Making Sports Events More Accessible with Victor Ocando Finol

Victor Ocando Finol  0:00  
While we offer like the, the value proposition of the game is that these various estimation or losing fans, and we are talking that disability market controls a trillion dollars in disposable income only in the US. So they they are losing these global fans. And what we do is helping them to export life, the accuracy the accessibility features.

Mai Ling  0:42  
You're listening to the exceptional leaders podcast. Each week, we give you a front-row seat to our conversations with new and successful entrepreneurs and thought leaders making an impact in the special education and disability communities. They share their intimate experiences so you can start grow and expand your impact. I'm Mai Ling at Mai Ling Chan.com

James Berges  1:00  
And I'm James Berges of SLP transitions.com. And today, we got an action packed episode, we amaze chats with Victor acondo. phenol and his new platform designed to allow all sports fans to prepare and find the seats that they want. So part of the problem with finding seats currently, is you can go on Ticketmaster or these big sports sites, you can select accessible seats if you have a disability. Or even if you have a temporary disability like you have crutches. But how do you get your your friend or your partner who's with you? Who doesn't have a disability to sit next to you? So grouping the seats together? Is seems like such an such a simple problem, but apparently no one solved it yet. Do I have that right? mailing? Is there something else to this platform?

Mai Ling  1:48  
Yes. Well, I mean, that's one of the pieces and I believe that is one of the personal story pieces that Victor shares, you know, having experienced that himself. But also, I never thought of this James, but when you have any type of barriers, you know, like maybe sensitivity issues, sensory issues, you know, anything, that the whole experience from the minute that you pull up, to getting to your seat, and then also being able to sit through a two, three hour, you know, experience, all of that, you know, really could be so challenging. And that's really the focus that Viktor is really trying to, to change and to lessen by giving someone all the pieces of information that they need. And so I'm really, really excited.

James Berges  2:35  
Yeah, going through that whole journey from the website, all the way to the physical space of of getting to your seat, to getting you know, hotdogs or whatever, there's so many pieces of that whole journey. And I love that he scratched his own itch and found that gap. How did you two meet, actually?

Mai Ling  2:52  
Oh, I love it. We were connected through Peter Fisher, who I think I haven't said his name like two or three times already on this podcast. So he's local. And I don't know if you know, but in the last like five or six months, I've decided that I really need to get connected in my own backyard. So I'm very well connected nationally, internationally. And it's been such a blessing. And I just realized, like, oh my gosh, I don't know the disability community here as well as I should, you know, speech pathologist, yes. I mean, I, I am the CO administrator of the Facebook group, AV SLP. We have about 1500 speech therapists and SLPs in that group, which is amazing. But you know, just getting people together and knowing who we are and what we're doing. We just don't really have that community, though, I started to do that. And Peter Fisher is I believe, the Director of Accessibility at Arizona State University, and he's been just wonderful. So Victor was one of those people. He's like, you know, Victor, because you should, you know, and we just, we really hit it off, and I said, must have you on the podcast. Oh, and then within maybe two weeks of us meeting and talking. I was contacted by Arizona commerce authority. And they were putting together they were putting together a virtual accelerator program, which is a 12 week Venture Development Program. And it's really specific to early stage startups, which is where Victor is, and they asked me if I would be interested in being his coach for the program. And so I asked him, and he was like, Yes. And I tell you, James, it's really been so perfect.

James Berges  4:24  
I love that it's the local, you know, we're so embedded in a digital world where we think there's leverage in just having a big social media following and there is and you know, posting online, but I love that you're in your own backyard and you never know the connections you'll make from in person and go deeper with these people. So tell us more like I'm very interested in how does this local accelerator work? Is this related to your other venture exceptional alliances? Are these two separate things?

Mai Ling  4:53  
Oh, yeah. So this accelerator it's specifically through the Arizona commerce authority, and it is virtual but they are starting to Have some hybrid in person if you want to pin and you want to come meet up. So I was able to do that last week, even though we're in the triple digits now for Arizona heat. But I did get out there, I know. But it's so good to see people because you know, I work from home. And mostly people are just person to me. So it's nice to be next to each other. But the rest of the program every week is virtual. So all of the founders log in, you know, everybody has homework. And so Victor and I do meet at least once a week in addition to the group meetings. So it's a bit of a commitment, but it's also setting me up. Because through exceptional lab is actually the parent company that you were referring to exceptional lab, myself, India, oaks, and Yona Welker, the three of us have put this new company together. And we are looking to really become like a bridge to startup technology, and innovative ideas and accessibility, and also getting them connected to the wider like business community investors and all of that. So a little teaser, as we were talking about starting an accelerator program. And if you've followed any of my journey, couple months ago, I talked about it being a nonprofit. But I've spoken with some leaders in Arizona entrepreneurship, and they said, to give this credibility that we should go within incorporation. And so we did. And then I've been doing a lot of work talking to different leaders, I've just been blessed James to be connected to like really big, successful accelerator programs like remarkable.org, and plug and play. And just looking at their models. And what is an accelerator program, you know, so for our listener, if you're listening in, this has been a very sexy term that's been used around Silicon Valley. And I don't know if you know, but with all of the banks that crashed, and they were all heavily invested in startups, it has now become like the ugly stepchild area. So kind of putting a pause on the accelerator program, James, but I am getting experience, obviously, as a coach and going through that program, it looks more like we're going to develop incubator programs where we help the mid stage companies to get their pitch deck together, get the unique, customized support that they need, and then start making those introductions, because we have them. So I'm really excited about that. Two investors, two big companies, two possible partnerships, through exception lab. So you asked about exception alliances at the conference, it's coming, please mark your calendar, it's Friday, October 20. It's going to be virtual, and it's going to be free. And the goal is to educate everyone on what is accessibility, and how does it relate to people with disabilities and without. And I think that this is something James, I don't know if you've said this, but I keep saying it, there's going to come a point where our podcast and our platform is obsolete, because being unique to the idea of, oh, I'm a disability leader, and I'm doing new things in this space, that that's not going to be interesting, because everyone will be doing it because it's ubiquitous, you know, and it's just, it's in everybody's mind to be creating for universal design, meaning anybody can use what you're creating, anybody can access what you're creating, you know. And so that's where we want to get to. And that's what this conference is for, that we're going to try to answer all the questions about accessibility. It's going to be a fast paced conference, a 10 minute keynote, and then panel discussions with two to three quick questions, but important questions. And then we're asking our, our audience and people like you, James, to be in that chat, interacting, giving us your feedback. And let's create this together.

James Berges  8:29  
I'm so excited for this. And I do want to attend and I got to think of some questions. But you really think of making me think of how these lines are blurring mailing of technology and how it is ubiquitous. Even on, you know, LinkedIn, I see people saying, I'm not just a clinician, I'm not just a technologist, I'm a clinical technologist. Yeah, you know, even these no code tools, or you don't have to be super techie, to make a website or scratch your own itch, sort of like Victor's doing in this episode. And at least get a minimal viable product MVP out there to test your ideas to see if you can solve a problem. And sometimes it's as easy as just making a marketplace to connect different people who don't normally connect like people with disabilities, clinicians and technologist so I just love all the cross pollination that can happen. And as AI and these things mature, it's going to be easier and easier for people to create things and to network. So anyways, I love what you're doing.

Mai Ling  9:30  
Thank you bringing up AI. That's definitely one of the topics in there, which is AI and neuro diversity, and how we need to be so sensitive, and that this could be a whole conversation in and of itself. And that's what each of our sessions are is like, you could have a conference on that, you know, but we're going to try to get in there, tackle the top questions, and I want all people to be able to walk away from this going, Oh, okay. Now I understand at least at a high level, you know what's going on?

James Berges  9:57  
Absolutely. Absolutely. And so that's all October 20. Okay, mark your calendars, folks, October 20. Awesome. Well, speaking of connecting everything one together, please go to our LinkedIn. We're posting more content there, including news stories in the disability space, more bite sized clips from our podcast episodes where you can, you know, we're all busy. So maybe you just want to see the highlights. We're posting them on LinkedIn, as well as our Instagram at x leaders, podcast, and exceptional leaders podcast. So if you search those on LinkedIn, and Instagram, you'll find us. And as always, yeah, leave us a review. Let us know what you like, what you don't like, well, you want to hear more of. And with that mailing, I would love to hear how you coach Victor, I will see if it comes out in the interview.

Mai Ling  10:50  
So I have a very interesting guest today. I know him personally here in the Phoenix area. I was introduced to him recently, through someone else who's in the disability community here, actually, you know, in the startup community. And I also was very interested in getting more involved in accelerator programs. And I found out about the ACA accelerator program. And I put my name in the hat, I did the application. And I was approved to be a coach for the upcoming group that we're doing here in the summer in Phoenix. And then I got an email for the gentleman who was organizing it. And he said, Hey, would you be interested in being paired up with Victor, a candle funnel? He's the founder of Adapt the Game. And I was like, Yes, I just met him. And I had actually already asked him to be a guest on the podcast, so small world. But I'm so excited to be working with Victor. And we've been going through some really exciting steps lately, as we're continuing to move through the accelerator program together as a team. So welcome, Victor.

Victor Ocando Finol  11:50  
Hi Mai, thank you for having me. It's a pleasure for me to be here. Yeah, is really nice how the world works, you know, how you, you meet people, and then you connect the dots. And like working, your coaching has been so instrumental for me these past weeks to improve the message I want to deliver with the game. Give our home.

Mai Ling  12:25  
Absolutely. Thank you. And and I want to give a shout out to Peter Fisher. He's over at ASU. And he is the one who connected us. And I did say it was the startup community, but it's not. How did you meet Peter?

Victor Ocando Finol  12:37  
Well, I also like, deploy him through the disability community, I am part of poem Iesu called, they will say that, and one of the participants was telling me that he was going to meet with the accessibility coordinator, whom they can guy. And I go either on meeting him today in and I plan from this reading the tie was a he emails at the same time, he mentioned that if you want the data to the person, hrs, or ASU, you should talk to the teacher. And then I realize he was the same person. So we connected and he has, we are also very helpful for me to know, on the disability community here. The issue and in Phoenix.

Mai Ling  13:47  
Excellent. Yes. And we're talking about Arizona State University, Peter Fisher is the ADA accessibility coordinator there. And he is doing such great work. And I want to give a little shout out to Peter because he's also hooked me up with a couple of different groups. There's a men's mobility group that I just spoke at, and he's just such such a great contact. So yeah, Victor, I'm so excited that we are connected through Peter. It is okay. So I know that you have this great story about ASU. Can you share how you were involved in a startup community there?

Victor Ocando Finol  14:26  
So I just mentioned like, Is my work I I've been connected to ASU because of the berm. And I of course in Wildwood AgrAbility. But one day back in I believe it was August 20. During one i i saw on social media, or Sony webinars that were high. There was going to be FML domaines you and Paul the directors of the Abed lower sports is the the ISU and angels of the bento development. He was going to be there. I wasn't sure if you if it was only for students or for the community as well. But as I am like I done the interior interface I take the waste the weeks so that's why did I were you set up for the webinar? And they were talking to students and we're about houses gang game work? Sure. So I send a private message to the person in charge. Nice telling him hey, I'm not a serious student but I am involved with the university in this way with the adaptive training program. And I have a really good or why I think is a good idea for the people with disabilities that I'm the bourbon I am I will be read either in going into you to see even a good fit or if you accept people from that community. And he was so after after that, he told me that he was so amazed that my day how do you then I was too poor be willing to connect with him that he gave me. He is a Calendly link to me and then like I pitched to him first and will tell target he loved the area and encouraged me to apply to the grave anyone vendor choice, though, was in partnership between Gervase person aged and the Asian tigers. Because it was on the sports vertical idea pie. And that wasn't September. Then I got to be asked to probably executive team from both organizations in early December and in early December two I got like a it wasn't surprised for me that they were doing the demo they are they are ASU in ski is as cost them and the part of the of my of my vertical the Arizona try yours was going to be announced to buy by a president of the isometry is Yeah, and they put a video up and he started talking about the beginning he said how excited he was about oh wow these immediate things because they are inclusive of a inclusive organization. Amazing. I love the game and hey, may I lead my mentor that was the this this was my mother that I met that they mentioned he was more excited Why was why was I was like no emotion No Yeah, yeah. Yeah. in shock. And that helped me to start like good as you know, you have idea but until you get the very first it's more a small seed or a small gain. You can actually start a building while you have in mind. So thanks to that I've been able to to start the bourbon. I love the game.

Mai Ling  19:53  
Okay, so we haven't I love this and I'm gonna just jump in. We haven't told our audience yet what adapt the game is and I just want to Step back and clarify that the Arizona Coyotes is our hockey team. And so that's why this is such a big deal because adapt the game has to do with sports venues. Okay, so, Victor, tell us about how you personally got involved with creating adapt the game.

Victor Ocando Finol  20:16  
Well, I'm a person with a disability, I was born with cerebral palsy. And that was half the goal for me to be a big sports fan, which helped me a go over the different obstacles in my life, that motivate me to start following teams. Then I go as a sports lawyer back in Venezuela, where I've only I got a online poker degree in sports law. After moving here, I've been here for the past five years, I started realizing like, How can I help those fans that are in a similar situation? To me, I see I'm not alone. Soldering, I started doing research, and found out that 50% of world population have some type of disability. So well, over a billion of World War population. But only half of this amount. I will do a damn life, public events due to different barriers. So I realized I wasn't alone. And as I think why, if this is such a gap, salsa, tech, air, now we are in the basement solution that completely help people like beer people are in my situation.

Mai Ling  22:06  
If you're like me, you can't get enough of books, podcast blogs, and other ways to find out how to create grow and scale. That's why are brought together 43 disability focus leaders to give you more of what you're looking for, you will hear their stories and three best selling books, which focus on general offerings, augmentative, and alternative communication, and speech language pathology, I invite you to search for becoming an exceptional leader on Amazon. So you can learn intimate startup pearls of wisdom and keep growing your brilliant idea. Now let's get back to our amazing interview. So can you share with us? What is an example of a barrier that you experienced in trying to go to a game?

Victor Ocando Finol  22:48  
Well, when I go to the games, I have the reverse pushes the ticket. The Good, The Good, The Bad platforms only offer a small view of the seat, but they don't offer you how to get it. And for me, they still were pushing my mindset myself. Yeah, we're sure. I need to know what what will be the word to turn the moment I get to the same on the I get to my seat and does the same problem that many people that I that I have interviewed have shared with me. So inspired by those stories. I as I start like imagining a place where all those needs can get Goobie cover.

Mai Ling  23:55  
Right, so let me just break this down. So you, you're online and the typical scenario is you can see you know, all the seats that are available and there are ones that do say handicap right? So it's a little wheelchair on there.

Victor Ocando Finol  24:08  
Yeah, he says a wheelchair accessible, wheelchair accessible, right?

Mai Ling  24:11  
So, so if you select that, you know that you know, in the 10th row, you're going to have that seat. So what you're saying is from the moment that you pull up and park your car, right, you're now thinking of how am I going to be able to get myself because like you said you have a wheelchair. So you're going to need to figure out how to navigate from the car all the way in through security up to whatever floor it is and then get down right to your seat and now that I'm thinking about it, a lot of times there's all these steps right to get to that or or when they have the handicap area. Do they have like a specific elevator access

Victor Ocando Finol  24:51  
They have elevators but that information is on our website all nothing's on the team website, or the League website. So you have to jump to the beginning part of one to the team platform tools. And then imagine the situation because you're not there, you're not experience how like, well, two part one will be that they easily drop off, or pick up location if I if I move with Uber or a patented whim. So that's the alley for me in may have many users doesn't be I make a issue. And also, some people have told me that they have bought the ticket with a companion. And then the companion have the seat in an oil section. And the wheelchair user is in a different section when they have to be together, because it's a companion, especially if this companion is a caregiver, you know. So those situations, as I've mentioned, motivate me to to build up the game, which is a another game is a highly personalized mobile app for people with disabilities to easily obtain reliable information. This is important because of what we talked about, about accessible Siri, based on the needs of the users.

Mai Ling  26:56  
Wow, it's a very customized, huh?

Victor Ocando Finol  26:59  
yeah, the goal is to provide our customers satisfaction, because the problem that I have identified is that people with actually activity challenges like me, with all this crash, because of those barriers that we just talked about. So sport venues, are losing fans, because they experience scientists, serving them seven years.

Mai Ling  27:41  
So your background is sports law. And now you're developing Is it a online platform is a mobile app?

Victor Ocando Finol  27:49
It's a mobile app.

Mai Ling  27:50
Okay, so how are you doing this? Victor? Do you have a team,

Victor Ocando Finol  27:55  
I, as a first time entrepreneur, I am with limited font that I'm the sole founder, I have a really good, really good group of mentors, as yourself. And I also have my developer team, outsource for now. And I also rely on like, the peace of mind or from this pausing to see that helped me with the with the gaps that I have, because I have all the answers. And then without and also people like beer Fisher, that have me do by understand defending his into more wish to wish more people with a accuracy and security challenges in our community to be able to discover more because even though I just started with this, with with with the game, I am still discovering more and more about our idea user and how that idea experience will look like for them. And another thing I learned at the beginning and I wanted to my goal was to do the goal is for people with disabilities, so all types of disabilities. But with billions like that ASU and the first VSR X fellowship program in a Power BI baseball hands and Google for startups that I participated last year, and to gain the national dice focused on people with with disabilities are developing accessibility solutions or assistive technology solutions, I've been able to learn more well how to address this problem. And he has yet developed, you know, you're staying on the course of the two years that I've been dying focusing on this.

Mai Ling  30:30
So you were working on this for two years. What stage are you at so far with your app?

Victor Ocando Finol  30:35
But the app is almost uh almost launch, I believe is away on the on the on the after. But also we are doing initial testing, initial uh to get feedback with close focus group. But is that people can download on on the app store. And just, just to see where, where we going with the with the usual experience. Also, we are excited about pio soon with sport venues because for those venues that we want to work with, what we offer, like the the value proposition of that, the game is that these venues, as I mentioned, are losing fans and we are talking that the disability market controls $8 billion er in disposable income only in the US. So these things are losing this group of this group of fans and what we do is helping them to spotlight their access, accessibility features and, and by, by, by that increase 
their overall customer satisfaction.

Mai Ling  32:06
Excellent. Yep. So you're finding a need that they're not realizing that they had spotlighting it and then giving them the solution. It's excellent and victor, I'm so excited to be spotlighting you early on in your journey um on the podcast with us. I hope that our audience, our listener is kind of excited, you know, to hear about um this story, this entrepreneur story, which is still in the very early stages and if it's OK with you I would love to have you back in uh maybe a year to see where you're at then.

Victor Ocando Finol  32:37
I would love to, to, to, to tell my stories hopefully in, in another stage. And I'm uh really excited and great for, for us to be able to, to, to work together to a ACA and be part also of the community here in Arizona and meet them a great founders and great mentors.

Mai Ling  33:05
Excellent. And just to clarify the AC A uh group that Victor and I are working through is the Arizona Commerce Authority.
And they have, I believe it's two or three cohorts a year where they are supporting startup founders and bringing together the amazing ecosystem of entrepreneurs and people that are already established and they're coming back to help, like we say, you know, give a hand up and, and help our community. So this has been really exciting, Victor, how can we continue to follow your work?

Victor Ocando Finol  33:36
Well you can follow us on social media, follow me on social media. And if, if you like uh if you know er more, more, more, more ADA users, I would love to talk to them. And I'm really excited about your, your project with the ex ex sectional lab that we talked the first, the first time that we, that we met, I think it's very needed to, to have a, a like that. And yeah, I'm, I'm here to help. Not only play, follow me. But I also have anyone else that is this um starting this journey, I'm more than willing to help and give if I can some advice.

Mai Ling  34:33
Excellent. Thank you so much Victor and we look forward to catching up with you.

Victor Ocando Finol  34:37
Thank you, Mai. My pleasure.

Mai Ling  34:40
We hope you enjoyed this episode and invite you to leave us a review on Apple podcasts and Spotify and share the show with people you think will find value from it. This helps the show a lot or have a great guest referral, reach out to us at xleaders at gmail dot com.

James Berges  34:56
And if you want exclusive tips on becoming an exceptional leader, deliver straight to your inbox, just go to exceptional leaders dot com and sign up for our mailing list. Thanks for listening.