which was acquired by Uber for $1.1 billion, and will be responsible for aligning the team around the company’s strategic vision and execution, as well as revenue generation.

“I’m truly energized at the opportunities in front of TorchCo to reinvent the way athletes, fans and brands interact digitally. In my 20 year career, I’ve been on the front lines as the internet has changed entire industries – from travel to beverage alcohol – and the same is happening in sports. TorchCo has the vision, foundational team, passion, and ambition to create the world’s most accessible, engaging, and largest sports media marketplace to Inspire Greatness. TorchPro Athlete Services, the TorchPro.com platform, and the Morning Blitz daily newsletter come together as the first step to building the foundation of a complete offering. We look forward to giving athletes the space to build and grow their digital brands, providing access and great content with those athletes for consumers, and offering brands of all sizes a new medium to showcase their products and reach global audiences,” said Goodwin.

Find your edge and sign up for free at TorchPro.com

Read coverage in The Boston Globe, ESPN, NHLPA, or SI.