FANZO is a digital platform that brings fans together to create unforgettable memories at the best sports bars and venues around the world has officially launched in North America. Fanzo’s technology links brands, rights holders, broadcasters and fans with commercial venues.
Rolling out in time to support the millions of fans following the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, FANZO follows successful proof of concept executions in the UK, Europe and Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and neighboring islands, backed by $30 million investment in its tech product.
Leo MacLehose, CEO and co-founder of FANZO, is the latest guest on SportsJam with Doug Doyle.
MacLehose believes that sports experienced alone is meaningless - so his sports venue app matches fans with its network of the best bars and fan clubs showing live sports near them. Leo say then his digital platform elevates the experience with social gamification that brings excitement and competition to the bar.
"Sport is a vehicle by which we get to create social connection. It's about being together. We are here to help fans create unforgettable sporting memories."
MacLehose says the business has two sides to it.
"You might call it a little bit like the open table. We have about 50-thousand venues globally who use our platform. When I say venues, I mean bars, restaurants and fan zones who use our platform to organize market their sports content. So if you're a bar in Atlanta or a bar in Dallas, sport is a really expensive asset, especially all of the subscriptions you need to get. We provide all of the tools around that to help bars, restaurants and venues organize all that sports content, know which games they're going to show and optimize that sports schedule. Then we make sure it goes to every place that matters. FANZO then helps them will all the marketing. At the end of the day, you're trying to bring patrons back into your venue."
FANZO is headquartered in London and New York. MacLehose and his business partner Domm Collingwood started the company in 2012. They've been longtime friends who knew this kind of platform was greatly needed.
"Why do we get so attached to sport? Why do we think it, breathe it? I think it is really a sense of belonging. People want that sense of belonging. What better to be an Eagles fan or Manchester United fan and go through the highs and the lows. It's just as powerful to feel those moments of pure joy and ecstasy as it is to share those moments of misery.
Leo, who is part French and part Scottish, knows what it's like to compete as well. He played for the University of Manchester Rugby Football Club where he special in International Business Economics.
"You wont' know much about the University of Manchester, but it's up north in the U.K. There were a lot of big, big, big people back there. I used to play quite a lot in France where people were quite nimble and slight, that really wasn't the case in Manchester. In the first few games I realized my opposite numbers had biceps the size of my head. It was a pretty violent affair but enjoyable nonetheless. I think I actually learned a lot from playing rugby and team sport in general. Team sport teaches you the power of the collective as opposed to the individual which is a key part of running a business.
You can SEE the entire SportsJam interview with Leo MacLehose below where he talks about his allegiance to France in this year's FIFA World Cup.
