Turnstile Cards co-founders split, Sanderson returns to Iowa City

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Eleven weeks into Lincoln's NMotion Accelerator - and three weeks away from the Sept. 9 demo day - the Turnstile Cards team of Jason Kristufek and Zach Sanderson have decided to part ways.

Sanderson has returned home to Iowa City, while Kristufek is re-building his team and will pitch at demo day alone.

Sanderson chalked it up to a simple realization that the experience wasn't working for him, and a desire to pursue other opportunities. He said the lessons he learned at NMotion made the decision to leave easier - since he will be able to apply the entrepreneurial mindset to any future endeavors.

"It's not a bad thing at all," Sanderson said. "The biggest thing I have trouble with was, at NMotion I really had fun."

Turnstile Cards, a mobile platform hoping to solve the problem of unsold seats at sports and entertainment events, launched under the name Major Trading Cards at Startup Weekend Cedar Rapids, where the team of five took first place. The team was narrowed to two when the startup moved to Lincon for NMotion in June.

Kristufek hinted that more changes may be in store before demo day.

"The company has validated through several interviews with sports teams that the problem is real," he wrote via email. "What solution and what business name is announced on demo day will reflect what the company has learned that also puts it in the best possible position for future success."

He said he wishes Sanderson well.

"I appreciate his contribution to this point, and I wish him the best."

NMotion Managing Director Brian Ardinger also declined to comment.

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Editor's note: In light of this update from the team, we'll also be discontinuing Sanderson's series of  guest posts on We Create Here - the 'News from NMotion' series. Find the previous posts here.

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