Innovative isn't in our name by accident.
Innovative Timing Systems started in 2007 as a personal project of Kurt Hansen — after an RFID system failed a friend on race day. Today, the Jaguar platform times more than 75,000 events a year around the world.
Our story
In late 2006, a friend approached Kurt Hansen with a problem: the only race-timing system on the market was expensive, slow to deploy, and built around reusable chips and heavy mats. He wanted something different — real-time results, a system flexible enough to time everything from kayak races to marathons to bike events, and above all, a better experience for the athletes.
What started as a one-off build for a friend turned into something bigger almost by accident. Events got timed. Word spread. Phone calls started coming in from race directors around the country, and the side project quickly became a company.
In August 2008, Innovative Timing Systems launched the first Jaguar system. Eighteen years later, that same conviction — build the system we'd want to use, then prove it on race day — is still how we ship.
In Kurt's words
“ITS is more than just a business. My staff and I know our timers personally — and when everyone shows up at our annual conference, it's like a giant family reunion.”
— Kurt Hansen, Founder & CEO
What sets us apart
Four things you won't find at most timing companies — and why they show up in everything we do.
Privately held — patient capital
We're not owned by a VC or a parent firm. That means we can invest in R&D, training, and support for the long term — not for next quarter's numbers. The result: 24+ patents, a deep product pipeline, and prices that wouldn't be possible otherwise.
Support that actually picks up
Monday morning after race weekend, you'll find four dedicated support engineers waiting for your call. On New Year's Day at 7:30am, we'll take remote control of your race if you need us. Our engineers travel to customer sites for complex events. Free training, year-round.
More family than vendor
ITS isn't just a business. My staff and I know many of our timers personally — birthdays, weddings, races, funerals. When everyone shows up at our annual conference, it's a family reunion.
Wildlife, recycling, and the planet
We name every product after a big cat for a reason. We donate to rescue endangered animals — lions, tigers, wolves, bears, jaguars. Our manufacturing is green. Our waste is mostly recycled. We're trying to leave it better than we found it.
Why a Jaguar?
Every product we make is named after a big cat. There's a reason for that. Big cats are intelligent, fast, stealthy, powerful — and quietly affectionate to people they trust. They're also threatened: habitat loss, pollution, and people who don't care. My wife and I have supported animal causes most of our married life. Naming our products this way is a small piece of that — and a quiet reminder of who we're trying to be.
Leadership
Kurt Hansen
Founder & CEO
Kurt founded ITS in 2007 after a friend asked him to build something better than what was on the market. An RF engineer by training, an Ironman athlete, and a race organizer himself, he leads the team from St. Louis, Missouri — and still talks to customers personally.
Ready to talk?
Whether you're putting on an event, running a program for a charity, or thinking about starting a timing business — we'd love to hear from you.