Douglas Jakobi [#38]: Launching E1 Series with Tom Brady, Virat Kohli, Will Smith, and Rafa Nadal

Nov 6, 2024

40:32

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Episode notes

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Douglas Jakobi, Director of Team Development at the E1 Series, the world’s first electric powerboat racing championship.

Having previously worked in commodities trading before starting his own company sourcing and producing fan engagement products for sports teams, Douglas joined E1 as one of its earliest team members and has been instrumental in shaping the championship into what it is today.

In our conversation, we dive into what it takes to create an entirely new sport from scratch. What E1 has learned and borrowed from Alejandro Agag’s other sporting endeavours such as Formula E, Extreme E, and Hexagon Cup, as well as how the league has managed to attract, and aims to capitalise on, its high-profile team owners, which include the likes Tom Brady, Virat Kohli, Will Smith, and Rafa Nadal.

Timestamps

3:00 - Douglas' Journey

5:00 - What is E1 Series?

7:00 - Aspiring to be 'F1 on Water'

10:00 - How E1 Differs from Powerboating

14:00 - Celebrity Team Ownership

20:00 - What does Ownership Look Like?

23:00 - Getting the Celebrities Actively Involved

26:00 - Converting Reach to Audience

28:00 - The Potential for a Behind-the-scenes Docuseries

30:00 - Sourcing and Telling the Stories of the Pilots

34:00 - What Makes a good E1 Pilot?