Press Page
Ali Ghafour and Jesse Moeinifar, co-founders of whotheman.com
Have you ever met a sports fan that likes to keep their sports opinion to themselves? No? Neither have we. This is why we created WhoTheMan.com. Our site gives you, the sports pundit, a platform to voice your opinion — literally. No longer are you forced to express yourself through text. Let the people know how you really feel! They can hear it in your voice and see it in your eyes.
How it Works
Sports fans, you are now your own sportscasters. Add your personal flair when you create and upload a broadcast of yourself responding to the latest in the world of sports; video battle a friend or sports rival on any sports topic; write a traditional blog or simply comment on any video. The best part is you have an audience who will watch, listen, and give you feedback (whether you want it or not). Sign up and check out the site. We know you will find people talking about something that interests you.
How it Started
WhoTheMan.com — An innovative forum for sports fans. Have you ever met a sports fan that likes to keep their sports opinion to themselves? Neither have Jesse Moeinifar and Ali Ghafour, co-founders of WhoTheMan.com, an interactive sports debate website that helps to satisfy the needs of sports fans who always have something to say. The site is rapidly growing in popularity since its launch in August, 2009.
In an economic climate where many are holding on to their jobs, quitting to start a new business is a great risk. The co-founders at WhoTheMan.com, both of whom were earning six-figure salaries, chose to take a chance and venture into the precarious web industry, investing their time and money. They have created a unique platform for sports fans to voice, share, and engage in all things sports.
Fans who sign up can upload their own videos and make a broadcast of their opinion; they can battle one another on any sports topic; they can comment on other battles or broadcasts to express their reactions; or they can brief themselves daily on updated headlines from the world of sports.
“The Raptors were in the playoffs in 2007 and we were listening to the Fan590. There was an endless queue of people waiting to be heard but time ran out. The host apologized to those who had been waiting — we were one of those people,” says Moeinifar.
The idea of WhoTheMan.com took shape and since then has developed into a growing social media movement away from text based discussion toward visual, “face-to-face” interaction.
“Popular social mediums are continuing to make people more comfortable in an online world,” says Ghafour. “People are willing to post their personal status (Twitter), personal photos (Flikr), their complete profile (Facebook), work experience (LinkedIn), or a video of their cat who can play piano (YouTube). Our site moves forward from this trend. Now you can post a video about what you thought of last night’s game, battle someone about who will win in a given match, or what you thought about the GM’s decision.”
This trend toward visual interaction is an inevitable progression in the realm of social media. And this web idea, like many, seems obvious in retrospect: give sports fans a single destination to talk about sports.
“Sports fans all have opinions and not enough outlets to be heard. We give people from all sport backgrounds, whether you play professionally or you haven’t moved on from your high school football days, an opportunity to be a self-titled sportscaster with an audience that will watch, listen, and respond,” says Moeinifar.
This online collaboration of sports and speech continues to propel the company into success, feeding the desires of sports enthusiasts, devotees, supporters, haters, pundits, meat-heads, fanatics and addicts. In other words, an audience that will never diminish.
The Founders
Ali Ghafour
A computer science graduate from the University of Toronto, 30-year old Ghafour grew up in the suburbs of Toronto. A particular passion for Taekwondo at the age of thirteen turned into a spot on the Canadian National team for 6 years, 4 national championships, and an opportunity that brought him close to the Canadian Olympic team for Beijing. As a former IT Director and an internet veteran he brings an incontestable understanding of web 2.0 companies.
Jesse Moeinifar
34-year old Moeinifar grew up in Mississauga. With an interest, and an opinion, in all sports, Moeinifar offers a diverse perspective and brings original ideas to the team. A former managing partner for an investment firm, his experience in commerce and business management adds an invaluable financial viewpoint with operational discipline.
Get in touch with us
- Jesse Moeinifar, co-founder
- Ali Ghafour, co-founder
- Phone: 416-564-6228
Partnerships
College of Sports Media
Canada’s most elite institution for radio and television sports broadcasting.
Agile Dudes
Agile dudes offer the support that many companies need when getting their company successfully integrated into the social media world.
Media Notices
Toronto Star
Necessity has been called the mother of invention and in this case it was some fans’ need for more air time that gave birth to an Internet sports business.
National Post & Financial Post
The success of a small business often depends on its ability to innovate and advance. Yet the sheer time commitment needed to find means to move a business forward can be an onerous imposition, never mind the cash investment.
askmen.com cool site of the day
It’s YouTube meets ESPN in this clever new video site that lets you have your say on anything sports-related. Be a “Fancaster” and throw in your two cents about the day’s sporting developments, or take on other users in a “Battle” of opinions to let the viewers decide who the last man standing will be.
killer startups
Passions run truly high when it comes to sports. This site occupies a space that will fulfil the needs of many a hardened punter. If you think you are one, checking it out will let you make your opinions be heard and weighed up with others. At the end of the day, what more could a supporter want?
startup lucky
Spoke with Jesse Moeinifar of the sports battle start-upWhoTheMan.com. WhoTheMan, allows people to communicate, share, and battle each other about their take on anything related to sports. You have an opinion about a particular game, match, player, coach, etc, go to WhoTheMan and get your battle on.
Office Search Toronto
Who needs radio any more when you can debate over the internet 24 /7 - great concept and growing fast!