Instead of relying solely on coveted endorsements to grow their wealth, a new trend is emerging among professional athletes as an increasing amount of players are getting more involved with technology and investing. A groundbreaking new project seeks to promote growth and innovation for companies looking to collaborate with the ever-growing sports industry by providing a mutually beneficial partnership with a network of current and former athletes. The One Team Collective is an experimental accelerator designed specifically to benefit NFL players by providing guided mentorship in the world of investing. Not every player has the star power of Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, which is why the collective is designed to benefit all athletes, regardless of the length of their career or the size of their fan base, as they transition from a relatively short sports career into a healthy and productive life. In short, the goal is to help the players to get more out of football than football got out of them.
The Collective uses a proven venture capital formula to get athletes involved with companies and products that are specifically designed to improve the lives of professional and amateur athletes or further enhance the fan experience, and whose products and technological advancements oftentimes have benefits that extend to the average consumer. Since its inception, over 300 companies and startups have applied for funding, including a wide variety of industries, from food and beverages, lifestyle and entertainment products, and most notably, sport technology.
The Board works to identify the most appropriate and promising investment opportunities, but this relationship is not one-sided. The Collective further supports their chosen investments by connecting them with the individual investors to provide valued insights, endorsement, and other relevant services from their unique point of view as professional athletes turned businessmen. This partnership allows the athletes and influencers to get involved on the ground level and work with the companies to create increased value for both parties.
Sports technology is an especially relevant sector of investing for the Collective, especially in terms of health and safety. The focus on data analytics and wearable technology seeks to provide actionable insights for change and improvement both on and off the field. Having objective data influencing play and driving decisions leads to an overall improvement of athlete health, recovery, and performance. This innovative accelerator is doing great things to improve sports technology, promote health and wellness, as well as encourage financial literacy among professional athletes. The One Team Collective is a very unique collaboration between investors, researchers, corporations, and of course, athletes, and we certainly hope to see more like-minded ventures inspired by their success.
