Center for autistic children wins startup grant

Two months after a fire destroyed their main building, Sport-Social is shining brighter than ever.

The organization that teaches autistic and special needs children sports, art, music and social skills won $100,000 of seed money through a small startup business competition.

The contest began with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development in an effort to engage startups. Funding for the program was a joint effort from GOED and the Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization, and the goal is to make it an annual award.

“It was crazy how it all played out,” owner and founder of Sport-Social Andrew Devitt said. “I knew there were a lot of families that appreciated us, but to this level, I didn’t know.”

In February, 232 teams pitched their businesses to a panel of investors and entrepreneurs, according to Daniel Herr, the program manager for Project Vesto at the NIREC.

Narrowed to 12 finalists, the last stage of the contest, from May 22 to June 21, was left to an online vote.

“It was entirely decided by the public,” Herr said.

Social media, celebrity tweets, and promotion on lasvegasautism.com were instrumental to winning the competition, Devitt said.

“We won this competition because of this community,” Devitt said. Because of the competition and the fire, “we realized how much support we really have. It wasn’t like we were out there getting votes from random people. We won because we had so many friends that promoted it.”

The April 15 arson at the autism center’s main building caused $50,000 in damages and shut the place down for a week.

Two months later, a Sport-Social Block Party, with music, entertainers, sports and activities, kicked off the summer.

And Friday, the building reconstruction was finally complete. As the business was rebuilt, Devitt, 24, used the opportunity to expand and improve.

“Immediately we are looking at our current location ... we’ll most likely expand (there),” Devitt said.” We also want to start a $5,000 scholarship for kids to go to Sport-Social. We want to be able to service the special needs kids who can’t afford it, and with this grant, we will be able to do it.”

Devitt wants to add finishing touches such as accepting health insurance and Medicaid to make the business more financially accessible, branding and expanding to additional locations.

The company will receive the first $25,000 at an award ceremony in early July at the southern Las Vegas facility at 7055 Windy St. The next installment will be awarded after ensuring that they have all the proper licenses, Herr said.

The remainder of the money will be distributed after specific milestones are designated for Sport-Social. Devitt will meet with investors and board members from both sponsors to determine those needs. “They’re there to ensure you’re successful,” Herr said.

To qualify for the contest, businesses had to have less than $100,000 in investments and a revenue of under $1 million. Investors looked at three criteria for the finalists — the idea and concept of the business, the execution potential of running the business and competitive advantage or whether investors would be interested in the business.

Sport-Social has 20 employees and about 225 children who attend sessions, including summer camp.

Devitt, a home tutor for autistic children, opened Sport-Social in 2011 because he felt that the community needed a place for autistic kids to learn new skills. In September 2012, Sport-Social outgrew it’s old facility and moved into it’s current building near Las Vegas Boulevard and Warm Springs Road.

“We’re relieved and excited,” Devitt said. “It’s been a long few months. It’s all coming together here.”

Contact Rochel Leah Goldblatt at rgoldblatt@review journal.com or 702-383-0381.