The Profluence Pod 🌐

A multiple-time exited founder Jim Cavale is very involved in the NIL and college sports industry and sees the next opportunity with what he’s building at Athletes.Org. 

Athletes.org (AO) is a 501c non-profit organization designed exclusively for college athletes to receive on-demand support in navigating their respective college athletics experience and a voice to speak into the future of college athletics.

Prior to AO, Cavale sold his co-founder stake in Iron Tribe Fitness and built NIL solution INFLCR which was acquired by Teamworks. 

Chapters:

(01:30) Entrepreneurship journey

(03:20) INFLCR & Teamworks

(08:30) Athletes.Org opportunity

(14:00) What AO provides athletes

(18:55) Partnerships/Legal Structure

(22:25) Power 5 vs. Olympic Sports

(27:00) Pushbacks with AO

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Jim Cavale:

Website: https://www.athletes.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimcavale/

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Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/

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

🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash

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

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/

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Thanks for listening! Make sure to hit the “follow” button to stay up to date on new podcasts. 

In 2013, Tom Waterhouse (.com) was sold to William Hill Australia for a 20x plus exit.

WaterhouseVC invests in listed and unlisted businesses related to wagering and gaming. Whilst the Fund has a concentrated portfolio, the fund is diversified across both geography and market capitalization.

Tom Waterhouse comes from the fourth generation of the Waterhouse racing dynasty and is the grandson of one of the first official bookmakers in Australia

Chapters:

(01:20) Tom’s background

(04:50) Personal branding advantages

(08:50) From Australia to U.S. market

(15:05) Waterhouse VC 

(18:10) Interesting sports tech solutions

(23:35) Trends to watch

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Tom Waterhouse:

Website: https://tomwaterhouse.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-waterhouse-a2630132/

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Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/

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

🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash

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

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/

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Thanks for listening! Make sure to hit the “follow” button to stay up to date on new podcasts. 

After getting fired from his sports radio job, Kevin Jones put his last $17,000 of savings to build Blue Wire. 

Kevin Jones has over 12 years of experience in the sports industry as a beat reporter for the 49ers at KNBR, team reporter for the Cleveland Browns, and contributor to WUSA-TV in Washington D.C.

Blue Wire is a sports podcasting platform with over 500 shows under its umbrella. They have raised $12M in venture capital and are doing about $8M in revenue/year. 

Chapters:

(01:40) Community Crowdfunding

(07:00) Founding story of Blue Wire

(09:40) Scaling the company

(15:20) Business model

(20:00) Trends in sports

(23:10) Criteria for podcasters

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Kevin Jones:

Website: https://www.bluewirepods.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-jones-583a1226/

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Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/

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

🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash

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

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/

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Thanks for listening! Make sure to hit the “follow” button to stay up to date on new podcasts. 

Kyle Martino spent 6 years in the MLS and is currently building a handful of soccer companies after many years as a TV analyst and a run for President of U.S. Soccer. 

Martino’s portfolio includes Street FC, Football Cafe, Over Under Initiative, and Goalpher. 

Chapters:

(01:40) Transitioning from athlete to next stage

(05:15) From sports to entrepreneurship

(08:35) Creating community

(11:00) Over Under & Goalpher

(13:00) Value of athlete investors

(15:30) Street FC & Football Cafe

(19:00) Problems in youth sports

(24:40) MLS growth

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Kyle Martino:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylemartino/?hl=en

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Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/

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

🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash

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

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/

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Thanks for listening! Make sure to hit the “follow” button to stay up to date on new podcasts. 

As sports continue to grow as an asset class, venture capitalist & tech executive Soma Somesegar has entered the space through ownership. 

Soma is a majority owner of the Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket and a minority owner of the Major League Soccer team Seattle Sounders. He is the current managing director of Madrona Venture Group. 

This was a great conversation on Soma’s journey from a youth cricket player in India to the owner of a cricket team in the US. 

Chapters:

(01:40) Journey to Sports Ownership

(07:20) Seattle Orcas

(10:40) Operating a team vs. company 

(13:00) Season 1 Major League Cricket

(16:15) US Cricket expansion plans

(18:45) Bringing sports downstream

(22:40) Sports franchises' growth

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Soma Somesegar:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/s-somasegar-113791a5/

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Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/

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

🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash

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

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/

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Thanks for listening! Make sure to hit the “follow” button to stay up to date on new podcasts.

Andrew Steinwold first bought Bitcoin in 2013 and now runs a $100M venture fund focused around the metaverse. 

Sfermion is a multi-strategy investment firm focused on the immersive internet. Their mission is to accelerate the emergence of the metaverse by investing in the companies & founders creating the digital future. 

Sports and the metaverse have massive overlap, which led to a great conversation around crypto, web3, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and the blockchain. 

Chapters:

(01:45) What is the metaverse?

(03:10) Andrew’s journey (Bitcoin 2013)

(06:30) Tokens in sports

(10:10) Key terms to know

(14:10) What to watch in AI

(20:15) State of web3 (in 2023)

(23:15) Blockchain going mainstream

(28:40) Concerns of CBDC’s

(30:50) Applying sports to the metaverse

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Andrew Steinwold:

Website: https://www.sfermion.io/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewSteinwold

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-steinwold/

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Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/

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

🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash

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

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/

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Thanks for listening! Make sure to hit the “follow” button to stay up to date on new podcasts. 

Homefans is experiencing massive MoM growth for their marketplace where fans can connect, plan, and book sports trips and experiences hosted by locals.

Luke Verbeek spent 1 year in the corporate world before jumping into entrepreneurship and founding HomeFans in 2014. 

Homefans is currently focused on soccer in Europe and South America, but plans to expand to more sports and regions in the near future. 

Chapters:

(01:25) Idea behind Homefans

(04:45) Finding his co-founder

(06:20) HomeFans overview

(13:30) AirBnB for sports model

(15:10) Marketplace learnings

(18:20) Expansion Roadmap

(21:15) Trends in sports experiences

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Luke Verbeek:

Website: https://homefans.net/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-verbeek/

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Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/

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

🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash

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

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/

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Thanks for listening! Make sure to hit the “follow” button to stay up to date on new podcasts. 

Didier Occident speaks to some of the most significant football programs in the world about financial literacy, wealth building, and maximizing earnings off the field. 

Didier created Secure The Bag to present this to collegiate teams like Alabama, Washington, and Florida State.

He also founded Occident Wealth Management (under Northwestern Mutual) where he signed on more clients in 6 months than in the history of the division. 

Chapters:

(01:20) Didier’s rollercoaster journey

(09:10) Financial literacy building blocks

(12:40) Impact of NIL

(16:30) Diversification 

(19:40) Flaws in the education system 

(23:35) Bridging wage gaps

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Didier Occident:

Website: https://www.stbprogram.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/didieroccident/

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Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

✉️ Newsletter: https://www.petcashpost.com

🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/

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

🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash

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

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/

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Thanks for listening! Make sure to hit the “follow” button to stay up to date on new podcasts. 

Ferran is the CEO and Managing Director of Gasol16 Ventures, Pau Gasol's business and strategic investing vehicle. 

Prieto also co-founded Everest Talent Management to help a variety of athletes to maximize their "off-the-field" impact and economic opportunities.

Working with athletes is a long-term, strategic approach to their non-playing activities that not only make a mark on their sport but also "stand out from the crowd" and prioritize their broader impact on their fan base and the world.

Chapters:

(01:15) Ferran’s journey into sports

(03:25) Building out Gasol16 Ventures

(08:30) Working with athletes

(12:10) Agents vs. business partners

(15:45) Future of athletes off the field

(18:30) American vs. European athletes

(21:40) Educating athletes 

(26:10) Trends to watch in sports

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Ferran Prieto:

Everest TM: https://www.everesttm.com/

Gasol16 Ventures: https://gasol16ventures.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernando-ferran-prieto-5b48802/

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Andrew Petcash:

🏠 Website: https://profluence.com

✉️ Newsletter: https://www.petcashpost.com

🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/

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

🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash

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

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/

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Thanks for listening! Make sure to hit the “follow” button to stay up to date on new podcasts. 

(01:20): Business of Athletes - KD invests in cycling, Zion Williamson is in trouble, and more

(06:00): NIL/College Sports - Pac12 is dying, Arch Manning deal, and interesting $5M collective agreement

(10:50): Sports Business - $70M VC fund, $1B Adidas x soccer team deal, and other important stories