Wrestling with Mobility A Case Study Chuck Scharnagle Chief Information Officer The Mohegan Tribe
The Mohegan Tribal Government Team Over 400 Employees Supporting over 1800 Tribal Members Owns and Operates the Mohegan Sun Casino Responsible for Preserving its History and Culture Located in Uncasville, CT 2
The Tribes Challenge Mohegan Sun Declining Revenues Increase Competition Economy Determine How to Utilize Existing Strengths Arena Ranked in Top 5 Worldwide in Gross Revenue Shops Ranked in Top 5 Nationwide on Gross Revenue 2 nd Largest Casino in North America 30,000 Visitors (on average) Daily 3
Ringside Scoring Created Ringside Scoring (Tablet Application) Provides for Electronic Scoring for Boxing & Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Faster and Reliable Past Instances of Mistakes and Slow Tabulations Tested over 3 Years at Mohegan Sun Arena Skunk-works Project with Minimal Investment Potential for Revenue & Brand Growth 4
Mobile - First Encounter Project 1 Ringside Scoring Mohegan Sun Arena Boxing and MMA events Goals Leverage Mobile/Apps as New Revenue Opportunity for Existing Investment Engaging Users in New Ways On/Off Property Entertainment and Functional Utility Increase Customer Communications Targeted, Timely and Cost Effective Marketing Increase and Expand Customer Loyalty 5
Entertainment App Ringside Scoring App Team Create a Boxing/MMA App for Fans to Score Utilizing Existing Relationships & Investments Bellator & UFC MMA World Boxing Council (WBC) Boxing 10,000 Seat Arena Revenue Generator Advertising Licensing Merchandising (App put a store in customer s pocket) 6
How to Manage & Finance? Team Bring in Seasoned Talent Create a New Business Model Utilizing Existing Assets Create a New Organization Determine Priorities/Focus Areas 7
Creating a Win/Win Team Leverage Mohegan Sun Brand Equity The Apple Appstore and Android Marketplace GLUT Abundance of Apps struggling for exposure (More than 500,000 Apps in Appstore ) Mohegan Sun is new channel opportunity for Apps buried in Appstore. Put your App in the spotlight Arena (concerts, sporting events) Retail traffic (Mohegan shops) Lodging, Restaurants, Nightclubs 8
A Strategic, Venture Accelerator for App/Tech Businesses 9
Sun App Ventures = Resource for Mohegan Sun Sun App Ventures is a resource for innovation and growth. We seek out Apps & Technologies that can: Make Mohegan Sun unique and exciting and give people more reasons to come and stay at Mohegan Sun by: Engaging users in new ways on and off property Increasing customer communications targeted, timely and cost effective. Increasing and expanding customer loyalty Company suggestion box harness ideas from employees Commercialize products/services within SAV focus areas that have broad appeal, U.S. and worldwide. 10
Strategic Venture Accelerator Model SAV Model: We strategically partner with early stage App/Tech companies and take an Equity position and warrants in future investment rounds. Example: 10% upfront 10% on milestones Warrants in future investment rounds 11
What We Do for Potential App/Tech Partners: Strategic guidance from unique team of entrepreneurs, industry executives and investors. Accelerate business success with a world renowned strategic partner. Validate business concept through real world market testing. Commercialize products within industry verticals and American Indian Tribal communities. Market analysis and business development. As a Strategic Partner, help attract Investment Capital. We help startups build market tested products, attract capital, and grow successful businesses. 12
Opportunity for Entrepreneurs/Investors: Opportunities for Entrepreneurs We strategically partner with early stage companies with products and services for: Gaming, Entertainment, Resort, Lodging, Hospitality, Meeting, Convention, Dining and Shopping (See Focus). We partner with App/Tech companies that benefit from the Mohegan Tribe properties and investments. We look for products and services that solve real world business problems and have broad commercial appeal. Entrepreneurs who partner with us benefit from strategic guidance from unique team of entrepreneurs, industry executives and investors. As one of the world s largest casinos (2nd largest in the U.S.) we offer a unique business microcosm to validate your concept through real world market testing. We help you commercialize your product with market analysis and business development. Sun App Ventures is compensated through equity participation in your venture in exchange for the strategic value we bring. We assist companies with investment strategies and introductions to Tribal, Angel, and VC investors. Opportunities for Investors: Angels, VCs Validation Invest in market tested products that have moved beyond a Powerpoint business plan. Investors mitigate their risk by investing in products/services that have been market tested at Mohegan properties. Invest in products that have been vetted by experienced entrepreneurs, industry executives and advisory teams. Sun App Venture s Strategic Partnership/Venture Accelerator Program moves businesses beyond the business plan with real world testing. We validate product and services and allow investors to value businesses and market potential with real numbers. 13
Launched Website August 17th Recently Named Future Star at Kelsey Group ILM East Conference www.sunappventures.com 14
Focus (from website) 15
Appendix 16
Apps Stats 50% of mobile users have Smartphones (36% in 2011) By 2013 more people will use mobile phones than computers to go online Mobile searches have grown by 4x since 2010 59% visit the location 50% of searches lead to purchases *Sources: Neilsen, Compuware, What Users Want from Mobile, 2011, Howtogomo.com Google 2012. 17
App Stats - penetration 18
App Stats Smartphone activities 19
Put your App/Tech in the spotlight at Mohegan Sun and beyond Sun App Ventures www.sunappventures.com 20