Nebraska Founder Targets 2026 Pipeline Pathfinder Status With Two Youth Sports Apps

Teresa Friesen is attempting to reshape youth sports culture in Nebraska by addressing two specific problems: the high dropout rate among female athletes and the negative behavior of spectators. She has developed two distinct platforms to tackle these issues, positioning her company as a key player in the state's growing sportstech industry.

SheMate functions as a mentorship network. It connects youth sports teams with female athletes who are currently active or retired from professional levels. The platform provides girls with direct guidance on achieving athletic goals and navigating their long-term sports careers. FanWell addresses the support system around the player. It assists coaches and youth organizations in managing fan culture, specifically by guiding parents to become positive contributors to their teams' environments.

Friesen entered the startup scene with a background in social work. She spent years in school and hospital settings and taught college classes. During that time, she observed a lack of social science integration in the business sector. Her curiosity about how technology could expand access to wellness led her to the sports industry, a field she did not initially anticipate entering. This background informed the creation of both SheMate and FanWell.

The entrepreneur views her work as a bridge between her social work training and her interest in innovation. She believes that rethinking community challenges can lead to healthier outcomes. Friesen joined the Nebraska sportstech ecosystem and was named a 2026 Pipeline Pathfinder. This designation places her among a group of emerging leaders in the state's technology sector.

Friesen has a specific vision for Nebraska's role in the national youth sports conversation. She aims to make the state a model for what youth athletics should look like. Her goal is to create a culture where every child understands their value, every girl feels a sense of belonging, and coaches feel equipped to lead. She wants parents and fans to be part of the positive experience rather than a source of pressure.

She argues that sports provide benefits that extend beyond physical activity. These include teamwork, perseverance, resilience, leadership, and confidence. Sports also help children move away from screens and build relationships. Friesen notes that many children miss out on these experiences, with girls dropping out of sports at higher rates than boys. Negative sideline behavior is another factor that drives players, coaches, and officials away from the game.

Friesen seeks to connect with schools, clubs, coaches, parents, community leaders, and sponsors who share this vision. She states that the opportunity is larger than any single organization. The next step involves working with these local partners to implement SheMate mentoring and FanWell parent culture programs. The objective is to help young people stay in sports, feel supported, and thrive in a local environment that serves as a national example.

The founder emphasizes that the process of learning entrepreneurship takes time. She advises that the time spent building quality relationships is necessary for making a real impact. This patience is central to her approach as she works to establish these platforms within the Nebraska community.