The Profluence Pod 🌐

Satisfi Labs raised a Series A last year to continue building their AI chatbot, which is conversational and understands tens of thousands of intents. The data is categorized and specific for their over 200 clients (many being sports teams).  Don spent many years in sales including at Bloomberg before jumping into the sports tech world.  Chapters: (01:15) Jumping full-time into AI chatbots (03:55) Sports accelerators  (05:15) Learning sports business (without a background in it) (09:00) AI & large language models (11:45) Common questions sports fans ask (16:10) ChatGPT concerns & problems (18:45) AGI (and AI hallucinations) (21:55) Trends to watch in sports - commerce combos (24:45) Ultimate vision for Satisfi Labs . Don White links: Website: https://satisfilabs.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-white-he-him-9a9bb69/ . Andrew Petcash links: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com ✉️ Newsletter: https://www.petcashpost.com 🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/ 🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash 🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/ . Thanks for listening!

CrowdIQ has signed deals with over 25% of the NFL for its state-of-the-art computer vision to provide actionable insights on the composition and behavior of crowds. FanCam was the initial product that led to the venture-backed CrowdIQ that is on the market today.  A fascinating conversation with Tinus Le Roux on his entrepreneurial journey, building a globally adopted sports tech product, and where AI is taking us.  Chapters: (01:00) Optimizing yourself as an entrepreneur (05:00) Journey to building CrowdIQ (08:30) From South Africa to the US (11:30) Psychology of fandom  (16:55) AI and LLM’s impact on sports (21:55) Privacy and ethics with data (24:15) Trends for in-person sports events (27:50) Optimizing internal business processes . Tinus Le Roux links: Website: https://crowdiq.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinusleroux/ . Andrew Petcash links: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com ✉️ Newsletter: https://www.petcashpost.com 🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/ 🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash 🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/ . Thanks for listening!

In the entrepreneur seat since 19 years old, David Ortiz is now building at the intersection of web3, AI, esports, and content with SimWin Sports.  The SimWin Sports League has several notable team owners including Jerry Rice, Magic Johnson, Marshall Faulk, and Lamelo Ball.  David Ortiz has also led blockbuster teams at large corporations like Microsoft, EA Sports, Sony, and Warner Brothers.  Chapters: (01:10) Opportunity to build SimWin Sports (02:35) Overview of SimWin (03:40) AI + Web3 education gap (09:40) Building a business out of the metaverse (12:30) Team owners in the SimWin Sports League (15:45) Expanding into international markets (18:00) Trends to watch in sports  (22:00) Fads in technology + esports transformation . David Ortiz links: Website: https://simwinsports.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-ortiz-9b79a41/ . Andrew Petcash links: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com ✉️ Newsletter: https://www.petcashpost.com 🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/ 🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash 🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/ . Thanks for listening!

In 2021 Mark Neifeld founded the Sport Fishing Championship - the most extensive saltwater fishing championship series in North America - where he serves as CEO & Commissioner of the international sports property.  Prior to SFC, Neifeld spent a decade in entrepreneurship and worked for the Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys.  Fishing is one of the largest recreational sports activities in the world.  Chapters: (01:05) SFC’s “The Catch” on CBS Sports (05:20) Idea for Sport Fishing Championship (12:00) Blueprint for creating a sports league (15:20) Company building + operations + hiring  (18:15) Running a league vs. a company (21:15) Monetizing a sports league (26:00) Trends to watch in sports  . Mark Neifeld links: Website: https://sportfishingchampionship.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markeneifeld/ . Andrew Petcash links: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com ✉️ Newsletter: https://www.petcashpost.com 🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/ 🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash 🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/ . Thanks for listening!

Last year, Cipher Sports raised a $5M Series A led at CEO by longtime sports media professional Adam Fiske.  Cipher Sports arms users with the ultimate combination of tools, content, and communities to make sports more bettable. They have four major brands under management including Dimers, Fantasy Insider, Stats Insider, and Convertr.  This is an in-depth conversation at the intersection of sports betting, media, and entrepreneurship.  Chapters: (01:00) Why is now the time to build in sports? (03:20) Merging two companies and 4 co-founders (04:45) US vs. Australian market  (11:00) Advantages of running a global company  (13:20) Overview of Cipher Sports (17:20) Building a media-first brand (19:40) Machine learning and AI (22:50) Sports betting market overview + trends (31:05) Trends to watch in sports  . Adam Fiske links: Website: https://ciphersports.io/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ajfiske LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-fiske-78980574/?originalSubdomain=au . Andrew Petcash links: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com ✉️ Newsletter: https://www.petcashpost.com 🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/ 🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash 🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/ . Thanks for listening!

OneTeam Partners aligns with world-class player's associations and helps athletes maximize their name, image, and likeness rights by focusing on four key areas: group licensing, athlete marketing, content, and venture investing. RedBird Partners sold 40% of their stake in OneTeam at a $1.9B valuation in 2022.  Malaika Underwood was previously a VP at the Brandr Group and IMG. She is also a member of the USA women’s baseball team.  Chapters: (02:00) Malaika’s athletic background (04:45) OneTeam’s initiatives in NIL (10:10) Challenges of group licensing in college sports (13:20) Overview of OneTeam Partners (15:30) Setting up a player’s association in college (19:50) New innovations OneTeam is looking at (24:40) Growth of women’s sports . Malaika Underwood links: Website: https://joinoneteam.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/oneteampartners LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malaika-underwood-11979b8/ . Andrew Petcash links: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com ✉️ Newsletter: https://www.petcashpost.com 🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/ 🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash 🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/ . Thanks for listening!

TicketRev just raised $1.1M as the first-ever reverse ticketing marketplace - modeled after shoe marketplaces like StockX and GOAT. Jason Shatsky co-founded the company while in college at Babson University.  TicketRev went through the Techstars accelerator this last year and received an investment from the Minnesota Twins at the end.  Chapters: (01:15) Building his first business as a teenager (03:30) Overview of TicketRev (06:00) Problems in the ticketing industry (11:30) Web3 technology x tickets (13:00) Competing against the conglomerates (17:15) Value of university + accelerators (20:00) How to sell a pitch (23:35) Trends to watch in sports  . Jason Shatsky links: Website: https://www.ticketrev.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jshatsky LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonshatsky/ . Andrew Petcash links: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com ✉️ Newsletter: https://www.petcashpost.com 🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/ 🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash 🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/ . Thanks for listening!

CSMG helps their collegiate partners understand & maximize marketplace value for media rights and sponsorships and provides managed solutions for NIL and group licensing for agencies, brands, institutions, and student-athletes.  They also run esportsU and host May Madness which is the collegiate video game equivalent of NCAA March Madness.  Michael Schreck co-founded CSMG in 2014 and is also an adjunct professor at Manhattanville College.  Chapters: (01:40) Thoughts on NIL Valuation numbers (03:40) Shift to team and collective brand deals (05:20) Overview of CSMG (08:30) Esports in the college landscape (16:30) Conference realignment  (21:00) Separation in college conferences (25:00) Opportunities in the college space (29:40) Monetizing women’s sports better (31:35) Thoughts on the future of AI . Michael Schreck links: Website: https://collegiatesmg.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-schreck-732a9b3/ . Andrew Petcash links: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com ✉️ Newsletter: https://www.petcashpost.com 🎙 Podcast: https://profluence.com/podcasts/ 🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash 🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/ . Thanks for listening!

(01:00) Business of Athletes - more investors in TMRW sports, Steph Curry on the big screen, and several players buying soccer teams (04:15) NIL/College Sports - collectives merging, athletes "retiring, and plenty of other topics to discuss (06:30) Sports Business - $65M in fundraising for a team management platform and other interesting developments

Jonathan is a repeat entrepreneur having founded and sold his first company INCENT Corporate Services.  He then spent the last few years as a web3 angel investor, including a gem in the NFT fantasy platform Sorare.  Jonathan jumped back into the founder seat in 2022 leading a $2M seed round for Fantium and recently announcing 3 big athletes utilizing their platform.  Fantium is a unique blockchain-based platform that allows fans to invest in the future careers of athletes.  Chapters: (01:25) From founder to angel investor back to founder (03:45) Spotting opportunities as an investor  (08:50) Possibilities of web3 x sports (12:40) Origin story of Fantium  (15:40) Felix Mischker raising $52,000 on Fantium (18:10) Who’s investing in these athletes? (23:55) Raising $2M seed round at Fantium  (29:10) Starting in tennis and moving to other sports (31:05) Trends to watch in sports  . Jonathan Ludwig links: Website: https://www.fantium.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FANtiumOfficial LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanludwig9b75a71223/ . Andrew Petcash links: 🏠 Website: https://profluence.com ✉️ Newsletter: https://www.petcashpost.com 🎙 Podcast: https://anchor.fm/andrewpetcash 🐣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewpetcash 🕺 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewpetcash 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewpetcash 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetcash/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q5jhAuCVT2FZCkLW5xBiQ/ . Thanks for listening!