# Maximilian Kogler

> Maximilian Kogler is the New York-based co-founder and CEO of PodPlay Technologies. A mathematics and computer science graduate with an MBA from Stanford, he previously worked in finance and youth sports operations, co-founded PingPod in 2019, and led it until PodPlay became independent in August 2025. His interests as a table-tennis player inform his work on booking, access, scoring and replay technology for sports venues.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at PodPlay Technologies
- **Organizations:** PodPlay Technologies, PingPod, Round Star / Super Soccer Stars, MM Capital, Kognico, Goldman Sachs
- **Education:** Undergraduate studies in Mathematics and Computer Science, Central College, Iowa, Master of Advanced Studies; mathematics, University of Cambridge, MBA, Stanford University
- **Known for:** Co-founded PingPod and served as its CEO from 2019 until August 2025., Co-founded and leads PodPlay, which announced an $8 million Series A in October 2025., Super Soccer Stars company biography credits his tenure with increasing EBITDA margin from approximately 3% to approximately 18%.

## Career timeline

- **1994** — Listed as a Central College alumnus of the class of 1994.
- **2000-2002** — Worked in fixed income at Goldman Sachs.
- **2005-2012** — Founder and chief investment officer of MM Capital.
- **2016-2018** — COO and CFO of Round Star, operating as Super Soccer Stars; June 2016 to July 2018.
- **2019** — Co-founded PingPod with David Silberman and Ernesto Ebuen and became CEO. Central College also identified him as founder and CEO of Kognico that year.
- **2020** — First PingPod location opened on the Lower East Side in February.
- **2023** — PodPlay launched commercially, extending technology developed for PingPod to outside venues.
- **2025** — PodPlay separated from PingPod on August 8; Kogler became the independent company’s CEO while Silberman and Ebuen became PingPod co-CEOs.
- **2025** — PodPlay announced an $8 million Series A led by Frontier Growth on October 27.

## Achievements

- Co-founded PingPod and served as its CEO from 2019 until August 2025.
- Co-founded and leads PodPlay, which announced an $8 million Series A in October 2025.
- Super Soccer Stars company biography credits his tenure with increasing EBITDA margin from approximately 3% to approximately 18%.
- PingPod’s current team page lists a peak USATT rating of 2081.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — PodPlay reported more than 400,000 customer accounts migrated from other club-management systems in an October 16 company essay.
- **2026-09** — A September 23 company case study reported 290+ clubs and 1.9 million players on PodPlay.
- **2025-11** — Published Good Bye PingPod on November 5, reflecting on his transition to the independent PodPlay.
- **2025-10** — Announced PodPlay’s $8 million Series A and spin-off.

## Links

- Website: https://podplay.app/authors/maximilian-kogler
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximiliankogler/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/maximilian-kogler
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-26