Build Mode Your network is your first go-to-market strategy
Dec 4, 2025
John Wahlberg and Kyle Rudolph, co-founders of Altru, discuss their journey from NFL stars to tech entrepreneurs creating a fundraising platform. They share how they shifted from $10,000 golf tournaments to $10 raffles, tapping into both athletes' networks and fan engagement for large-scale donations. The duo highlights the importance of trust in celebrity partnerships and the lessons learned from scaling too quickly. Their insights reveal that a strong network is crucial for success, transforming charitable giving one prize at a time.
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A For-Profit Fundraiser Marketplace
- Alltru positions itself as a professional fundraiser connecting fans, celebrities, and nonprofits via purchasable entries to win experiences.
- The company monetizes as a for-profit marketplace while delivering donations to charities.
From $10K Tournaments To $10 Entries
- Kyle and John pivoted from $10,000 golf foursomes to a low-cost online raffle model after the pandemic wiped out in-person events.
- They launched a working website within six months and tested it with a 48-hour campaign that raised thousands organically.
Solve Fundraising And Awareness Together
- Serving nonprofits' twin problems—fundraising and awareness—creates a defensible mission-driven business opportunity.
- Tech scalability allows reaching donors online where most charity dollars historically weren't.