2016
Esports Integration
Founded to help schools build esports programs from the facility to the curriculum.
Joshua Kell: AI consultant, business strategist, CEO of Horizon AVL and keynote speaker
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CEO & FounderHorizon AVL · Esports Integration
Joshua Kell · CEO & Founder
A message from Joshua
Building companies, leading teams, and helping businesses grow into the next phase with AI. Creating what comes next in technology, esports and education.
AboutJoshua
Joshua Kell is CEO of Horizon AVL and founder of Esports Integration. For more than 20 years he has led teams that design arenas, broadcast studios and large-venue systems. Since 2016 he has helped more than 100 schools and universities turn gaming into real programs, and for the past four years he has helped companies reach their AI goals.
I started in litigation support and IT, launched my own web company, and have been a gamer the whole way, back to Counter-Strike 1.5.
Esports isn't just another AV project. It's a culture.
Founder · Esports Integration
2016
Leadership
As CEO of Horizon AVL System Integration, Joshua leads the design and build of large-venue and arena systems, video broadcast studios, and projection and LED displays. In 2016 he founded Esports Integration to help schools build esports programs with the facilities, teams, curriculum and career paths to match. Clients include Syracuse University, the University of Delaware, UNC Greensboro, Kean University, Ottawa University, Post University and Edison High School.
Commercial Integrator
Best Esports Project five years running
Ventures
In 2022 he created Platform1, a learning platform for career and technical education with ready-to-teach curriculum in esports, broadcast and media, IT, AV and business. His newest venture, Fusion, is a broadcast and tournament platform for school and organization esports leagues. He is an Education Ambassador for Acer America and serves on advisory boards for West Virginia University, Stockton University and Camden County College.
The next phase · AI & custom softwareAI is the next phase
AI is the next phase
of business.
For the past four years Joshua has helped companies set and reach their AI goals: designing the AI processes that fit how a business actually runs, building their own AI ecosystems and models, and delivering the custom software that puts it all to work.
Chapter in progress
More to come.
Something new is already being built. Stay tuned.
At a glance
- Role
- CEO, Horizon AVL
- Founded
- Esports Integration, 2016
- Experience
- 20+ years
- Esports programs
- 100+
- AI
- 4 years
- Ambassador
- Acer America Education
Scroll to explore01 / 10
TheVentures
Five ventures, one idea: give schools, students and organizations the technology and the pathway to do something real with it.
CEOhorizonavl.com
Founder · 2016esportsintegration.com
Creator · 2022platform1.gg
Creator · Newfusion.esportsintegration.com
Horizon AVL
System integration for large venues and arenas, video broadcast studios, and projection and LED displays. The company Joshua has led for more than 20 years.
Esports Integration
Esports programs built end to end for K-12 and higher education: facility design, broadcast, hardware standards, teams, leagues and curriculum. More than 100 projects to date.
Platform1
A career and technical education learning platform with ready-to-teach curriculum in esports, broadcast and media, IT, AV and business, plus gradebook, rostering and reporting.
Fusion
A broadcast and tournament platform that lets schools and organizations run and stream their own esports leagues.
Consultant · AIAI ecosystems · Models · Software · Brand · Growth
AI Consulting
Helping companies build success in the world of AI. Joshua consults on and develops each company's own AI ecosystem and models, along with the software, branding, marketing, sales and operations that make them work.
AI Consulting& Business Planning
AI is the next phase of business. Joshua helps companies plan for it and build it: their own AI ecosystems and models, the custom software that puts them to work, and the business plan, brand, marketing, sales and operations around them.
Book a strategy callAI strategy & readiness
Where AI fits in your business, what to automate first, and a realistic roadmap your team can follow.
AI ecosystems & custom models
Your own AI tools, assistants and models, built on your data and connected to the systems you already use.
Custom software & automation
Software and workflows that put AI to work in daily operations, from intake and quoting to reporting.
Business planning & growth
Business plans, new-venture strategy and growth planning, built from two decades of starting and scaling companies.
Brand, marketing & sales
Positioning, AI-assisted marketing and sales processes that turn attention into booked work.
Operations
Processes, roles and tools that let a growing company run smoothly as it scales.
- Step 1
Discover
We learn how your business runs today, where the time goes and what you want to grow.
- Step 2
Plan
A clear AI and business plan: priorities, budget, timeline and the wins to go after first.
- Step 3
Build
We build and connect the AI tools, custom software and processes, with your team involved.
- Step 4
Scale
Training, measurement and ongoing support so the results keep compounding.
Questions
What does an AI consultant do for a small or mid-size business?
Joshua looks at how your business actually runs, finds where AI can save time or open new revenue, and builds a plan and the tools to get there. That can mean AI assistants, automations, custom models or custom software.
Do you also help with business planning?
Yes. Alongside AI, Joshua helps with business plans, new ventures, growth strategy, branding, marketing, sales and operations. He has built and led Horizon AVL, Esports Integration, Platform1 and Fusion.
Do we need technical staff to work with you?
No. Engagements are designed for business owners and leadership teams. Joshua's team handles the technical build and trains your people to use it.
Do you work remotely?
Yes. Joshua works with companies across the United States, remotely and on site. Horizon AVL is based in New Jersey and is opening a second office in the Tampa area in 2027.
Can Joshua speak about AI at our event?
Yes. Joshua gives keynotes, workshops and panels on putting AI to work in business and education. Use the request form and choose "Speaking engagement."
Book JoshuaTo Speak
Joshua speaks to educators, technology leaders and the AV industry about building esports programs that last, turning gaming into career pathways, putting AI to work inside a business, and growing new ventures inside an established company.
Request a booking
Signature talks
Putting AI to Work
How companies set realistic AI goals, build AI into their everyday processes, and pair it with custom software that delivers.
AI Is the Next Phase of Business
For owners and leadership teams: where AI fits in the business plan, what to build first, and how to grow with your own AI ecosystem instead of waiting for it.
The Classroom is the Production
Designing immersive classrooms where students learn by producing: broadcast, streaming and live events as a path to careers. Presented at MassCUE 2026.
Integrating Streaming Technologies
How schools and campuses bring streaming into classrooms, boardrooms and events: the gear, the network and the workflows. Presented as an AVIXA Learning Spaces webinar.
Virtual Production: The New Creative Frontier
LED volumes, virtual sets and real-time production, and how schools can teach them as a career pathway. NJSBA Workshop 2026.
Esports Is a Culture, Not a Room
Why the programs that last are built around students, community and careers, and not just the hardware.
How AV Design Defines Esports Facilities
What makes an esports space work for players, broadcast crews and audiences. Presented at InfoComm 2026.
How to Get Into the Business of Esports
For integrators and entrepreneurs: where the market is, what schools need, and how to build a practice around it.
From Game Room to Career Pathway
Using esports to drive career and technical education, enrollment and workforce skills. The thinking behind Platform1.
Building Ventures Inside an Integrator
How an AV integration company grew Esports Integration, Platform1 and Fusion, and the leadership lessons along the way.
OnRecord
Two decades of building companies, programs and people. The recognition along the way.
Experience
20+
Years in the industry
Esports
100+
Esports projects and programs
Awards
8
Industry awards & honors
Reach
1,500+
High schools supported
Hall of Milestones
Hover a card for the story5×
CI Esports Project of the Year
Commercial Integrator's Best Esports Project, five years running: Kean (2022), UNCG (2023), Brookdale (2024), Syracuse (2025) and UNF (2026).
2019
40 Influencers Under 40
Named by Commercial Integrator as a top influencer under 40 for his work integrating esports into education.
2019
NSCA Business Partner of the Year
Excellence in Business award for Differentiating Strategies, for bringing esports to the AV industry.
USA
USA Today
Spotlighted in USA Today for leading the charge with esports in education.
2022
Platform1
Launched a career and technical education platform with curriculum for esports, broadcast, IT, AV and business.
2026
AV Living Legend #79
Profiled in Commercial Integrator's AV Living Legends series in January 2026.
New
Fusion
Built a broadcast and tournament platform for school and organization esports leagues.
2027
Tampa office
Horizon AVL expands with a second office in the Tampa area.
In theMedia
- OCT 2026Speaking · SessionsVirtual Production: The New Creative Frontier, and Launching A Thriving Esports ProgramNJSBA Workshop 2026, Atlantic City · Oct 20 & 21
- OCT 2026Speaking · SessionThe Classroom is the Production: Designing Immersive Classrooms for Learning and CareersMassCUE Fall Conference, Gillette Stadium · Oct 14
- SEP 2026Speaking · WebinarIntegrating Streaming TechnologiesAVIXA Learning Spaces Power Hour · Sep 30
- JAN 2026Press · FeatureAV Living Legends #79: Joshua KellCommercial Integrator
- JUN 2026Speaking · SessionsHow AV Design Defines Esports Facilities, and How to Get Into the Business of EsportsInfoComm 2026
- JUN 2024Speaking · SessionBuilding a Facility Around EsportsInfoComm 2024
- rAVePress · InterviewAuthentic Esports: An IntroductionrAVe [PUBS]
- MAR 2020Speaking · ConferenceEsports in educationNCCE 2020, Seattle
- APR 2019Speaking · RoundtableThe state of collegiate esportsESI New York · Esports Insider
- 2019Award · NSCAExcellence in Business: Differentiating StrategiesSecurity Sales & Integration
- 2019Press · ProfileHow and why Horizon AVL launched its esports integration divisionNSCA
Also featured in ProSound News · Front of House · Worship AVL · Projection, Lights & Staging News · USA Today