A groundbreaking new initiative, “Meet the Athlete,” is set to create a unique intersection between the world of sports and early-stage entrepreneurship. Announced by Kimberley Nixon, a venture capitalist at Techstars, through a LinkedIn post, the program aims to leverage the experiences and insights of athletes to benefit emerging businesses.
Kimberley Nixon, known for her roles as an investor, speaker, and startup advisor, introduced “Meet the Athlete” as a collaborative effort born from conversations with athletes like Ron ‘Boss’ Everline and former NBA player Matt Barnes. Nixon recounted how these discussions often revolved around business opportunities, content strategies, and media insights, capturing the interest of athletes who are keen to explore life after sports and invest in new ventures.
After months of ideation and a pivotal text message to Matt Barnes, “Meet the Athlete” was conceived. The initiative aims to tell athletes’ stories in a way that resonates with their peers and helps them thoughtfully navigate their own post-sport journeys. Furthermore, it strives to create 360-degree engagement, making it a mutually valuable endeavor for both athletes and entrepreneurs.
The Four-Part Approach
The initiative is structured around a comprehensive four-part approach designed to foster meaningful connections between athletes and entrepreneurs:
- Athlete Interviews: The program begins by interviewing athletes to share their personal journeys, investment interests, and experiences. This storytelling aspect aims to provide relatable insights for other athletes considering their post-sport careers. By highlighting their struggles and triumphs, the initiative hopes to inspire and guide others in similar positions.
- Founder Applications: Early-stage founders are invited to apply for the opportunity to be matched with the athletes. This application process is managed by Pitchtape, a current Techstars Los Angeles Accelerator cohort company. The call for applications is a crucial step in identifying startups that could benefit from the unique perspectives and advisory capabilities of experienced athletes.
- Meet and Greet: From the pool of applicants, ten founders are selected to meet the athlete. This interaction is designed to help both parties understand each other’s goals and expectations for the partnership. These meetings offer a platform for in-depth discussions, enabling athletes to share their insights and founders to pitch their ideas directly.
- Advisory Role: Ultimately, the athlete will choose one of the ten companies to work with in an advisory capacity for up to six months. This period allows for thorough due diligence and the building of a potential long-term partnership. It provides a unique opportunity for startups to gain strategic guidance and for athletes to engage deeply with the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The first “Meet the Athlete” dinner, featuring Matt Barnes, is scheduled for the end of July. Nixon encourages founders to apply, share the opportunity with their networks, and participate in this innovative program that seeks to create valuable synergies between the sports and startup communities.
This initiative is supported by HartBeat Ventures, highlighting the collaborative spirit driving “Meet the Athlete.” Through Nixon’s LinkedIn announcement, the program has already garnered significant attention, reflecting its potential to reshape the post-sport trajectory for athletes while offering startups unparalleled advisory support. The call to action for founders is clear: apply, engage, and take advantage of this unique opportunity to connect with and learn from seasoned athletes transitioning into the business world.