We love what Tara Kovatch is building over at EVO so we reached out and she was generous enough to give us time to ask her a few quick questions about her fantasy sports products.
Below, Tara shares the inspiration behind EVO, how the app is making fantasy more accessible to casual fans, and why expanding women’s sports offerings is a top priority.
If you’ve ever felt fantasy sports was too complicated or time-consuming, EVO might just change your mind :-)
What inspired you to create Fantasy Sports EVO, and how did you go from idea to launch?
Tara. The idea for our unique platform was born out of frustration with traditional fantasy sports. My partner Mark was stuck in traffic one day on his way home from work and heard a report of a player injury. He was an avid fantasy player and was unable to make it home in time to make a change and it blew up his entire lineup. That’s what planted the seed that there must be a better way… and EVO was born!
We turned the typical fantasy sports model on its head. By picking teams instead of players, we streamlined and simplified things and amplified the fun.
We built the new model from the ground up pretty much by ourselves. We secured the necessary regulatory approvals and state licenses, worked with a web developer to customize the game types to fit our team-based approach, and went into beta testing. It went well and we began expanding and adding more sports.
Your app focuses on teams instead of players — what made you choose that model, and how has it been received so far?
Tara. The model was our solution to one player potentially having too much weight in a user’s lineup. We did a ton of research and testing. We have had a lot of positive reviews since launching.
Users appreciate that they don’t have to rely on certain players to have a good game or stay healthy. They also love that it is a lot less time consuming than traditional fantasy.
You don’t have to be a hard-core sports fan. It’s a great alternative for those who enjoy sports and watching, but don’t want (or don’t have the time) to keep up with all the player stats.
What can users expect when they download Fantasy Sports EVO for the first time?
Tara. It’s really straightforward. Once you download, just register with a username and email, make a deposit ($10 minimum with 100% deposit match), and choose your sport and contests in the lobby. Once you select your contest, pick the teams you think will win for each category and enjoy the games.
A quick example would be the WNBA Classic game type. You just pick three teams for Offense (points, rebounds, assists) and three teams for defense (blocks, steals, and rebounds). It’s that easy. You can watch your scores update live throughout the day. Or if you prefer not to download apps, our mobile website works just as well.
You’ve included six major leagues. Why was it important to include the WNBA and NWSL, and what kind of engagement have you seen around it?
Tara. The WNBA is my absolute favorite sport to watch! And I used to love playing soccer. We are thrilled that women’s sports are finally getting the media attention it deserves and with that comes fans that want to wager on the games.
One of our goals is to get more women betting on sports and more people betting on women’s sports. Our team-based model makes it easy to bet on these teams that may be new to some. You don’t need to know all the players. Fan engagement is off the charts and these sports are finally getting their due and we are here for it!
We are so excited for the season to start and expect to see more engagement in our second season offering of the WNBA.
With so many DFS platforms out there, what makes Fantasy Sports EVO stand out — especially for more casual or newer bettors?
Tara. EVO has two clear differentiators: one is our team-based model and the other is our focus on women’s sports. EVO takes all the leg work out of researching all the players, their stats etc.
It simplifies traditional and makes it easier for the casual fan or those new to it. It’s a good entryway into betting or betting a new sport you may not know too much about. EVO is really accessible to all sports fans.
You offer both free-to-play and pay-to-play contests — how do you strike the right balance between fun and competition?
Tara. The free contests in our lobby are for those we want to try EVO before making a deposit. Users like that option and most go on to enjoy the pay to play contests.
What’s next for Fantasy Sports EVO — any new features, sports, or partnerships we should keep an eye out for?
Tara. We are always looking for ways to improve our users’ experience and love to hear feedback. We plan to keep expanding our women’s sports and looking at the PWHL, Unrivaled and Volleyball next. We are always open for partnerships, so if anyone is interested, feel free to reach out. 😊
What do women want in sports betting (or fantasy sport)?
Tara. They want to see their leagues and teams represented. They also want a simpler way to play fantasy and not have to spend hours on it.
Simply put, they want EVO 😊
Follow Tara's updates on her own Betting Ladies channel here >>:
Val C. Martinez
Founder of BettingLadies.com
