Thomas Berthe: “Zolky is an initiative that we launched to meet a specific demand from businesses”

Le Sporting NantesLed by Thomas Bertha, has revolutionized its business by bringing together the world of sports and technology. In this exclusive interview, Thomas, one of the founders, tells us about his atypical career and explains how the application Zolky played a key role in the spectacular growth of Sporting.

An atypical course

“My background is a bit atypical, because I come from a completely different field than sport. After studying computer science, I worked as a web developer for five years in a marketing agency. However, my passion for the sport has always been there.

Eight years ago, I discovered the padel and that was a revelation to me. I decided to create a complex of padel in Nantes, but my ambitions exceeded my financial means. It was then that I met François-Joseph Bouyer, the creator of Sporting, and we decided to collaborate. A year later, I became director of the center.”

Become “the coolest place in Nantes”

"Sporting Nantes, it is more than just a sports center. Our slogan perfectly sums up our state of mind: “Creator of good humor”. Our team is driven by this desire to create a positive atmosphere and provide good humor to our customers.

With 4000 m² of facilities, we offer a variety of sports and leisure, from padel to badminton via foot5 and squash. We also offer unique experiences, such as our AirFly freefall simulator and our relaxation area with a sun terrace. Our goal is to become the coolest place in Nantes.”

The Z Games: accessible to all

“Zolky is an initiative that we launched to meet a specific demand from companies. We have found that many companies are looking for non-sporting activities for their seminars or team building.

In 2019, we created the Olympiad concept, which was a great success. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has halted our momentum. In 2022, we decided to relaunch the concept by creating the Zolky application thanks to our co-founder Luca Montaigut.

This application makes it possible to organize Z Games, playful and entertaining skill competitions, which do not require the use of our sports facilities.”

“Z Games are designed to be accessible to everyone, sports or not. We offer a variety of skill games such as darts, puck, molkky and cornhole. Participants can choose the games that best suit their preferences. It's a fun way to bring teams together and build positive momentum.”

The Olympiads: a unique concept

“Rates start from €25 excluding tax to organize Z Games at Sporting Nantes. This price includes 2 hours of activities. The unique concept of our Olympics is that each team will play each game, but never against the same team. For a group of 64 people, this allows one person to meet 32 players. No activity allows such a mix of employees.“

Propose Zolky to other centers

“Convinced of our concept, we have adopted a flexible pricing model for centers interested in using Zolky. Rather than a subscription, we offer a pay-as-you-go system. Centers pay between €2 and €4 excluding tax per player taking part in the Z Games. This allows greater adaptability and makes the offer accessible to different types of establishments.”

“Our goal is not only to develop Le Sporting Nantes, but also to explore new opportunities and create new projects. By bringing Zolky to other centres, we encourage the expansion of the concept and enable more people to enjoy this unique experience. We are convinced of the potential of Zolky and wish to share it with other establishments.”

In conclusion, the association between Sporting Nantes and the application Zolky enabled a radical transformation of the activity by offering a playful and entertaining experience for all. Zolky offers an innovative solution to boost engagement and generate additional revenue.

If you are looking for a memorable experience and a way to energize your center, Zolky is definitely the solution to explore!

Eleonore Coulibaly

What a pleasure to be a journalist in the middle of the padel, an attractive growing sport. I hope you enjoy the content offered. See you soon perhaps on the slopes!