How Janelle Braverman Went From Player to Builder

Janelle's story is rooted in sports. With experience spanning soccer, water polo, squash, volleyball, and racquetball, she embodies the well-rounded athlete. In fact, she was named the 2003 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year in Miami-Dade County. But it wasn’t until she discovered pickleball at a local park that she realized she had found something different. The sport was accessible, competitive, and addictive. It wasn’t long before Janelle was fully immersed, seeing not just a game but an opportunity.

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The Entrepreneurial Spark

With parents who owned their own businesses, Janelle inherited an entrepreneurial mindset. Her background in business school gave her the tools, but it was the real-world experience of waiting a week to book a subpar court that lit the fire. Cracked tennis courts converted for pickleball, poor lighting, and a general lack of community-driven clubs revealed a glaring gap in the market, especially in densely populated areas like Los Angeles. Janelle saw an opportunity not just to play the game, but to shape its future.

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Analyzing the Pickleball Market: From Ideation to Execution

Janelle didn't stop at ideas. She rolled up her sleeves and got to work.

• She used spreadsheets to model profitability across various locations.
• She tapped into her network of club owners and industry professionals.
• She scrutinized commercial real estate, only to find that many landlords were still hesitant to lease to pickleball ventures.

Despite these challenges, her conviction grew. This is a woman who isn’t just excited about the sport, she is committed to building its infrastructure.

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Why Market Intelligence Matters in Pickleball

One highlight of the interview was Geoff underscoring a common pain point, the lack of clear market data. User statistics vary wildly depending on the source. Yet, what is undeniable is the massive growth of the sport. With celebrities, athletes, and major investors getting involved, pickleball is on track to become a defining sport of the 21st century, right alongside padel.

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Padel: The Perfect Complement to Pickleball?

Janelle is no one-sport pony. She is seriously considering incorporating padel courts into her facility. Why? Because she sees potential for user crossover. More importantly, padel courts are scarce and typically require paid access, unlike many free-to-play pickleball venues. This positions padel as a profitable add-on and creates a curated racquet sport ecosystem for users.

Geoff, too, is including padel in his facility design. The synergy between these two sports could be a game changer for facility operators who want to build communities rather than just rent courts.

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Watch the Interview

Want to hear Janelle's full story and insights directly? Watch the full interview with Geoff Bourgeois below. It's packed with valuable lessons for anyone interested in the business of pickleball and padel.

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Final Thoughts: A Sport on the Rise, a Leader in the Making

Janelle Braverman is more than a pickleball enthusiast. She is a data-driven, people-focused entrepreneur with a vision for how the sport can evolve. Her blend of athletic experience, business savvy, and genuine love for the game makes her a compelling figure to watch in this fast-moving space.

Whether you are an investor, an athlete, or someone exploring the business side of sports, this interview is a masterclass in turning passion into purpose. And it all starts with picking up a paddle.

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