New Website: Invenio
Welcome to my newly launched website! Building this platform from scratch has been both a significant goal and a personal challenge. Serving as a portfolio, a business, and a testament to my vision for consultancy, it showcases a diverse range of technology stacks, innovative models, and cutting-edge data science initiatives.
This website embodies my belief that high-performing technology products can be developed, managed, deployed, and offered as services by individuals or organizations without the need for large data teams, excessive bureaucracy, or reliance on third-party data hosting platforms. With the right tools and approach, impactful solutions can be achieved with agility and efficiency.
Built using Django, the website integrates HTML, CSS, and Python, ensuring seamless functionality and a professional design. Its deployment and management are expertly handled by Render, guaranteeing optimal performance and reliability.
Tech Stack and Expertise
The models showcased on this platform are built in-house, drawing from over a decade of experience in professional sports and the intricate world of sports betting. My background spans a wide array of domains, including:
- International Rugby
- International Football
- European Club Football
- Rugby League
- Australian Rules Football
- Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
- U.S. Sports Betting Markets (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college derivatives)
This depth of experience allows me to approach challenges with a nuanced understanding of the unique demands and opportunities within each domain.
The Philosophy Behind Data in Sport
Philosophically, the use of data in sport is still in its infancy. The fundamental question that underpins data science in this field is: What is interesting versus what is useful? Given the constraints of time and resources, clarity and focus are essential when addressing this question.
This principle also applies to the products we develop within teams or organizations. I deliberately use the term products because that is what they are—solutions that need to be conceptualized, developed, and effectively sold to key decision-makers. Just as in commercial industries, this process involves navigating nuances and idiosyncrasies unique to the sporting context. By drawing insights from industries with a longer history of leveraging data to drive decisions—industries where the outcomes carry real stakes—we can improve our methodologies and impact.
Characteristics of Successful Data-Driven Departments
Beyond the typical qualifications, programming skills, or statistical rigor, data-driven departments in sport require individuals with the following key characteristics:
- Agility: The ability to adapt quickly to changing conditions and requirements.
- Resourcefulness: Leveraging available tools and knowledge to create effective solutions.
- Failing Fast and Forward: Learning from mistakes and iterating rapidly to improve outcomes.
- Awareness of Sunk-Cost Fallacies: Knowing when to pivot and avoid doubling down on unproductive paths.
- Impact-Driven Analysis and Models: Ensuring that work contributes meaningfully to decision-making processes.
- Understanding Decision-Making Uncertainty: Recognizing and accounting for the inherent uncertainty in any predictive model or analysis.
By fostering these attributes within data teams, organizations can not only develop impactful products but also ensure that their efforts align with the broader goals of the organization.
Thank you for visiting Invenio. I invite you to explore the platform and engage with the work presented here. Whether you are a fellow practitioner, a potential collaborator, or simply curious, I hope you find inspiration and value in this endeavor.