Scott Davis originally started True Sync Media to provide a distraction in health care waiting rooms. (Courtesy True Sync Media)
If you’re sitting at a bar or a restaurant and see short videos of extreme sports playing on the TV, there’s a good chance you’re watching True Sync Media.
The company, founded by Evergreen native Scott Davis, has videos playing in bars and restaurants across 34 states. But, it wasn’t always in bars and restaurants, and it wasn’t always called True Sync.
In 2013, Davis was between his last venture and his latest when a friend who worked at Kaiser Permanente talked about a problem the health care group had.
Scott Davis
“Kaiser wanted to get rid of Judge Judy on mute in their waiting rooms,” Davis said. “So, I actually formed a company for this purpose.”
Davis started Digital Solutions, which sold a software device that connected to TVs and played quick, entertaining videos in health care waiting rooms. Kaiser was its largest client and accounted for roughly 70% of revenue.
And then, in 2016, the health care provider told Davis it would be its last year using the software.
“The company was at a crossroads,” Davis said. “We didn’t see a lot of great opportunity to grow in health care.”
In 2018, while deciding if he should call it quits or forge ahead, Davis went to a Boulder startup accelerator, where, while sitting at a restaurant, somebody asked him: “What about these TVs?”
Davis hit the ground running, going to Colorado restaurants and bars, asking if they wanted to use his software. He learned business owners weren’t willing to pay for the device, so he pivoted to an ad-based model and relaunched as True Sync Media.
“This is the first dollar (advertisers) should spend,” Davis said. “You’re crazy if you’re not taking that opportunity to connect with the consumer when they’re deciding what they’re going to have.”
The process is simple. Bars and restaurants choose the content they want, such as mountain biking or surfing, and True Sync puts the videos into a playlist mixed in with paid advertisements and messaging from the business itself. For example, a restaurant might display information about current sales or upcoming events.
Last month, five years after pivoting to bars and restaurants, the company raised $610,000 to prepare for what Davis is saying will be “explosive growth.”
With the raise, True Sync hired Mark Cannon as CEO and Jeff Busch as chief revenue officer. It plans to add more to its current staff of eight. Davis also plans to add new markets, which he said includes “anybody that has a TV in their business.”
This is the company’s second, and likely last, capital raise. Davis said it raised $1 million in January 2020. That cash went toward improving its software and manufacturing its own devices.
A True Sync TV plays at Stoney’s Bar & Grill in Denver. (Maia Luem/BusinessDen)
True Sync also recently moved its office from RiNo to Glendale. Davis declined to disclose revenue figures.
There are other companies providing similar services, such as Atmosphere, which claims its the “largest streaming platform TV built for business.” But Davis said he doesn’t see a lot of competition.
“The consumer is our first priority, because if they’re not entertained we’re dead in the water,” Davis said. “But True Sync’s philosophy is to put the operator first. We want to be invaluable to their business and help them improve their environment.”
Davis said its advertisers include most major beer and wine distributors, such as Breakthru Beverage. Its content, which comes from outlets such as GoPro, the Guinness Book of World Records and individual creators, play locally in spots such as Illegal Burger, Beau Jo’s and Stoney’s Bar & Grill.
“One of our bar owners said it brings back the ‘Cheers’ environment,” Davis said. “People will put their phones down and they’re talking to people around them about what they’re seeing on TV. It’s a conversation starter.”
Scott Davis originally started True Sync Media to provide a distraction in health care waiting rooms. (Courtesy True Sync Media)
If you’re sitting at a bar or a restaurant and see short videos of extreme sports playing on the TV, there’s a good chance you’re watching True Sync Media.
The company, founded by Evergreen native Scott Davis, has videos playing in bars and restaurants across 34 states. But, it wasn’t always in bars and restaurants, and it wasn’t always called True Sync.
In 2013, Davis was between his last venture and his latest when a friend who worked at Kaiser Permanente talked about a problem the health care group had.
Scott Davis
“Kaiser wanted to get rid of Judge Judy on mute in their waiting rooms,” Davis said. “So, I actually formed a company for this purpose.”
Davis started Digital Solutions, which sold a software device that connected to TVs and played quick, entertaining videos in health care waiting rooms. Kaiser was its largest client and accounted for roughly 70% of revenue.
And then, in 2016, the health care provider told Davis it would be its last year using the software.
“The company was at a crossroads,” Davis said. “We didn’t see a lot of great opportunity to grow in health care.”
In 2018, while deciding if he should call it quits or forge ahead, Davis went to a Boulder startup accelerator, where, while sitting at a restaurant, somebody asked him: “What about these TVs?”
Davis hit the ground running, going to Colorado restaurants and bars, asking if they wanted to use his software. He learned business owners weren’t willing to pay for the device, so he pivoted to an ad-based model and relaunched as True Sync Media.
“This is the first dollar (advertisers) should spend,” Davis said. “You’re crazy if you’re not taking that opportunity to connect with the consumer when they’re deciding what they’re going to have.”
The process is simple. Bars and restaurants choose the content they want, such as mountain biking or surfing, and True Sync puts the videos into a playlist mixed in with paid advertisements and messaging from the business itself. For example, a restaurant might display information about current sales or upcoming events.
Last month, five years after pivoting to bars and restaurants, the company raised $610,000 to prepare for what Davis is saying will be “explosive growth.”
With the raise, True Sync hired Mark Cannon as CEO and Jeff Busch as chief revenue officer. It plans to add more to its current staff of eight. Davis also plans to add new markets, which he said includes “anybody that has a TV in their business.”
This is the company’s second, and likely last, capital raise. Davis said it raised $1 million in January 2020. That cash went toward improving its software and manufacturing its own devices.
A True Sync TV plays at Stoney’s Bar & Grill in Denver. (Maia Luem/BusinessDen)
True Sync also recently moved its office from RiNo to Glendale. Davis declined to disclose revenue figures.
There are other companies providing similar services, such as Atmosphere, which claims its the “largest streaming platform TV built for business.” But Davis said he doesn’t see a lot of competition.
“The consumer is our first priority, because if they’re not entertained we’re dead in the water,” Davis said. “But True Sync’s philosophy is to put the operator first. We want to be invaluable to their business and help them improve their environment.”
Davis said its advertisers include most major beer and wine distributors, such as Breakthru Beverage. Its content, which comes from outlets such as GoPro, the Guinness Book of World Records and individual creators, play locally in spots such as Illegal Burger, Beau Jo’s and Stoney’s Bar & Grill.
“One of our bar owners said it brings back the ‘Cheers’ environment,” Davis said. “People will put their phones down and they’re talking to people around them about what they’re seeing on TV. It’s a conversation starter.”
