Tyler Gottstein and Mat Ahrens at Cadi Kiosk
(Photo : Tyler Gottstein and Mat Ahrens at Cadi Kiosk)

Product purchases in the golf equipment industry topped $84 billion in 2019, and this number has only grown. However, the golf industry, how golf is played, and how golf equipment is purchased have evolved. Golf retailers have had to adapt to the changing environment to create innovative and exciting products and technologies. 

Cadi Kiosk, a Carlsbad, CA tech and big data startup, successfully completed a StartEngine crowdfunding campaign, raising over $2 million from over 2000 investors. Cadi has set an expected launch date of summer 2022 - after filing multiple patents, onboarding a team of executives from Redbox, Callaway Golf, and Brown Golf, and receiving multiple letters of intent from golf courses, driving ranges, and entertainment venues. A great start to be sure, yet who brings all this together? Not an existing golf or tech company; no, the leader of this disruptor is Tyler Gottstein.

Meet The Man Behind the Tee: Tyler Gottstein

 

Tyler Gottstein never imagined that he would use new tech and big data to disrupt the golf industry. Several years ago, he was shopping in a Southern California golf store, looking for a new set of clubs. His story is typical of millions of golfers searching for new clubs - he drove to the store, talked to store associates about the latest clubs, used an in-store simulator to hit a few clubs, and ultimately purchased a new set. Unfortunately, a problem arose when he decided to book a tee time at a local course with the new clubs - none worked for his game, and he was ultimately stuck with the clubs and those bogeys. 

Gottstein realized the club buying process was broken and ripe for disruption. He immediately began thinking of ways to change how golf equipment is distributed and sold across the United States. It started with technology and a throwback twist to golf course pro shops in their former glory - making golf equipment more accessible in places where golfers use clubs the most - their golf courses. Gottstein knew he could develop an online eCommerce platform that sold clubs similar to platforms such as Golf Galaxy, TGW.com, and PGA Golf Superstore. So he set out to completely change the way clubs are purchased, using data and course experience to guide the user towards the best club for their game, regardless of brand.

 

How Gottstein's Cadi Changes Golf

Tyler Gottstein's determination to change how golf clubs are sold across the United States started with the idea that new technology and data applications can disrupt the retail process for golf. After studying the market and reviewing options, Gottstein started in 2019 to develop eCommerce and an on-site physical presence available on-demand where the game is played - golf courses, driving ranges, entertainment venues, and retail locations. 

Gottstein assembled a team of top performers to aid him in realizing his golf club revolution. One of the first people he brought on was Co-founder Matt Ahrens. Ahrens joined Gottsein after holding successful executive roles in oil distribution and national food retail. In addition, David Felker, Founding VP of R&D for Callaway Golf, Carole McCluskey, former CTO of Outerwall (parent company of CoinStar and RedBox), and Franz Keuhnrich, former VP of Engineering at RedBox, joined the Cadi team as advisors and partners. Each brings a depth of knowledge and experience that has been instrumental in making Cadi an industry disruptor from its proprietary algorithms, utilization of kiosks, and agile supply chain management.

Through the eCommerce and kiosk platforms, golfers can get personalized recommendations based on their skill set and abilities, which are not bound by brand, commissions, or inventory restrictions that commonly plague brick and mortar retail. In addition, through an innovative system of micro warehouses, sensors in each club, and proprietary data applications, Cadi offers tight inventory and distribution controls that reduce lead times, reduce lost products, and negate a need for a large labor force. 

(Photo : Cadi)

How Gottstein's Vision for Cadi Disrupts Retail 

Through Cadi, Gottstein has developed a platform that can disrupt golf. Starting with athletics, any sporting goods equipment that first requires a demo could utilize the platform. This could apply to other athletic categories where the product benefits from customization and often requires play-testing before purchase. Currently, no other large retailer offers an omnichannel try-before-you-buy experience. 

What Gottstein has created moves beyond athletic retail. The world's largest retailer Amazon offers a try before you buy experience through Prime. Yet, not even Amazon or any retailer provides omnichannel experience that meets the consumer where they need it. Gottstein's vision changes the course for online retail. 

Gottstein's vision to create a new channel in retail beyond what currently exists is loaded with risk and opportunity. Since no others are launching such a model, Gottstein is taking the risk and all the difficulty through the launch, with impressive results thus far. Cadi currently has a $42 million valuation, with over $2 million raised from crowdfunding and $1.5 million in pilot testing sales. In addition, demand from golf courses, driving ranges, and entertainment venues are increasing as many continue to reach out directly, asking for kiosk placement at venues. 

Pushing through knowledge and technology barriers that most retailers avoid, Gottstein is solving a complex retail problem. Cadi is not simply a golf or athletic company; it is a big data company with a technology and distribution system unlike anyone else. While big data is not new in startups, the use of big data to analyze every swing and every player's use and feedback to select the right product best is beyond what even the most prominent retailers currently offer. Moreover, this moves beyond just product recommendations based on the purchases of others. Gottstein's vision and leadership bring to life the first of its kind omnichannel, autonomous, and authentic data-driven product selection platform that works 24/7/365 to give consumers what they truly need based upon true personalized customization.  

For Gottstein to envision and create that model allows Cadi and future disrupter verticals to penetrate significant retail sectors for years to come, unlike anything currently known in the space. To do so on such a massive scale is rare to witness and will be fascinating to watch throughout this year. What's more, no one else thus far has seen or taken action to fix this broken system in retail, which says a lot since the golf equipment market is over $6 billion since 2020. Developing an apparent yet complicated solution speaks to the founder's vision for disruption. 

Final Thoughts 

Cadi officially launches in the summer of 2022, offering golfers an autonomous eCommerce platform on which they shop for new clubs. Cadi's kiosks will roll out in the second phase of their launch. Cadi's is currently in talks with golf courses, driving ranges, and entertainment venues with a projected timeline to be available at locations across the United States by the end of 2022 or early 2023. Since their endorsement by PGA Pro golfer Paul Casey, Cadi has received a flood of new requests for kiosk placement in golf venues nationwide. 

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