The Profluence Pod 🌐

Connor Lim is the Founder of the International Dance League (IDL), a first-of-its-kind professional league redefining the global dance industry. Growing up in Queens, New York as a professional dancer, Connor experienced firsthand both the artistry and challenges of the dance community—a foundation that now fuels his mission to create new opportunities for dancers worldwide.Before launching IDL, Connor co-founded and served as President of STEEZY, the leading digital platform for dance education. Over more than a decade, he scaled STEEZY into an internationally recognized brand with millions of users across 100+ countries. By partnering with top choreographers and building a global community, Connor helped shape STEEZY into the premier destination for online dance learning and a cultural force that continues to influence dancers everywhere.With IDL, Connor is pioneering a global league modeled after Formula 1—blending elite competition with entertainment and fan engagement. Following its 2025 launch in Los Angeles, the league will expand to six countries in 2026, creating a professional structure that elevates dance to the global stage and provides sustainable career pathways for dancers. His story is one of innovation, culture, and vision—bringing artistry and athleticism together in an entirely new way.Podcast Chapters: 02:41 The Vision Behind IDL and Dance as a Sport 05:38 Global Expansion and the Dance Landscape 08:34 Business Model and Funding Strategies 11:09 Creating a Pathway for Dancers 13:56 Current Competition Landscape in Dance 16:48 Audience Engagement and Demographics 19:35 Future Plans and Trends in Dance22:36 Conclusion and Call to Action

Steve Strawbridge, President & CEO of Pop Warner, brings decades of experience from the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pro Football Hall of Fame to the conversation. He passionately discusses the legacy of Pop Warner and its pivotal role in youth sports. Topics include the rise of flag football, the importance of safety and technology in youth programs, and strategies for expanding cheer and dance offerings. Steve emphasizes building community connections while preparing for the future of youth athletics, ensuring young athletes continue to thrive.

Jake Deane is the Co-Founder of True Lacrosse, one of the fastest-growing youth lacrosse organizations in the country. With nearly 20 years of experience in the game, Jake has dedicated his career to developing players, building programs, and creating pathways for athletes to succeed both on and off the field. Since its founding in 2008, True Lacrosse has expanded from grassroots clinics in Illinois to a national footprint with programs across the United States. The organization is focused on elite coaching, player development, and teaching life lessons that extend far beyond the field. With a “player-focused, family-minded” philosophy, True Lacrosse has helped thousands of athletes achieve their goal of playing at the collegiate level while instilling the values of hard work, resilience, and teamwork.Jake shares the story of how True Lacrosse grew from a local idea into a national brand, the current challenges facing youth sports, and where he sees the future of lacrosse headed. 02:29 Growth and Evolution of True Lacrosse07:25 Taking Risks and Scaling the Business11:54 The Future of Youth Sports and Expansion Plans17:22 Current State of Youth Sports and Market Trends20:23 The Role of Private Equity in Youth Sports21:58 Professionalization of Youth Sports22:59 Conclusion and Future Opportunities

Jake Hoselton is the co-founder and CEO of Grass Clippings, the company behind Arizona’s only fully lighted golf course, Grass Clippings Rolling Hills. More than just a golf course, Grass Clippings is reimagining what it means to bring community, entertainment, and competition together. With its unique day-to-night transformation—playing as a par 61 during the day and a par 54 par-3 course under the lights—Grass Clippings offers golfers an entirely new way to experience the game.At Grass Clippings, the vision goes beyond the fairways. From the Top Tracer lighted driving range with lounge seating and food service, to Glenrosa, a restaurant serving Sonoran-inspired cuisine, and live music events that transform the course into a social hub, Jake and his team are building something much bigger: a new culture of golf. With the launch of Grass League, a professional golf league designed for a new generation of fans, Grass Clippings is blending tradition with innovation to create one of the most exciting evolutions in the sport.Beyond the golf and entertainment, Jake’s story is also about building for the future—developing a franchise model for Grass League, growing new talent pipelines, and redefining how golf can be presented as both competition and community. Grass Clippings isn’t just growing the game; it’s creating a movement.Podcast Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Grass League and Golf's Evolution01:09 The Origin Story of Grass Clippings and Grass League04:56 Understanding Grass League's Structure and Vision06:15 The Unique Experience of Night Golf and Entertainment12:11 Franchise Model and Growth Strategy of Grass League16:20 Talent Selection and Development in Grass League18:45 Reflecting on Milestones and Achievements23:05 Future Plans and Expansion of Grass League29:15 Mentorship and Learning in the Golf Industry

Sandeep Hingorani is the EVP and a founding team member of BallerTV, the leading live and on-demand streaming service for youth sports. Since its founding in 2016, BallerTV has grown into the go-to platform for families, athletes, and scouts, offering live streams, replays, and highlights of games that were once impossible to watch outside the gym. With a background as both an athlete and a parent, Sandeep has been at the forefront of building a company that ensures no family member ever has to miss a child’s game again.At BallerTV, the mission goes beyond streaming—it’s about access, opportunity, and connection. By dramatically expanding the spectrum of youth sports coverage, BallerTV keeps families connected, provides athletes with valuable footage for recruiting, and creates new pathways for visibility across the youth sports ecosystem. The platform has also proven itself as a community builder, capturing the moments that matter most to families while helping athletes at every level showcase their skills to the world.Beyond the platform, Sandeep’s story highlights the resilience required to navigate challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which reshaped the landscape of youth sports. Looking forward, BallerTV is doubling down on innovation—from advanced insights to expanded partnerships—ensuring that youth athletes have the exposure and opportunities they deserve.Podcast Chapters:05:03 BallerTV: Revolutionizing Youth Sports Broadcasting 10:47 Lessons from the Youth Sports Ecosystem 15:18 Navigating Challenges: The Impact of COVID-19 17:45 The Future of BallerTV: Beyond Live Streaming 21:58 The Role of Athletes in Shaping Youth Sports 29:28 Personal Connections: The Power of Community in SportsSandeep Hingorani: 🏠Website: https://www.ballertv.com/Scott Garber: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgarber40/Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Scott Birnbaum is the co-founder and CEO of Booster, a platform reinventing fundraising for athletes and teams. With over 15 years of experience in PPC advertising and leadership roles at firms like System1, Demand Media, and Fullscreen, Scott brings a wealth of expertise in scaling operations, building high-performing teams, and driving digital growth. At Booster, he’s combining this background with his passion for sports to create a smarter, subscription-based fundraising model that eliminates the inefficiencies of traditional campaigns.At Booster, the mission is clear: make fundraising effortless so athletes and coaches can focus on what really matters—development, performance, and community. Whether at the high school, junior college, or NCAA level, Booster empowers teams to generate consistent, recurring revenue without upfront costs or the constant reset of starting from zero each season. The platform also provides athletes with the tools to build their brands, connect with fans, and unlock new pathways for support as they move through different stages of their athletic careers.Beyond the platform, Scott’s story is also one of leadership and adaptability. Having scaled System1 from 15 employees to IPO, he has firsthand experience building global teams, navigating transitions, and fostering cultures of collaboration and innovation. Now, with Booster, he’s applying those lessons to the youth and collegiate sports ecosystem—helping athletes and teams access resources that were previously out of reach.Podcast Chapters:02:40 The Evolution of Fundraising in High School Sports 05:37 Building Community Through Subscription Models08:07 Navigating the High School Sports Landscape 10:52 Engagement Strategies for Sustaining Interest13:45 Leveraging Corporate Partnerships for Growth 16:42 Market Penetration and Future Plans 19:19 The Importance of Youth Sports in Development 22:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Konstantin Sonkin is the CEO and co-founder of i-BrainTech, a company transforming how athletes train through the power of neurotechnology. With a background in neuroscience and years of research into brain-computer interfaces, Konstantin launched i-BrainTech to bring cognitive training into elite sports. The platform allows athletes to play video games using only their minds—strengthening focus, tactical decision-making, and mental resilience.At i-BrainTech, the mission goes beyond novelty—it’s about unlocking the brain as the next performance frontier. By partnering with top football clubs in LaLiga, Serie A, MLS, and the Premier League, the company has introduced brain training into professional locker rooms, proving its impact on precision, reaction speed, and recovery. This top-tier adoption has validated i-BrainTech as not just an R&D project, but as a critical tool for modern performance enhancement.Beyond sports, Konstantin’s journey highlights the challenges of building a neuroscience startup—from translating lab research into a scalable product, to navigating hardware, software, and clinical validation. i-BrainTech is now expanding into healthcare and education, opening doors for cognitive therapy, neurorehabilitation, and even mental skills training for youth athletes.With AI integration, improved accessibility, and new partnerships ahead, Konstantin and his team are proving that mental training will soon stand alongside physical training as a pillar of athletic development. And in the process, they’re redefining how the sports world thinks about the brain.Podcast Chapters:00:00 Introduction to i-BrainTech and Konstantin Sonkin02:18 How Brain-Computer Interfaces Work in Sports05:45 Partnerships with Elite Clubs in Europe and the U.S.09:10 Training Focus, Awareness, and Decision-Making12:27 Challenges of Bringing Neurotech to Market15:52 Expanding Beyond Sports: Healthcare and Education18:34 The Role of AI in Cognitive Training21:08 Future Vision: Making Brain Training MainstreamIKonstantin Sonkin: 🏠Website: https://www.i-brain.tech/💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/konstantin-sonkinScott Garber: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgarber40/Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Amanda is the co-founder of Sequel, a company reimagining women’s health products with athletes in mind. Alongside her co-founder Greta Meyer, she launched Sequel while at Stanford, driven by a frustration that period products hadn’t meaningfully changed in over 80 years. As former high-level athletes, both Amanda and Greta struggled to find a tampon they could rely on in competition—so they leaned on their engineering training to build the product they wished they had on game day. The result was Sequel’s patented spiral technology, designed to offer women more reliable, comfortable, and distraction-free performance.At Sequel, the mission goes beyond just technology—it’s about impact and visibility. By partnering with top sports organizations like Stanford Athletics, the Indiana Fever, DC United, and Audi Field, Sequel has brought period products directly into stadiums and locker rooms, making history as the first tampon partner in NCAA athletics. Their approach combines top-down credibility with bottom-up storytelling—leveraging creator partnerships, social platforms, and founder-led storytelling to build trust, awareness, and a movement for better women’s health solutions.Beyond the partnerships and the patented spiral design, Amanda’s story is also one of resilience and persistence. From navigating the challenges of FDA approval as a medical device, to securing early grants and funding from Stanford’s ecosystem, Sequel is a case study in founder-led innovation. And with more products and activations ahead, Amanda and Greta are proving that when you combine sports, engineering, and a mission to help women win, the impact goes far beyond the field.Podcast Chapters: 02:34 Innovative Tampon Technology: The Sequel Spiral 05:32 Partnerships in Sports: Building Brand Awareness 08:25 The Importance of Creator Partnerships 11:02 Challenges in Developing a Medical Device 13:49 Funding Journey: From Grants to Equity 16:31 Design Thinking: Identifying Real Needs 19:16 Future Aspirations and Community EngagementAmanda Calabrese: 🏠Website: https://www.trysequel.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acalabre/Andrew Petcash:🏠 Website: https://profluence.com🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Ryan Silver, President of Attitude of Gratitude, is a trailblazer in youth sports and event operations. With a vision rooted in appreciation and impact, he has built one of the fastest-growing event platforms in the country, spanning basketball, volleyball, soccer, golf, and more. Silver’s philosophy of gratitude—shaped by personal experiences—drives his mission to transform youth sports into not just competitions, but meaningful experiences that empower athletes, families, and communities.Under Silver’s leadership, Attitude of Gratitude has rapidly expanded to become a premier operator of over 200 annual basketball tournaments, with camps and showcases across multiple states. Recently acquired by Rocket Youth Brands, the company now stands at the forefront of the evolving youth sports industry. With private equity investment, a powerful partner ecosystem, and Silver’s deep operational expertise, the organization is poised to redefine the future of youth events, blending growth with lasting community impact.Beyond his impressive business achievements, Silver has a rare distinction: he is one of the very few entrepreneurs who has successfully built and sold multiple youth sports companies, including West Coast Elite. His journey highlights both the challenges and opportunities in the commercialization of youth sports—while keeping gratitude, service, and athlete empowerment at the heart of it all.Podcast Chapters:02:44 Growth and Expansion in Youth Sports05:21 The Business of Youth Sports: Insights and Challenges07:54 Rocket Youth Brands: A New Partnership10:22 The Future of Youth Sports and Private Equity13:07 NIL and Its Impact on College Sports15:44 Closing Thoughts and Future PlansRyan Silver: 🏠Website: https://attitudeofgratitude.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-silver-ba7a63293/Andrew Petcash:🏠 Website: https://profluence.com🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/Thanks for listening! Hit the “follow” button to stay updated on new podcasts.

Karim Kassam, Vice President of Product at Teamworks, brings a wealth of experience from leading analytics for teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Twins. In this discussion, he delves into the revolutionary role of AI in sports analytics, transforming decision-making and player performance insights. Karim explores the challenges posed by the college football transfer portal and how technology is reshaping talent management. He emphasizes the unique importance of tailored analytical approaches to stay ahead in the competitive sports landscape.