The Public VAR was a startup created with the purpose of turning fans into key players in sports refereeing. The platform and app allowed users to vote in real time on refereeing decisions during soccer matches, check statistics, follow leagues and players, and take part in rankings, sweepstakes, and gamified dynamics.
Driven by the GooApps® technical team, the project was born with a clear vision: to redefine the experience of watching soccer by focusing on interactivity, collective participation, and social entertainment. The MVP was launched in Spain with core functionalities and was well received by pilot fan communities, especially during major competitions.
However, despite the appeal of the initial concept, the project was unable to achieve sustained critical mass or secure key strategic agreements with broadcasting platforms or sports organizations. The lack of access to official content and monetization challenges limited its medium-term viability.
Key learning from Goo Ventures
The Public VAR is a clear example of the value of failing fast and cheap. Thanks to an agile methodology and the early launch of the MVP, we were able to test product hypotheses, validate real user behaviors, and extract valuable insights with contained investment.
This case reinforces our vision as a venture builder:
- Innovation doesn’t always mean scaling, but it always creates value.
- Gamification without official content has a clear growth ceiling.
- Early validation prevents unnecessary investments and frees up resources for ideas with real product–market fit.
Every project, even those that don’t succeed, enriches our ecosystem with experience, market knowledge, and strategic insight.
