Boulder, Colo., Dec. 16, 2015 – The18, an online content and commerce platform designed to meet the growing needs of soccer enthusiasts in the U.S. and around the world, recently exceeded one million monthly visits and more than two million total monthly content engagements across all platforms. The company, which reached these significant goals in just 19 months of operation, also reaches more than 10 million individuals monthly. These traffic and engagement milestones come on the heels of The18 raising $1 million from individual investors to continue its expansion while preparing to embark on a Series A round of funding in 2016.
Built on a model of distributed content and contextual commerce, The18 is quickly becoming a leader in new media by featuring robust and entertaining soccer news coverage and commentary, a library of training resources, a community where fans can interact with each day's best social content and a store offering the latest soccer apparel and gear.
“The rapid rise in traffic and engagement that The18’s website and social media channels have experienced proves the strong consumer desire for our content,” said Pete Burridge, President and CEO of The18. “We look forward to expanding our operations and capabilities to enhance the high-quality product our fans have come to know, love and share.”
The18’s news coverage is a primary driver of its success, with a staff of content creators located both in the U.S. and around the world covering the soccer news and issues of the day, as well as producing globally-minded features and analysis. The18’s personality and style appeals to its younger target demographic and is a strong strategic fit with the company’s model. In addition to trending daily news, features like the site’s ranking of Major League Soccer franchises and its in-depth interviews with members of the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National teams have helped to boost the site’s popularity. The18’s model and growth have garnered it media coverage in the U.S. as well as overseas.
“Since we founded The18 last year, we’ve found a young audience with a huge appetite for content that is entertaining, informative and created by soccer experts,” said Matt Jenkins, Executive Vice President of The18. “Our growth compares favorably to other new media companies, and we have the advantage of tapping into an area of interest with unusual passion.”