In this Sports for Business episode, host Rob Hartnett sits down with Stephen Smith, CEO of Kitman Labs, to trace the journey from a rugby analyst’s daily frustrations to founding a global sports technology company—and how evidence-based decision-making is reshaping athlete health, performance, and league operations.
The conversation explores the early friction between tradition and data, the leap from Dublin to Silicon Valley, and why modern leagues now see themselves as talent businesses. It’s a candid look at scaling from one team to thousands, standardizing care and development across entire ecosystems, and the personal leadership lessons required to build something that lasts.
Why Listen
- Origin story with stakes: How a rugby analyst’s “there must be a better way” became Kitman Labs.
- Data vs. tradition: The real tension of moving beyond gut feel toward measurable, defensible decisions.
- Scaling impact: Why leagues (NFL, Premier League, MLS) now think like talent businesses—and how that changes everything.
- Founder lessons: Mentorship, hiring by “who you want in the locker room,” and relocating to Silicon Valley without losing your roots.
Hear the full episode with Rob Hartnett right here — and if you enjoy it, explore more insightful conversations from the Sports for Business podcast at SportsforBusiness.com.
