Hudl

Hudl was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, when three University of Nebraska graduates — David Graff, John Wirtz, and Brian Kaiser — set out to make video analysis accessible to every coach at every level of sport. What started as a tool for football coaches has grown into the most widely used sports video platform on the planet, serving over 200,000 teams from youth leagues to the NFL, Premier League, and top NCAA programs.

Before Hudl, game film review was a privilege reserved for well-funded programs. Coaches at smaller schools either could not afford the technology or lacked the technical know-how to break down film efficiently. Hudl changed that equation entirely. Their cloud-based platform lets any coach upload game footage, tag plays, share clips with players, and build highlight reels — all from a laptop or tablet.

The company's impact goes beyond coaching strategy. Hudl's recruiting tools have transformed how high school athletes get noticed by college programs. Instead of hoping a scout shows up to a Friday night game, athletes can build video profiles that reach coaches nationwide. This democratization of exposure has leveled the playing field in ways that are difficult to overstate.

Hudl has expanded into live streaming, practice analysis, and exchange platforms where coaches share film with each other. Their acquisition of Wyscout (professional soccer scouting) and partnership with professional leagues have cemented their position at every level of the sports ecosystem. The fact that their headquarters remains in Lincoln, Nebraska — not Silicon Valley — is a testament to the idea that great sports technology can come from anywhere.