Showcasing the NEXT Awards music, sports, gaming and entertainment startup finalists | Entrepreneurs

Founder: Stephanie Weier

• Secured contract with new software co in Nashville, TN to finish development

•  Secured strategic partnership & investor with a worldwide A.L. Company

• Re-incorporated and moved the company from California to Tennessee

• Completed AI Workshop to create visual AI recognition in content of brands and products in real time.

• Patent pending on Brandingo Ap

Additional notes from the founder:

I was part of the Project Fintech Spring Cohort 2025 Alumni. I interviewed with an AdTech platform called AdMall and the Founder. I secured a new CTO in Nashville and AI Company for build. I came in 2nd place in the Pitch Contest with the NEC for a $500 award. I identified and negotiated a SAFE Note for $1M with an investor in AI field. LaunchTN is considering us for the match fund program.

• Scaled to 30,000+ professionals, 1,500+ employers, and filled 1,000+ jobs. Giggs is now used by the biggest tours, festivals, and TV/film productions across the country – fueling both local and national hiring.

• Grew revenue to $200K ARR. After launching monetization last year, we built a growing base of employer subscribers, ad partners, and sponsors. New product-led growth strategies are now underway to accelerate further.

• Raised $712K from angels and LaunchTN, bringing total to $1.2M. Closed key funding rounds from notable angel investors and LaunchTN (the state’s official innovation fund), helping us scale while staying mission-aligned.

• Launched the Giggs Directory and new sponsorship partnerships, now driving 5-figure monthly ad revenue. Introduced two new monetized offerings: the Giggs Directory (connecting service providers to our vetted pro community) and branded sponsorship packages (featuring podcast, events, and content placement). Together, these opened a scalable path for media and revenue expansion.

• Reached millions through viral content and launched The Giggs Podcast. Multiple viral moments and a fast-growing podcast have made Giggs a standout media voice in the touring industry, driving awareness and conversions.

• Hosted high-impact events in Nashville; booked future dates in Vegas, LA, and Orlando. We’ve curated in-person events, panels, and podcast tapings with top production leaders, with national expansion in motion.

Additional notes from founder:

Founder Nikki Sanz was named to the 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Music, recognizing Giggs’ innovation in the live events industry and spotlighting the company on a national and global stage. She was selected as a finalist for Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch TV show and secured on-air investment from Marc Randolph, the founding CEO of Netflix. Additional wins include Sloss.Tech and other prominent founder showcases. Giggs earned press coverage in Nashville Business Journal, The Nashville Post, Teknovation, Pollstar, and appeared on the Nashville Sign: the landmark digital billboard on Broadway (thanks EC)! Sanz now leads a team of five passionate full-time staff, backed by a four-person advisory board and 35 investors committed to Giggs’ long-term vision and industry impact. Giggs is actively helping professionals find work, hope, and new relationships they wouldn’t have accessed otherwise while making hiring faster, easier, and more inclusive for top employers.

• Achieved 1200 percent growth in tour bookings compared to Q3 of the previous year, driven by targeted marketing and word-of-mouth momentum.

• Expanded revenue to $600,000 annually, with 50 percent profit margins and half of all revenue coming from high-value corporate events.

• Earned over 500 five-star reviews across Google, TripAdvisor, and Viator, making Nashville Adventures one of the highest-rated tour companies in the city.

• Launched an e-commerce line of Nashville-themed merchandise, adding a new revenue stream and expanding our brand beyond in-person experiences.

Additional notes from the founder:

I was named General Manager of the Year by the Greater Nashville Hospitality Association. I was honored as Nashville’s Hitmaker of the Year by Visit Music City for my impact on the tourism industry. I grew my company’s bookings by over 1200 percent year-over-year, making us one of the fastest-growing tour brands in the Southeast. I launched an e-commerce store to sell Nashville-themed products, expanding our brand into national markets. I’ve been featured on NewsChannel 2, NewsChannel 5, USA Today, and The Tennessean, sharing stories of Nashville’s past and building momentum around public history.