From volleyball to pickle ball, the popularity of outdoor sports has picked up major mainstream momentum in recent years all throughout the US.
But how does a sports loving entrepreneur get in on an outdoor space already dominated by major outdoor companies? Invent their own sport, of course.
Greg Meade and his partners Chris and Michael loved outdoor sports, especially the volleyball and foursquare games they spent their childhood playing. Realizing there was a space in demand for an easily portable outdoor game that could go from yard to sand, the trio quickly got to work combining their favorite sports into a new style of gameplay. They invented a unique net design and rulebook, and CROSSNET was created. Motivated by their passion to bring people together and encourage outdoor activity, Greg and his team took their new game to market and found raging success – catching the attention of more than a million players worldwide.
Allow me to introduce Greg Meade…
—
My name is Greg Meade, and I am one of the founders of CROSSNET, a unique and exciting outdoor sports game that combines elements of volleyball and foursquare. It is played on a specially designed four-way volleyball net, which divides the playing area into four equally sized squares.
The game is typically played with four players, one in each square, and follows rules similar to traditional volleyball. The objective is to hit the ball over the net and into one of the opposing squares, while avoiding the ball from touching the ground in your own square. Players can use any part of their body to hit the ball, and each square has its own set of rules for scoring points.
CROSSNET can be played on various surfaces such as grass, sand, or even indoors, making it versatile and accessible for different environments. The game is suitable for both casual play among friends and family, as well as more competitive play in organized leagues and tournaments.
The four way game provides a fun and active way to engage in outdoor recreation, promoting physical activity, coordination, and teamwork. It offers a fresh and unique spin on traditional volleyball, adding an extra level of challenge and excitement. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned athlete, CROSSNET is a great game to enjoy and enhance your skills.
CROSSNET was inspired by the classic game of foursquare, which is typically played on a smaller scale using just hands and a rubber ball. We created CROSSNET to take the concept of foursquare and expand it to a larger, more dynamic game that could be played with a volleyball. We team wanted to create a game that would be enjoyable for people of all ages and skill levels while incorporating the competitive and social elements of volleyball.
Myself, Chris Meade, as well as our childhood friend Michael Delpapa, the founders of CROSSNET, realized that there was a demand for a unique and engaging outdoor game that could be easily set up in a backyard, park, or beach setting. We team wanted to provide a game that would encourage physical activity, promote friendly competition, and bring people together in a fun and active way. With these goals in mind, we designed the CROSSNET net and rules to create a new and exciting experience for players.
The manufacturing process for the first CROSSNET involved several steps to bring the game from concept to reality. Here is a general overview of the process:
1. Design and Prototyping: The founders of CROSSNET worked on developing the initial design of the four-way volleyball net, taking into account factors such as size, materials, and portability. We created prototypes to test and refine the design until we were satisfied with its functionality and playability.
2. Sourcing Materials: Once the design was finalized, the next step was to source the necessary materials for manufacturing, so the founders headed to Alibaba! This processes is where we found multiple suppliers for the netting, poles, connectors, and other components required to assemble the CROSSNET set and tried to get the best quality and pricing.
3. Manufacturing and Assembly: The components were sent to a manufacturing facility where the production process took place. The netting was cut and sewn according to the specifications, and the poles and connectors were fabricated. The individual parts were then assembled to create the CROSSNET sets.
4. Quality Control: During and after the manufacturing process, quality control measures were implemented to ensure that the CROSSNET sets met the desired standards. This involved inspecting the components, testing the durability and functionality of the net, and conducting thorough checks to identify any defects or issues.
5. Packaging and Shipping: Once the CROSSNET sets were manufactured and passed the quality control checks, we were packaged and prepared for shipping. This involved selecting appropriate packaging materials to protect the product during transportation and labeling the packages for distribution.
Over time, as the popularity of CROSSNET grew, the manufacturing process was optimized and scaled up to meet the increasing demand.
Launching the company was amazing! Taking samples and prototypes to the beach to test the game and also it’s demand. Lines of lines of kids lined up which proved our game was going to succeed.
We started CROSSNET in the backyards of Connecticut, but eventually myself and the team moved down to Miami Beach, FL. Eventually we made our way to the west coast and found ourselves a warehouse and a better beach environment in San Diego, CA.
Fun gameplay and new SKUS! We now have volleyball, h2o volleyball for the pool, soccer, pickleball and a bunch of different variations.
For me personally, music has been my biggest inspiration! I can also put on some tunes and get into some deep trance of work. Also seeing other creators and brand owners in the space crush it day in and day out keeps me motivated.
Things are smooth sailing and the sport is growing. An estimated 1,000,000 players have stood in a square and it’s an amazing feeling to say we are not slowing down anytime soon.
Put in the hours. Set a goal and don’t stop. Consistency is the key; you can not jump to the next ship or try to part time your goals.
CROSSNET: crossnetgame.com
Instagram.com/woeismeade
Twitter.com/woeismeade
linkedin.com/in/gmeade/
My mother in law loves to sew.
A few years ago she asked me how to set up an online store.
She wanted to sell fancy throw pillows she was making.
I gave her very basic steps. Enough to get started (I don't know much about ecom).
A few weeks later she showed me her site. It…
Whatever your 2024 goals, hopes, and dreams are.
I hope you make it.
Everyone wants “yes.”
But they don’t wanna pay the price.
100 Nos is the price of one yes.
You can get as many as yeses as you damn well please as long as you’re willing to pay the price.
I was sad to learn that Charlie Munger died today at age 99.
What a life.
He would likely roll his eyes and argue that none of us should be too surprised, based on the actuarial tables, but we’ve lost one of the 20th century’s greatest investors and businessmen.
Chris and I…
