RainedOut Wins National Recognition

A local company that provides instant alerts on game-affecting changes to local soccer teams has received national recognition.

RainedOut, an instant alert product developed by Leesburg-based parent company Omnilert, was named product of the year at the 2011 National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention in Baltimore last weekend.

Ara Bagdasarian, Omnilert’s CEO, said RainedOut grew out of his own frustrations as a local youth soccer coach at the limitations of Loudoun Soccer’s hotline to get out information about game cancellations instantly to players, coaches and parents.

RainedOut began serving Loudoun Soccer in 2004, but has since spread to 3,000 leagues nationally, Bagdasarian said. “It started right here in Loudoun with Loudoun Soccer,” he said. “Now it’s national.”

Additionally, the subscription-based service can also help local leagues raise money through a new corporate sponsorship model.

“Whats unique, every time league sends out a message, it helps them out,” he said. The company only recently launched the sponsorship model, and already Loudoun Soccer is sponsored by Five Guys burgers and fires,  and Lightfoot Restaurant in Leesburg. However, Bagdasarian said this season will be the first full season of sponsorship. “It really won’t go into use until the spring season begins,” he said.

The group and event communications tool is also used in other venues besides soccer. Bagdasarian said RainedOut was employed by the Marine Corps Marathon this fall.

He said the company was contacted by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America a few months ago. Representatives of RainedOut attended the National Soccer Coaches Association of America conference last year as part of its advertising and marketing campaign.  Bagdasarian said 2010 was the first year the company marketed itself. “For first four years it just grew organically,” he said.

He said he was pleased when notified that RainedOut was a finalist for the product of the year award, which was based on the product’s popularity on Facebook and on voting by members.

“It’s quite an honor to be recognized in that capacity,” Bagdasarian said.