Thanks for sitting down with us, Jack. Tell us a little about what you are doing and how it all started.
JA: I was in entering my junior year at Syracuse, when the legislation for college athletes surrounding NIL (name, image, and likeness) was passed. (What is NIL?). This was completely unheard of, never before allowed, but changed the game for college athletes. Meanwhile, I was walking around Syracuse, passing athletes on campus, and I had this “ah-ha” moment.
Like many Brant Lakers, I had always aspired to work in sports and dreamt of being an agent one day, but here was this chance to do it right now. What I created was a way to connect college athletes with local businesses in and around Syracuse. And, Out2Win just grew from there.
Wow! What a great idea and unique opportunity. How has it grown from your college idea into what it is now?
JA: I started by walking around Syracuse with a one-pager and a suit going to local business and saying, “if you want to partner with athletes come talk to me.” From there, it took off. I started getting interest from brands like Reebok, Crocs, and Oakley. Soon, I began reaching out to my Brant Lake network and helping friends start chapters at their universities.
We started branches at Michigan, USC, and Oklahoma. In May, I graduated, but Out2Win wasn’t yet brining in enough revenue and I found myself thinking where could this go next?
I realized that the reason brands struggle to find the right athlete partners is due to a lack of data. What I wanted to build was a database of athletes and what they each bring to the table. I started raising money, hiring a tech team, and just two weeks ago, launched the Athlete Marketing Intelligence Platform. On this platform, potential partners can filter by school or sport. It also collects social media data and calculates a strength score, along with providing an audience profile and the interests of that audience.
What a journey! If you had to brag, what has been the coolest part of this whole experience?
JA: Just this morning before I hopped on this call, Mark Cuban responded to my email. I reached out looking for investors and he actually responded and wanted to stay in touch to see how this grows. Really feels like the big leagues now. I also was featured in a Washington Post article about how NIL has opened the door for not just college athletes, but also for college students to build their own businesses. Most of all, I just love to see the program expanding. More and more students are starting NIL businesses and many have been reaching out for advice. It is really cool to give back and engage with other people doing this. I have spoken with so many Brant Lakers doing similar things after seeing what I have done at Out2Win.
How do you think Brant Lake has influenced where you are now?
JA: Brant Lake is a network of friends- a brotherhood- but now in business it is changing the way its coming together. When we were scaling to different campuses, my first thought was let me see who I know from Brant Lake. Every step across the way, my Brant Lake network has had some sort of impact. BLC taught me the importance of getting out of your comfort zone. Not only did I struggle with homesickness, but entering Brant Lake as a new camper Inter B summer was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. Not knowing a single person, not knowing what to expect. Many years later, I look back and wonder what if I’d let that fear stop me from even going in the first place. I know my life would be way different. Knowing how amazing my time at Brant Lake turned out, I’ll always use that experience as inspiration to push myself out of my comfort zone. Being an entrepreneur sometimes feels like you are out on an island. I wouldn’t have the independence and confidence to navigate that without having gone to Brant Lake.
What is your favorite BLC memory?
JA: Being a Senior C during BLC’s 100th year and getting to break Green and Gray twice!
Do you have any advice for young Brant Lakers looking to get into sports entrepreneurship?
JA: The best way to learn is by doing. You can read as many books as you want and have as many conversations with others, but the real way to grow is by inserting yourself into real-world experiences and situations, even starting your own company. Fail or succeed, you’ll learn more about yourself than you knew was possible. Don’ t be afraid to throw yourself in the fire of trying new things. And, know that you’ll stay in touch with your camp friends forever.
What is your favorite camp lunch?
JA: Definitely pizza and soda days!
