Athletes Make The Best Investors + Startups: Where Competition Becomes Capital

Manhattan, NY, July 2026 | Exact Venue Announced Q1 2026 | Join our Waitlist

They have conquered courts, fields, and arenas. Now they are taking on boardrooms.

This July, during the world’s largest global soccer championship week, Athletes Make The Best Investors + Startups will debut as a high-impact experience that celebrates athletes who turn their discipline into enterprise, transforming the mindset that wins games into the drive that builds companies.

Athletes have always chased greatness. Today, they are channeling that same relentless focus into business. Athletes Make The Best Investors + Startups highlights a new generation of leaders who invest, innovate, and drive growth.

The timing could not be better. The U.S. venture capital market is projected to grow from USD 1.30 trillion in 2024 to USD 1.94 trillion by 2029, representing an 8.25 percent compound annual growth rate (GlobeNewswire, 2024). As this wave of capital fuels new industries, athletes are positioned to bring competitive insight, brand power, and global reach to investments that shape economies.

More than 70 percent of corporate executives were former college athletes, and 94 percent of women in the C-suite have a background in sports (Psychology Today, 2024; EY/espnW, 2023). The same qualities that win championships—discipline, teamwork, and resilience—translate into leadership, performance, and measurable success in business.

“This isn’t just about wealth,” said Tenicka Chaney, Senior Director of Sports and Entertainment for LocalContent.com, the parent company of Athletes Make The Best. “It’s about legacy. Athletes already understand preparation, performance, and perseverance. Those same instincts make them powerful investors, founders, and builders of opportunity.”

Open to athletes of all levels, including recreational, collegiate, amateur, professional, and retired, the program provides a pathway for participants to channel their competitive mindset into ownership, entrepreneurship, and social impact.

The Experience: From Mindset to Market

Agenda

• 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Investor and Founder Networking Breakfast

Athlete investors, founders, and innovation leaders connect in an exclusive environment designed for deal flow and collaboration.

• 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Fireside Chat: Athletes, Equity and Ownership

Conversations with athlete investors and founders building legacy through equity, innovation, and leadership.

• 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Startup Pitch and Demo Showcase

Athlete-led startups present live to investors, brands, and accelerators shaping the future of sports, technology, and entertainment.

• 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Networking Lounge and Deal Flow

A closing session featuring sponsor activations, media features, and one-on-one investor-founder meetings that spark long-term partnerships.

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Who Should Attend

Recreational, collegiate, professional, and retired athletes, startup founders and entrepreneurs, venture capital and private equity firms, corporate innovation and brand executives, family offices, accelerators, NIL programs, media, and economic development leaders.

Whether launching a new venture or expanding an investment portfolio, Athletes Make The Best Investors + Startups is where performance meets purpose and where the next generation of athlete entrepreneurs begins.

This year’s event highlights industries driving real economic growth and opportunity, where innovation meets infrastructure and influence meets investment.

Energy. Broadband. Maritime. Construction. Manufacturing. Sports. Tourism. Media.

These sectors form the foundation of regional and national competitiveness. They are also where athlete investors, founders, and partners can create the greatest impact by building companies that generate jobs, strengthen supply chains, and transform communities.

Athletes bring a unique advantage to these industries through strategic teamwork, long-term discipline, and the ability to perform under pressure. These same attributes deliver results in industries that require both precision and purpose.

As the global economy evolves, Athletes Make The Best Investors + Startups connects athlete leadership with developers, manufacturers, and innovators powering these essential sectors, accelerating growth, transparency, and legacy.

Partner With Purpose

Partnering with Athletes Make The Best Investors + Startups aligns your brand with leadership, innovation, and measurable results.

Partners include developers, manufacturers, OEMs, primes, investors, suppliers, and government and industry leaders advancing supplier, workforce, and community development through local and domestic content engagement.

Opportunities include:

• Showcasing your brand alongside athlete investors and founders
• Sponsoring experiences such as the Investor Breakfast, Innovation Showcase, or Media Lounge
• Hosting curated deal-flow sessions or private roundtables with athlete entrepreneurs
• Co-creating branded content and data insights that extend reach beyond the event

“Corporate partners are not just supporting an event; they are helping reshape how athletes participate in the global economy,” added Chaney. “This is about visibility, ownership, and measurable progress, not only for athletes but for the industries and communities they help power.”

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The message is simple: Athletes Make The Best is not about hype; it is about results.

Just as the best athletes redefine their sport, the best founders and investors are redefining business. Together, they are building what comes next.

Event Location: Manhattan, NY. Final venue announced Q1 2026.

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For Sponsorships, Partnerships, or Press Inquiries: Visit Athletes Make The Best Investors + Startups