Chall

Chall started with a simple idea: that challenges bring people together. But like every meaningful startup journey, our story has evolved, shaped by research, user insights, and the real needs of young athletes and their communities. After years of competing at the highest level as an Olympian and NCAA Champion, founder Leif Kristian Nestvold-Haugen understood how learning, mastery, and play drive long-term development. Through countless conversations with athletes, parents, coaches, and clubs, one insight became impossible to ignore: most of a young athlete’s development happens outside organized practice, yet few tools support that crucial space. This understanding led to a major strategic pivot in the fall of 2025. What began as a platform for digital competitions has transformed into something far more impactful: a learning companion designed to help kids and youth grow through structured challenges, playful repetition, and meaningful motivation. Since making this shift, the response from the sports community has been clear and encouraging. Coaches, clubs, and grassroots organizations all tell us the same thing: “This is exactly what we’ve been missing.” Today, Chall is building what we call the homework of sports — a simple, motivating way for children and young athletes to learn, explore, and develop skills outside of formal training. A place where coaches assign weekly “challs,” and kids stay engaged through play, mastery, and self-driven progress. We’re early in this journey, but the direction is strong — and so are the signals from the field. The future of grassroots sports lies in empowering kids and youth to learn better, play more, and build lasting motivation beyond the limits of organized training. And that’s the future Chall is building. One challenge at a time.