We are excited to give you a first look at how we plan to continue earning your support and trust as we move into 2025 and the next chapter of UltraSignup. Our goal is to continue the modernization and transformation of the platform, and we are committed to bringing you, our partners, into the process. Together we can unlock and deliver new capabilities and greater value to you more effectively.

Our Plan for Transformation

No good change can happen without a process and the opportunity for frequent and timely feedback. In this spirit, we’d like to present our process for change in the metaphor of a ‘backyard’ style ultra.

As with any backyard ultra, the end of a loop offers the opportunity to reflect on improvements and strategy. Further, this stop at the aid station allows you to recharge and gain critical insight, both from your ‘crew’ as well as the race at large. When applying this to platform development, the end of a feature loop allows us to bring in feedback and adapt to new information so that, ultimately, we are delivering on the most impactful changes that will help you, the partners, run your business better.

With this approach, we’re hoping to reshape how we connect with our partners to bring about the meaningful changes you’ve been asking for. Over the past few years, we’ve been listening closely and documenting your feedback, which has helped us create a roadmap for the change we plan to implement in 2025 and beyond. This roadmap isn’t set in stone — it will continue to evolve based on the community’s priorities.

Key Goals Moving Forward

Race Director Experience Improvement

Empower you and your business through more effective tooling and easy-to-use management and financial features.

Core Experience Improvement

Address the most defining elements of the platform for both race directors and runners. In the modernization and enhancement of this core set of features, we aim to provide a more engaging and transformative experience for all users by utilizing best-in-class payment processors and modern, data-backed checkout patterns to improve conversion rates.

Event Exploration and Discovery

Re-envision search, discovery, and interaction with events using a modern approach to customize a participant’s experience as well as highlight key information for your events.

Security and Login Improvement (In progress)

This phase of work enables a rock-solid foundation for change while providing world-class protection and confidence for all users by upgrading all identity, login, security, and checkout elements of the platform.

Continue Building out an Appropriate In-House Team (Ongoing)

Over the course of the last year, we have transformed our product and engineering team. Our expert in-house team is committed to building the next phase of UltraSignup. While we have a small team, we will continue to hire to meet the ever-increasing demands upon the platform as the sport of trail running reaches ever greater heights.

Discover Critical Areas for Change, Stabilize the Platform (Done)

We have identified changes critical to maintaining and modernizing the platform. These changes remove barriers that have previously kept progress at bay and allow us to focus more fully on creating impactful change. While this has not been a perfect process, our learnings have been invaluable to moving to a better future.

More Feedback-Based Change

Based on all business input, especially input from you – we plan to address all elements of the existing platform and create change where you need it most.

The Path Forward

An ordering of work by timeline:

1. Discover Critical Areas for Change, Stabilize the Platform (Done)
2. Continue Building out an Appropriate In-House Team (Ongoing)
3. Security and Login Improvement (In progress)
4. Core Experience Improvement (On deck)
5. Race Director Experience Improvement (In planning)
6. Race Exploration and Discovery (In planning)
7. More Feedback-Based Change (Infinite loop)

While change is exciting and full of hope, no lasting or deep change comes without risk, mistakes, and sidesteps. Just as our training plans rarely look the same on paper as in practice, we acknowledge our own progress may adapt as we continue to learn from our mistakes. With your help and continued feedback, we aim to adapt to these shifts quickly and will continue to grow to the best of our ability.

As part of our commitment to change, we will continue to deliver product updates and communications at least quarterly with in-depth details and additional opportunities for feedback.

Thanks for being here, and let’s stack some bricks together in 2025 and beyond!

The UltraSignup Product and Engineering Team