The Post Game Podcast #89 - Lucas Espada: Building ShowNxt and Changing How Athletes Get Seen
Lucas Espada is a former soccer player at Northeastern University, professional soccer player, and Founder of ShowNxt, an AI-powered recruiting platform reshaping how student-athletes connect with college programs across the US.
With ShowNxt, he’s helping players promote themselves, connect with teams and scouts, and open new doors in sports and beyond.
Lucas shares how he brought his idea to life from scratch, why the propensity to learn is more valuable than experience, and why giving away value for free early on can set you apart.
What You’ll Learn:
- Lucas’ passion for entrepreneurship and building something from nothing
- What ShowNxt is and how it’s changing the game for athletes
- The journey of bringing an idea to life from scratch
- Why a propensity to learn beats years of experience
- The importance of giving value away for free early on
- How to overcome fear and ask, “What’s the worst that can happen?”
- The revenue model and what’s next for ShowNxt
Timestamps:
(0:00) - Intro to Lucas
(2:10) - Soccer background, ankle injury, and going pro
(5:40) - Navigating pro soccer without an agent
(6:25) - Becoming an entrepreneur
(9:25) - What problem is ShowNxt solving?
(11:15) - Equitable access for athletes
(13:10) - Bringing the idea to life
(14:40) - Visualizing what you want to build
(16:10) - Propensity to learn
(17:40) - Look in your backyard
(19:40) - The first paying customer
(23:25) - What’s the worst that can happen?
(24:55) - What pushback does he get?
(27:25) - Cornell story
(30:40) - What’s next for ShowNxt?
(31:40) - Where to find Lucas and ShowNxt
Links:
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