In early 2023, a group of friends asked if there was a place at 200 Homer Avenue, Ashland to play pickleball. A space was available on the second floor and after further investigation, the group wanted to utilize the space and start a business. There was a lot of excitement, but there were also considerable obstacles: lighting and ceiling issues, floor refurbishing, and general access to the facility. I went with some people to assess the situation, determine the scope of construction, and decide if the facility could support a pickleball business. Our architect created a solid plan for us to review before taking the next steps.

At the same time a group of friends were playing in a league in Boston. We talked through the idea, and I created a business plan. It was an easy sell and at the end of the day we have 24 investors in a true partnership. Each partner has a role and responsibilities with many using their personal and professional experience to make the venture the best it can be. Our group is mainly comprised of friends from Metrowest and Ashland, which makes the journey quite fun and important as we all have to the area and the local communities. We believe that having invested partners also working on critical tasks makes this opportunity successful, rewarding, and fun.