The Profluence Pod 🌐

Erik Minnick is a General Partner at Versus Ventures, a pre-seed and seed-stage fund investing in the future of sports tech, gaming, and fintech.A former D1 wrestler turned developer and investor, Erik brings a rare mix of technical depth, competitive grit, and operator empathy to the table. Before co-founding Versus, he served as CIO at Andover Ventures, gaining experience on both sides of the startup-investor relationship.In this episode, Erik shares what Versus looks for in early-stage founders, the trends he’s watching across the sports innovation landscape, and the most common pitfalls startups face when raising capital. We also talk about the shifting dynamics in college athletics, the role of AI in the sports stack, how to craft a winning investor pitch, and where he sees the next breakout opportunities.

Chapters:

01:32 Changes in Wrestling and Sports Ecosystem

04:14 Overview of Versus and Investment Strategies

07:14 Understanding Venture Capital Decision-Making

10:00 The Role of AI in Sports Tech

12:23 Due Diligence in Early-Stage Investments

14:01 Common Mistakes Founders Make

15:34 Concerns in College Sports Funding

20:06 Opportunities in College Sports

22:01 Navigating the Future of College Athletics

25:21 Understanding Market Dynamics and KPIs

26:59 Engagement with Founders Post-Investment

30:50 Investment Thesis: Gaming, Sports Tech, and Fintech

34:00 Building Incentive Networks in Sports Tech

37:06 The Art of Storytelling in Capital Raising

41:01 Navigating SAFE vs. Price Rounds

43:28 Connecting with Fans: The Team Owner's Perspective

Erik Minnick:

🏠Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-minnick-12652340/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.versusvc.com/

Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/Thanks for watching! Hit the “subscribe” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Paul Rigault is the CEO and co-founder of the Døds Diving League and Døds Federation, the global governing bodies behind one of the world’s fastest-growing extreme sports: Døds diving.

Originating in Norway, Døds—short for “Death Diving”—combines high diving with the flair of skateboarding and parkour. With massive splashes, aerial tricks, and fearless athletes, it’s become a viral hit among Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

In this episode, Paul shares how the sport went from a niche Norwegian pastime to a global phenomenon, what it takes to host a Døds event, and how they’re building the future of extreme sports.

Chapters:

02:30 The Evolution of Diving 2.0

05:13 Competition Structure and Athlete Selection

08:01 Building the League in the U.S.

10:38 Monetization and Business Model

13:19 Event Experience and Community Engagement

16:01 Technology and Media Production

18:47 Future Trends and Community Focus

Paul Rigault:

🏠Website: https://dodsdivingleague.com/

Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/

Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Dr. Scott Goldman is a high performance and clinical psychologist with 25+ years of experience working with elite athletes and organizations in the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NCAA. His expertise extends across performance psychology, talent development, and organizational dynamics.

He’s also been a key advisor to the NCAA, co-authoring several mental health best practices and serving on its Mental Health Task Force. He holds fellow status with both the American Psychological Association and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, and has trained under Albert Ellis, creator of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy.

Dr. Goldman is the founder of AIQ+, a cutting-edge platform that combines decades of psychological insights with AI to assess and predict athletic intelligence. AIQ+ provides front offices, coaches, and players with instant, actionable data to improve talent acquisition, development, and performance. Designed to work alongside traditional evaluation tools, it helps teams identify trainability, mental agility, and decision-making under pressure—traits that often separate good athletes from great ones.

Chapters:

• 00:56 The Birth of AIQ: Merging Psychology and Sports
• 02:04 Understanding Athletic Intelligence Quotient (AIQ)
• 04:48 What Separates Good Athletes from Great Ones?
• 09:42 The Trainability of Mental Skills in Athletes
• 13:06 Misunderstandings in Athlete Cognitive Makeup
• 16:24 Using AIQ for Talent Selection and Development
• 20:11 Transferability of AIQ Beyond Sports
• 22:20 AIQ vs. Traditional Testing Methods
• 24:54 Leveraging AI and Data for Deeper Insights
• 28:07 The Future of AIQ and Its Expansion
• 31:43 Intelligent Athletes: Case Studies and Insights

Scott Goldman: 🏠Website: https://aiq.team/

💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottgoldmanphd/

Scott Garber:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgarber40/

Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Jonas Mårtensson is the General Manager of Cleeks Golf Club, a team in the LIV Golf League. With a background as the former CEO of Mojang Studios (the creators of Minecraft) and co-founder of Happy Socks, Jonas brings deep experience in global brand building, consumer engagement, and innovation. Now, he’s applying that expertise to the world of professional golf.Cleeks Golf Club is more than a team — it’s a bold vision for the future of the sport. Rooted in tradition yet driven by creativity, the club blends golf, fashion, art, and music to inspire the next generation of fans. Their mission is to celebrate the game’s legacy while reshaping its future — a “Tradition Refreshed."LIV Golf itself is reshaping the professional landscape with a high-energy team format, player transfers, and global competition. With 13 teams competing across the season, it’s creating new rivalries, fan experiences, and media opportunities in a way traditional tours haven’t seen.

Chapters:

• 03:30 Understanding Liv Golf's Structure and Team Dynamics
• 06:39 Building a Brand in Golf: The Cliques Approach
• 09:48 Trends in Golf Fashion and Consumer Identity
• 13:01 Leveraging the Liv Golf Platform for Brand Growth
• 16:12 Future Aspirations and Broader Sports Trends

Jonas Mårtensson: 🏠Website: https://www.livgolf.com/ https://www.livgolf.com/cleeks-gc💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonas-m%C3%A5rtensson-28815712/ original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2F&originalSubdomain=se

Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/

Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Anthony Dittmann is a master of reimagining live sports. With over 25 years producing televised events for ESPN, the NFL, and NBC, he’s now channeling that expertise into the creation of an entirely new sport: OmegaBall. Combining innovation, speed, and spectacle, OmegaBall throws out traditional soccer rules in favor of a high-energy, three-team format built for the next generation of fans.

From the red carpet at the ESPYs to launching his own league, Anthony shares the story behind OmegaBall’s creation, how his background in event production helped bring it to life, and why he believes this could be the next big thing in global sports entertainment. OmegaBall is headed to the national stage with its biggest moment yet — the 2025 OmegaBall World Invitational airing live on ESPN2 from Disney’s Wide World of Sports on August 1st.

Chapters:

00:57 The Concept Behind Omega Ball

02:40 The Evolution of Omega Ball

05:40 Player Demographics and Recruitment

06:57 Business Model and Future Growth

09:36 Education and Market Awareness

12:40 Creating a Compelling TV Product

15:25 Reception from Traditional Soccer Community

17:29 Technology and Future Opportunities

Anthony Dittmann: 🏠Website: https://omegaball.com/💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-dittmann-a0037386/Andrew Petcash:🏠 Website: https://profluence.com🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/Thanks for watching! Hit the “subscribe” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Adam Cook, Vice President at Campus Ink Sports, brings a rare mix of athlete, educator, and entrepreneur. A former collegiate volleyball champion turned Northwestern faculty member, Cook has spent his career helping student-athletes transition into leadership and brand ownership.Backed by Mark Cuban, Campus Ink is pioneering NIL merchandising through The NIL Store—giving every college athlete the tools to monetize their name, image, and likeness. From real-time merch drops to athlete education, Campus Ink is building the future of college sports branding.

Chapters:

00:57 – Adam Cook's Background and the Origin of Campus Ink

03:45 – Navigating the NIL Landscape: Lessons Learned

07:57 – Understanding Campus Ink: Services and Offerings

09:42 – The Speed of Sport: Real-Time Merchandise Opportunities

11:14 – Building Relationships with Athletes

13:48 – Athlete Behavior and Engagement in NIL

16:19 – The Future of NIL and Campus Ink's Roadmap

19:47 – Fundraising and Growth Opportunities

22:05 – Emerging Opportunities Beyond College Sports

24:15 – Capturing Youth Athletes and Future Branding

26:26 – Memorable Merchandise Drops and Their Impact

Glenn Schneider, CEO of SUSA FC, brings a unique blend of corporate leadership and grassroots passion to the youth soccer landscape. Under his direction, SUSA has grown into one of the most respected youth clubs in the country—focused not only on athletic excellence but also academic accountability, character building, and community engagement.SUSA FC isn’t just about developing elite players—it’s about shaping well-rounded individuals. With a strong emphasis on values like teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship, the club offers a holistic environment where young athletes are mentored on and off the pitch. Schneider’s leadership has helped guide the club through evolving topics like NIL, college pathways, and community impact, all while keeping player development at the core.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction to SUSA FC and Glenn Schneider

02:10 – Glenn's Journey from Corporate America to Soccer CEO

04:08 – Building a Soccer Club: Strategy and Infrastructure

08:48 – Managing Expectations: Parents and Player Development

10:56 – Community Engagement and Social Responsibility

13:49 – Navigating NIL and College Pathways for Athletes

16:23 – Future of Soccer in the U.S. and SUSA’s Role

21:40 – Leadership Insights and Mentorship

Glenn Schneider:

🏠Website: https://www.susaacademy.com/

💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenn-schneider-2622b/

Scott Garber:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgarber40/

Johnny Grave, CEO of Major League Cricket, brings decades of global sports leadership to one of the fastest-growing professional leagues in the U.S. With a background leading Cricket West Indies and shaping international tournaments—including the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup—Grave is now focused on building the premier cricket ecosystem in America.

Major League Cricket (MLC) is at a turning point. With growing fan bases, expanding city franchises, and cricket’s return to the Olympics in 2028, MLC is positioning itself as the gateway to the sport’s U.S. future. From player development to media rights and tech innovation, the league is bridging the gap between cricket's global heritage and its American potential.

Formed with strong backing and ambitious vision, MLC enters its third season with momentum. Under Grave’s leadership, the league is not just aiming to grow cricket in America—it’s working to make it a cultural and commercial mainstay for generations to come.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction to Major League Cricket
06:13 – Structure and Expansion of MLC
12:11 – Player Composition and Talent Acquisition
18:02 – Media Rights and Viewership
24:02 – Technology and Future Trends in Cricket

Johnny Grave:

🏠Website: https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/

💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnny-grave-b0336526/

Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/

Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Taylor Meyer is a serial entrepreneur and the Managing Partner at Hyperspace Ventures. After successfully founding and exiting his first tech company while still a student-athlete, With advanced degrees from UNC and Harvard, his background blends deep technical knowledge with sharp business strategy.Hyperspace Ventures specializes in building web and mobile applications, digital infrastructure, and marketing systems, while also investing in early-stage companies across sports, consumer tech, and health. Recently, Hyperspace Ventures expanded its portfolio with a $6.8M investment into pickleball and emerging tech companies—marking a bold move into fast-growing cultural and digital trends.The firm also builds internal tools like Space Dial, Launch Deck, HyperHire, and The 42 Club, helping founders scale faster across operations, fundraising, hiring, and community building.

Chapters:

01:00 – Introduction to Hyperspace Ventures

05:33 – The Pickleball Phenomenon

10:56 – Common Mistakes in Startup Founding

15:59 – The Future of Technology and AI

Taylor Meyer:

🏠 Website: https://www.hyperspaceventures.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-meyer/

Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/

Marc Riccio, CEO of USA Lacrosse, brings decades of sports business experience from leadership roles at the New York Jets, Lagardère Sports, and more. Now leading the national governing body for lacrosse, he’s focused on expanding the sport’s reach, driving innovation, and strengthening its presence across the country.

Lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S., and USA Lacrosse plays a central role in that growth. With over $300 million invested into development since its founding, the organization supports everything from youth leagues to Team USA. With a focus on inclusion, coaching education, and new formats like Sixes, USA Lacrosse is shaping the sport’s next chapter.

USA Lacrosse was created in 1998 through the merger of eight grassroots organizations. That collaborative spirit still drives the mission today—especially as the sport eyes future Olympic inclusion and new global audiences.

Chapters: 01:01 – Marc Riccio's Journey to CEO03:26 – The Growth of Lacrosse in the U.S.05:29 – USA Lacrosse's Role in the Ecosystem08:01 – Training and Development for Sixes Lacrosse09:50 – Addressing Specialization in Youth Sports12:07 – Commercialization and Integrity of the Game16:56 – Future of Lacrosse in College and Beyond19:52 – Emerging Leagues and Their Impact22:26 – Decision-Making in a Data-Driven World25:18 – Legacy and the Future of Lacrosse28:07 – Personal Growth and Mentorship

Marc Riccio: 🏠Website: https://www.usalacrosse.com/magazine💼LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcriccio21/Scott Garber: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgarber40/Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.