Chris Meade: The Inspiring Journey from CROSSNET Inventor to Successful Entrepreneur
Discover the real story of Chris Meade, his entrepreneurial beginnings, remarkable business achievements, and mission to connect successful founders.
Chris Meade is an American entrepreneur, business leader, and co-founder of CROSSNET and The Founders Club. His career shows how a simple recreational game idea can become a successful commercial product and eventually open new opportunities in the entrepreneurial community.
Growing up in Connecticut, Meade did not initially pursue a traditional business education. Instead, he studied film, developed professional sales experience, and later helped introduce an innovative four-way volleyball game.
His journey includes financial risks, product development challenges, business expansion, and recognition from Forbes.
This article explores Chris Meade’s background, education, business career, CROSSNET success, leadership approach, and growing involvement in The Founders Club.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Chris Meade |
| Nationality | American |
| Birthplace | Woodstock, Connecticut, USA |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, Business Leader |
| Education | Quinnipiac University (2014) |
| Known For | Co-founder of CROSSNET |
| Current Venture | The Founders Club |
| Business Partner | Aaron Spivak |
| Recognition | Forbes 30 Under 30 Sports |
| Industry | Entrepreneurship & Sports |
Who Is Chris Meade?
Chris Meade is best known for co-founding CROSSNET, a sporting goods company that introduced a four-square variation of volleyball. He developed the business alongside his brother, Gregory Meade, and their childhood friend, Michael Delpapa.
The idea emerged in 2017 and eventually became a recognized recreational sports product.
Meade later expanded his entrepreneurial activities by co-founding The Founders Club, a private membership community designed to connect experienced business owners.
His professional background combines sales, marketing, product promotion, and community development.
Early Life and Background
Chris Meade grew up in Woodstock, Connecticut, a small town in the northeastern United States.
His upbringing provided the setting for friendships that would later become important business partnerships.
Meade and his brother Gregory eventually collaborated with their longtime friend Michael Delpapa to develop CROSSNET.
Although his professional success emerged later, the connection between these three childhood friends became central to the company’s founding story.
Rather than beginning with an established corporation or substantial outside investment, they experimented with an original product concept.
Their experience illustrates how familiar relationships and shared interests can sometimes contribute to business innovation.
Education and Academic Journey
Chris Meade attended Quinnipiac University in Connecticut and graduated in 2014.
He studied film, television, and media arts, an educational background that differed from the business career he would eventually pursue.
During university, he also participated in student organizations and leadership activities.
His LinkedIn profile records academic distinctions, including graduating magna cum laude.
How Education Influenced His Career
Studying media gave Meade experience in visual communication and storytelling.
These skills became relevant when he began promoting CROSSNET through product demonstrations, photography, and social media videos.
His experience shows that knowledge from one professional field can serve another.
Chris Meade’s Early Professional Career
Before launching CROSSNET, Meade worked in sales.
One of his roles was as an account executive for Uber in the New York area.
The position included sales responsibilities and regular communication with prospective customers.
However, Meade began considering opportunities beyond conventional employment.
In published interviews, he discussed his interest in building an independent business rather than continuing along his existing career path.
That ambition eventually led to an important entrepreneurial decision.
The Creation of CROSSNET
How the Business Idea Started
In 2017, Chris Meade, Gregory Meade, and Michael Delpapa gathered in Woodstock to brainstorm potential business ideas.
During their discussion, they considered combining volleyball with four square, a familiar playground game.
The resulting concept involved a volleyball net divided into four playing areas.
Each participant would occupy a separate square, creating a different competitive experience from traditional volleyball.
Developing the First Prototype
The founders initially experimented with badminton nets to test their idea.
After receiving encouraging feedback from friends, they began developing a more practical version.
Delpapa, with engineering experience, created a design using AutoCAD.
The team subsequently contacted manufacturers and arranged an initial production run.
These early steps transformed an informal concept into a physical commercial product.
The Challenges of Building CROSSNET
The founders financed the business with personal savings.
Their initial budget was limited, so they had to make careful decisions about manufacturing, inventory, and marketing.
They also needed to explain a completely unfamiliar game to potential customers.
Meade played an important role in demonstrating the product and creating promotional content.
Instead of depending entirely on conventional advertising, the founders introduced CROSSNET directly to people at beaches and recreational locations.
This practical approach helped potential customers understand how the game worked.
CROSSNET’s Growth and Business Success
CROSSNET experienced substantial commercial growth after its launch.
According to figures published by Quinnipiac University, the company generated approximately $87,000 in sales during 2018.
Sales rose to about $2.25 million in 2019 and exceeded $10 million in 2020.
Its products appeared in major American retail chains, including Walmart, Target, and DICK’S Sporting Goods.
The game also gained exposure through schools and recreational programs.
Recognition and Major Milestones
In 2020, Meade and his fellow CROSSNET founders received recognition on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Sports list for 2021.
This recognition highlighted their contribution to developing a new recreational sports product.
Another major development occurred in August 2025, when Canadian outdoor living company Vivere acquired CROSSNET for an undisclosed amount.
The acquisition represented a significant milestone in the brand’s development.
Chris Meade and The Founders Club
After establishing CROSSNET, Meade moved into another entrepreneurial venture.
In 2023, he co-founded The Founders Club with entrepreneur Aaron Spivak.
The organization connects business founders through private gatherings, educational discussions, networking opportunities, and shared experiences.
Purpose of The Founders Club
The community helps experienced entrepreneurs build meaningful professional relationships.
Its activities include private dinners, retreats, and discussions about business challenges.
Members can exchange knowledge about leadership, company growth, and operational decisions.
By August 2026, The Founders Club had grown to more than 2,000 members, according to an Inc. report.
The organization also ranked 172nd on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies.
Leadership Style and Business Philosophy
Chris Meade frequently discusses entrepreneurship, personal development, and business leadership through his professional content.
His public writing emphasizes connecting with other founders and learning from difficult experiences.
Three Important Business Principles
Practical Experimentation
CROSSNET began with a simple prototype. Its founders tested the concept before committing to larger-scale production.
Customer Understanding
Direct product demonstrations helped customers understand a sporting activity they had never previously encountered.
Meaningful Relationships
The Founders Club reflects Meade’s belief that professional relationships can support entrepreneurs facing complicated decisions.
These principles are visible throughout his business activities.
Personal Life and Public Presence
Meade maintains a professional public presence through LinkedIn and his Founders Forward newsletter.
He shares business experiences, entrepreneurship lessons, and leadership reflections.
Although he occasionally discusses family experiences, much of his public work focuses on business development and supporting other entrepreneurs.
He is professionally associated with Miami, Florida, where The Founders Club is headquartered.
Conclusion
Chris Meade’s professional journey began with a creative idea developed alongside his brother and a childhood friend.
Through CROSSNET, he gained experience in product development, marketing, retail distribution, and company growth.
His subsequent work with The Founders Club demonstrates an expansion from building a consumer product business to developing an entrepreneurial community.
His story offers a practical example of how experimentation, communication skills, persistence, and business relationships can contribute to long-term professional development.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Chris Meade?
Chris Meade is an American entrepreneur who co-founded CROSSNET and The Founders Club. He is known for his involvement in sports product innovation and entrepreneurial networking.
2. What is Chris Meade famous for?
He is widely recognized for helping invent CROSSNET, a four-way volleyball game, and for being named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Sports list.
3. Where did Chris Meade study?
Chris Meade attended Quinnipiac University in Connecticut and graduated in 2014 with a background in film, television, and media arts.
4. What is The Founders Club?
The Founders Club is a private entrepreneurial membership community co-founded by Chris Meade and Aaron Spivak in 2023. It connects business founders through events, professional relationships, and shared learning.
5. What happened to Chris Meade’s CROSSNET company?
CROSSNET expanded through online sales and national retail distribution. In August 2025, the brand was acquired by Canadian outdoor living company Vivere for an undisclosed amount.
