HonorDRM’s 2025 Recap: A Year of Growth, Grit, and Gearing Up for 2026

This year marked major momentum for HonorDRM — from breakthrough partnerships and research collaborations to team expansion and our first MVP release. We deepened our work in athlete data governance, strengthened our product vision, and positioned HonorDRM for an exciting 2026.

Hello Friends!

As 2025 draws to a close, I’m filled with gratitude and excitement for how far we’ve come this year and even more inspired by what’s on the horizon. This year at HonorDRM was defined by meaningful progress, strategic team growth, and real movement toward bringing our vision to market.

Milestones We’re Proud Of

University of Notre Dame + HonorDRM AI App Development & Athlete Data Use Study

This year HonorDRM partnered with the University of Notre Dame’s ESTEEM Graduate Program where AI was used to improve our product offerings and new product features were incorporated based on insights shared by college athletes and top athletic program ADs and staff in sports performance, coaching, and training. We also collaborated on a cutting-edge research project exploring how athlete data is collected, used, and monetized. Leaders from Top 75 DI university athletics programs and athletes were interviewed for the study which uncovered key insights into current practices, future opportunities, and critical challenges like privacy, trust, and compliance. The findings are helping university athletics programs and athletes prepare for a future where athlete data drives both performance and revenue.

St. Louis University UX/UI & Business Development Partnership

HonorDRM had the opportunity to work with MBA students in the St. Louis University Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business who fine-tuned our UX/UI and created wire frames for our initial mobile app. This fueled the build out of our MVP. Further, this special team also contributed to new marketing strategies, competitive market analysis, and milestone planning and management.

Defy The Odds Joins HonorDRM as Strategic Advisors

DTO, co-founded by industry veterans, Kelly Kehn, Sue Schneider, and Paris Smith, is a startup launchpad specifically focused on supporting female and minority founders in gaming. HonorDRM and DTO joined forces this Spring and we are thrilled to have them as advisors who make moves and provide strategic guidance, resources, opportunities, and a path forward for HonorDRM.

UH Haslam Sports Innovation Center SportsLand 2025 Pitch Competition Semifinalist

HonorDRM was invited to participate in the Cleveland-based UH Haslam SportsLand 2025 Pitch Competition and finished strong as a semifinalist. This opportunity validated the need for athlete data governance solutions in sports, elite athlete training, and healthcare and created valued relationships with the leaders at the UH Haslam Sports Innovation Center.

HonorDRM’s Participation in Zero Labs Accelerator

A huge highlight this year was our company’s acceptance into the Zero Labs accelerator program - a testament to Kristy's leadership and the promise of what we’re building. Top sports tech, entertainment/gaming, and energy sector startups converged to learn, pitch, network and share stories of resilience and entrepreneurial grit. The lessons and connections from the Zero Labs accelerator fueled the next phase of HonorDRM’s growth.

HonorDRM Founder Kristy Gale G2E Guest Speaker + Podcast Features

Kristy has regularly been a sought-after speaker at sports industry conferences and this year she hit a major milestone by speaking at the Global Gaming Expo, or G2E, for the first time. She shared insights about leveraging AI to build and ship next gen sports and gaming industry products. Kristy also appeared on the Unguarded podcast hosted by professional basketball player Jori Davis to discuss the new athlete data model that is emerging and unpack the legal, ethical, and business considerations that brands, sports organizations, and athletes need to know about. Kristy also appeared on the Trustees and Presidents podcast hosted by visionary leader and educator Dr. Karen Weaver, to highlight how athlete data is changing college sports even in this new phase of business where athlete data not only provides an edge for teams but is also a huge money maker for them.

Amplifying Our Voices: Founders Forum

The sports tech community has always been fueled by startups and this past year we’ve had the chance to meet change-makers in sports tech and data startups who are creating innovative products that fuel all levels of sport. The Founders Forum was born of great conversations with these visionaries who are using athlete data to benefit athletes, sports organizations, and new revenue streams such as prediction markets. Each month we have the opportunity in the Founders Forum to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of digital rights and identity and help broaden the conversation around secure digital experiences. Watch for more to come from this group!

Building and Launching Our First MVP

A defining moment this year was shipping the first MVP of HonorDRM. From blueprints to beta testing, this version embodies countless hours of iteration, user feedback, and engineering effort. We’re excited to see how real users interact with the product and to use those insights to strengthen our roadmap.

Strengthening Our Team

Welcoming Dave Moggio: Head of Product & Technology

We’re thrilled to have Dave join us this past April as Head of Product & Technology. Dave brings over two decades of experience leading product development, technology strategy, and cross-functional teams. He’s known for driving successful product outcomes, scaling teams, and building systems that balance innovation with customer value. His leadership has already helped shape our product vision and go-to-market readiness. 

Welcoming Nick Pound: Head of Engineering

Nick joins us as Head of Engineering, bringing deep technical expertise built through years of building customer centric products, collaboration with Dave - most recently at SBJ or Sports Business Journal - and a strong track record of building reliable engineering frameworks that power high-impact teams. His senior engineering experience will be instrumental as we refine our MVP and elevate our engineering excellence.

What’s Ahead

Soft Launch Coming Soon

As we head into the new year, we’re beyond excited to prepare for a soft launch of HonorDRM’s primary product, Honor Surge™. This early release will allow us to engage with our first users, gather meaningful feedback, and continue to refine our offering before a full public introduction.

Keep your eyes peeled — we’ll be sharing more details very soon.

From all of us at HonorDRM, thank you for your encouragement, partnership, and belief in our mission. Here’s to building something remarkable – together!

Warmly,

Kristy Gale

Founder & CEO, HonorDRM