The Profluence Pod 🌐

Brag House is reshaping the college gaming landscape by blending community, culture, and casual esports into one inclusive platform. Focused on the Gen Z experience, the platform empowers casual gamers to connect, compete, and grow—while giving brands an authentic way to engage a generation that values voice, identity, and experience over hype.

LaVelle Juan, CEO and Co-Founder, brings a rare mix of athlete-driven grit and entrepreneurial innovation to Brag House’s mission. In this episode, he shares the company’s community-first approach, how language and identity drive connection, and why gaming is one of the most powerful tools to understand—and engage—the next generation.

Chapters:

01:11 – LaVelle's Journey: From Athlete to Entrepreneur

04:41 – Building Brag House: The Intersection of Sports and Gaming

07:18 – Community-First Approach: Authentic Engagement with Gen Z

11:21 – Innovative Activation Strategies for User Acquisition

13:29 – The Power of Language and Community Identity

17:15 – Monetizing Community: Balancing Authenticity and Revenue

22:09 – Understanding Gen Z: Behavioral Insights and Market Trends

26:22 – Future Vision: Expanding Brag House's Impact

30:50 – Advice for Entrepreneurs: Lessons from the Journey

LaVelle Juan: 🏠Website: https://www.braghouse.com/💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lavell-juan-bh/

Scott Garber: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgarber40/

Ed Moed is helping redefine how sports brands grow—with clarity, creativity, and cultural relevance. As CEO of Hot Paper Lantern and its sports-focused division, Digital Sport, he’s leading a new wave of brand strategy that goes beyond hype to deliver trust, meaning, and results.Ed shares what today’s most successful sports organizations and startups get right about storytelling, how to avoid “shiny object syndrome,” and why internal culture is just as important as external messaging. From athlete-led brands to venture-backed sports tech, this conversation dives into how brand clarity can accelerate growth in one of the fastest-evolving industries on the planet.Chapters02:39 – The Evolution of HPL in Sports05:37 – Market Research and Identifying Opportunities07:59 – The Importance of Storytelling in Business10:54 – Navigating Challenges as a Startup13:30 – Internal vs External Storytelling16:04 – Building Trust and Culture in Organizations18:54 – Avoiding Shiny Object Syndrome21:38 – Advice for Young Founders24:07 – Future Trends in Sports and Technology27:50 – Closing Thoughts on Communication & Legacy

Ed Moed:🏠 Website: https://www.hotpaperlantern.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-moed-31369a6

Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

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

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

Sam Porter is building one of the most uniquely diversified sports ownership portfolios in the world. As co-owner of Club Necaxa (Liga MX), Club Equidad (Colombian First Division), and the Brooklyn Aces (Major League Pickleball), he’s betting on the global and generational growth of sport as both a cultural force and financial asset.

With previous leadership roles at DC United and Swansea City AFC, and now as a Senior Advisor to Apollo Global Management, Sam brings an unmatched operator’s lens to sports investment strategy. In this episode, he breaks down the real opportunities in emerging leagues, why Liga MX remains an overlooked powerhouse, and how storytelling will shape the next decade of fan engagement. From pickleball to fútbol, it’s a wide-ranging conversation on where the future of ownership is headed.

Chapters:

02:42 – Investment Strategies in Professional Sports

05:31 – Exploring Liga MX: A Hidden Gem

10:30 – The Colombian Soccer Landscape

16:14 – The Role of Storytelling in Sports

21:51 – Emerging Sports: The Rise of Pickleball

27:02 – Trends in Women’s Sports Investment

32:15 – International Growth and Fan Behavior

36:48 – Final Reflections on Ownership and Impact

Sam Porter: https://www.clubnecaxa.mx/Andrew Petcash:🏠 Website: https://profluence.com🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/

For more than three decades, Andres has been at the center of soccer’s rise in the United States. As the founder and daily host of Fútbol de Primera—the country’s longest-running syndicated soccer radio network—he’s helped shape how millions of fans experience the game. With exclusive U.S. radio rights to all FIFA tournaments, his network will broadcast this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup, adding another milestone to its historic run.Beyond the mic, Andres is stepping into a new era: in 2025, he’ll serve as an English-language broadcaster for Turner Sports at the FIFA Club World Cup—marking a high-profile shift from decades of iconic Spanish-language calls on Telemundo and Univision. From the evolution of fútbol’s U.S. footprint to what’s next as the country prepares to host the 2026 Men’s World Cup and the expected 2031 Women’s World Cup, Andres offers an unmatched perspective on the game’s past, present, and future.Chapters01:00 – Countdown to the 2026 World Cup02:53 – The Business of Soccer Media06:02 – Navigating Dual Careers in Sports Media12:01 – Trends in Global Soccer23:55 – The Future of Soccer Formats

Andres Cantor: 🏠 Website: https://fdpradio.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andr%C3%A9s-cantor-82a492111/

Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

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

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

Will Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm built on the belief that sports are more than entertainment—they’re a launchpad for transformative consumer brands, emerging technologies, and cultural movements. With a hands-on approach and a powerful network of athletes, operators, and technologists, Will Ventures invests where passion meets performance.

Aaron Miller is an Investor at Will Ventures, focused on sourcing deals, evaluating opportunities, and supporting portfolio growth at the intersection of sports, media, health, and consumer. Before joining the team, Aaron held roles across some of the most influential organizations shaping global entertainment—from strategy at Netflix to business development at Manticore Games, and LATAM partnerships at the NBA. He also advised global brands during his time at Endeavor and earned his MBA from Stanford GSB after graduating from Harvard.

Chapters:

02:44 – Aaron’s Journey into Sports and Venture Capital

05:26 – Overview of Will Ventures and Investment Focus

08:18 – Emerging Leagues and Investment Strategies

10:50 – Evaluating Founders and Opportunities

12:37 – The Rise of Creator-Led Brands in Sports

15:17 – Youth Sports: Trends and Investment Opportunities 18:04 – International Expansion and Future Outlook

20:50 – Closing Thoughts and Resources

Aaron Miller:

🏠 Website: https://willventures.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-miller-0ba47a78

Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

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

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

PressBox is redefining how sports organizations connect with fans—automating the creation of highly-personalized, sponsorable content across platforms. Born from the minds of former Bleacher Report engineers, the platform enables leagues to engage the Gen-Z audience by leaning into the athletes, creators, and cultural moments they care about most.

Brian Hough, Co-Founder & CEO, is a seasoned tech executive with roots at Bleacher Report and Turner Sports. With a proven track record in scaling high-growth teams and revenue-driving media platforms, Brian shares how PressBox is transforming content workflows, fueling personalization at scale, and creating new value for leagues and sponsors alike.

Chapters

01:02 – The Evolution of Media Technology in Sports

05:09 – Shifts in Media Business Models

07:48 – Expanding Beyond Sports: Future Aspirations

10:44 – Real-Time Content Creation and Broadcasting

15:44 – The Value Proposition of PressBox

Brian Hough:🏠 Website: https://pressbox.studio/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brhough/Andrew Petcash🏠 Website: https://profluence.com🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/

ShotTracker is redefining how basketball is measured, experienced, and understood. Through a powerful combination of sensors and software, the platform delivers real-time stats on every shot, pass, and possession—helping coaches, players, scouts, and broadcasters make smarter decisions, faster. From youth gyms to elite programs, ShotTracker is building the future of in-game analytics and competitive intelligence.At the helm is Davyeon Ross, a seasoned tech entrepreneur who’s raised over $40M and led innovations across sports and enterprise software. With a deep understanding of product development, go-to-market execution, and strategic partnerships, Davyeon’s leadership has brought ShotTracker to the global stage—including deals with Spalding, Nike, and a legendary alliance with Magic Johnson. In this conversation, he shares what it takes to build lasting sports tech, the role of AI in player development, and how he’s thinking about the next frontier beyond basketball.Chapters: 03:00 – The Evolution of ShotTracker: From Concept to Product Suite06:05 – Navigating Challenges During the Pandemic08:52 – The Role of AI in Sports Technology12:01 – Future Aspirations: Expanding Beyond Basketball19:14 – Navigating Market Turbulence in Sports22:31 – Rebranding and Educating the Market27:49 – Leveraging AI for Player Development32:57 – The Magic Johnson Connection and Strategic Partnerships

Davyeon Ross🏠 Website: https://shottracker.com/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davyeonrossScott 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.

Tyton Partners is the leading advisory firm focused exclusively on the rapidly evolving Global Knowledge Sector. With a unique blend of investment bankers, strategy consultants, and sector operators, Tyton delivers actionable insights and strategic guidance to companies and investors shaping the future of education, human capital, and talent development—including the growing convergence with sports.Brian Feeney, Director at Tyton, brings deep expertise from previous roles at ESPN and Macquarie Capital, along with firsthand experience as an All-American lacrosse player at the University of Pennsylvania. His background bridges media, finance, and athletics—making him uniquely equipped to advise founders and operators at the intersection of sports, education, and innovation.

Chapters

01:33 – Brian Feeney's Background and Tyton Partners

07:51 – Tyton's Focus on Education and Sports

08:40 – The Intersection of Sports and Education

13:44 – Building Relationships with Founders

18:00 – Emerging Trends in Sports Academies

21:30 – The Role of Parents in Youth Sports

24:22 – Emerging Leagues and Educational Opportunities

25:52 – Common Oversights of Founders

29:27 – Transformations in College Sports

33:00 – Balancing Responsibility and Innovation

35:21 – The Future of Sports, Technology, and Education

39:29 – Navigating the School System for Sports Tech

44:47 – Closing Thoughts and Community Engagement

Brian Feeney:

🏠 Website: https://tytonpartners.com/

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-feeney/

Scott Garber:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

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

FanStake is reshaping the future of college sports by empowering fans and supporting athletes through a transparent, risk-free NIL model. Led by Greg Glass—whose background spans startup leadership, SaaS innovation, and community-building—FanStake offers a platform that allows fans to fund athletes directly, without compromising education or compliance.Born from a passion for fairness in sports, FanStake is tackling systemic issues like inequity in athlete compensation and instability in college careers. With a mission to make college sports more engaging for fans and more sustainable for programs of all sizes, FanStake is a new-age NIL solution driven by values: protect the athlete, protect the team, empower the fan.Backed by Greg’s experience scaling ventures like Homebound, LinkedIn, and Qwill, FanStake is helping redefine what the future of athlete empowerment and fan influence can look like.

Chapters:

01:04 – Building the founding team and early vision

03:50 – How FanStake works: transparency meets NIL

07:18 – Fundraising in a shifting market

11:26 – Fan-first business model explained

15:04 – Building stronger fan-athlete connections

18:02 – Navigating NCAA uncertainty

21:58 – What’s next for NIL and college sports

25:39 – Why financial literacy matters more than ever

27:57 – Greg’s predictions for the future of NIL

Greg Glass:

🏠 Website: https://fanstake.com/welcome

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryglass/

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.

TheLinkU emerged in 2022 to guide colleges and athletes through the fast‑moving Name, Image & Likeness era. Built by Austin Elrod—whose background spans sports administration, operations, and sales—and co‑founder Troy Kyle, the SaaS platform handles compliance, marketing, and delayed‑payment services that help more than 1,100 athletes manage earnings responsibly. Partnerships with programs from Houston to UCLA highlight rapid traction, and the recent disbursement of $400 k in safeguarded NIL funds underscores a mission to “Champion Integrity in Every Play.”Core values drive every product decision: protect the athlete, protect the university, protect the sponsor. TheLinkU delivers turnkey financial‑literacy tools, NCAA‑compliant workflows, and real‑time reporting so athletic departments stay ahead of regulation while athletes build lasting legacies.Chapters: 02:41 – Navigating the Sports Industry: Insights and Challenges05:29 – The Evolution of LinkU: Services and Offerings08:10 – Preparing for Revenue Sharing: Insights and Strategies10:44 – Morgan Stanley Partnership: Financial Literacy for Athletes13:26 – The Impact of Revenue Sharing on College Athletics16:14 – Future of College Sports: Trends and Predictions18:49 – Focus on Female and Olympic Sports21:34 – Conclusion and Future Outlook