Will Ventures

Excited to share the latest episode of the Will Ventures Podcast with Michael Levine, better known as Vino. Vino is the co-head of @caa_sports , the largest sports agency in the world. In this episode, we cover: -Vino's journey to becoming co-head of CAA Sports -The biggest transactions / moments from his time at CAA -Working with the Hughes brothers from the USA Hockey team -Vino's involvement in creating the Big 3 in Miami And much more!

Our teammates Yash Gupta and Kushaan Ahuja write a deep dive on the infrastructure, formats, and markets shaping the future of collectibles

Novig is on the cutting edge of bringing exchange-style trading to sports betting, and that could change everything. Instead of betting against the house like you would on most apps, Novig’s exchange model lets you trade directly with other fans. Same props, same markets, but way more consumer-friendly, a lot more fair, and based in actual skill. If there’s no house, there’s no guaranteed “house always wins,” and if you’re sharper than the next person on the other side of the trade, you can actually come out ahead. It’s basically what e-Bay did for e-commerce and Uber did rideshare: take a system controlled by a few, and open it up to the marketplace where anyone can use it for entertainment or to make money. Thoughts — would you rather bet vs. the book, or trade vs. real people? #sportsbetting #sportsbusiness #investing #gambling #predictionmarkets

Athletes are thinking like owners, and Vino Levine is leading the charge. Turning Travis Kelce into a media mogul? Levine played a role. Signing Josh Allen to Skydance? CAA had a hand in that. Players are getting paid millions of dollars for their performance on the field, and by investing in themselves while they’re still at the top of their game, they can set themselves up for even more success. Check out our full interview with Michael “Vino” Levine here: youtube.com/watch?v=Of5Gtc… #NFL #TravisKelce #JoshAllen #SportsBusiness

When we invest in a sports league (or any other project), we look at more than just “how will this make money?” Michael “Vino” Levine outlined his three reasons why he’s excited for TMRW Sports’ biggest venture yet, and how his agency is playing a part. Click the follow button for more sports and business content. #Investments #Golf #TheGolfLeague #TigerWoods #ShoheiOhtani

India has the fans, the facilities, and the internet scale. Now it just needs the infrastructure to go digital. When 70% of youth play sports but only ~10% of adults keep going, the next wave is about participation: trainers, booking, community, and performance tracking at scale. Big market. Perfect timing. #India #Cricket #SportsTech #Investing #Startups

I expect online sportsbooks to embrace a “do all” platform in the near future, adding sportsbooks, prediction markets, and even day trading. Casino is the better business: higher margins, bigger LTV, and revenue that isn’t seasonal like sports betting. So why have VCs poured billions into sports betting… and almost nothing into online casinos? It comes down to “vice clauses,” but that wall is starting to crack as fintech and gambling keep converging. Read our full essay down below, where we outline where this is all heading: willventures.substack.com/p/the-vc-backe… #DraftKings #SportsBetting #Gambling #PredictionMarkets

Not only will fans be able to settle the NBA’s GOAT debate once and for all using AI, but companies already exist that can allow fans to bet on a one-on-one matchup between their favorite NBA legends. For me, these hypothetical games are one of the most exciting parts of AI’s rise and how it will collide with sports, and I wrote an in-depth article on how we can expect it to be implemented. Find out how here: 4amclub.substack.com/p/ai-gambling-… #NBA #MichaelJordan #LeBronJames #AI #Lakers

The rules were simple: if you made a half-court shot, you won $10,000 for a student’s tuition. A‑Rod walked into the gym ice cold… and nobody knew what was about to happen. Of course, he drained it, immediately changing a random fan’s life. Sometimes the best highlight isn’t the shot. It’s what it changes. #AlexRodriguez #FeelGoodSports #mlb #yankees #willventures

USA Hockey didn’t win by accident. 🦅 It was built on decades of relationships, reps, and the unglamorous work behind the scenes. #JackHughes #USAHockey #Olympics #NHL

Ticket fees are an entire business model. Teams make their real money from season tickets, suites, and group plans, but ticketing companies make their money off the one-off fan trying to buy a single seat. The part that matters most to fans is the part funding the ticketing machine. And once you add resale into the mix? That’s where the fee-factory really prints. What’s the craziest “$100 ticket turned into $200” moment you’ve had? #SportsBusiness #Ticketmaster #SportsMarketing #WillVentures

In 2011, all eyes were on LeBron James and the Miami Heat, and Michael Levine was steering the ship. His agency represented LeBron, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Pat Riley, and Erik Spoelstra, and getting all of those legends on the same team was his top priority at the time. Fans talk about the “player empowerment era,” but “Vino” is the one who ushered it in. We talked to him about that and the other blockbuster moves he’s made during his decades-long career as one of the most powerful men in sports. #NBA #NBAFreeAgency #LeBronJames #MiamiHeat #NBARumors

A personal trainer without a six pack is going to be the most valuable asset in the fitness industry ⬇️ #personaltrainingbusiness #fitnessbusiness #vc #fitnessindustry

There are no rules in college football right now. No real transfer rules. No real eligibility limits. No real “salary cap.” If a player wants to leave, they can unenroll and enroll somewhere else, and the threats of lawsuits usually go nowhere. So how do you actually fix it?

The NCAA is in no position to govern over multi-billion-dollar programs and the entirety of college football. In an effort to prevent schools from allocating all of their resources to revenue sports like football and basketball, @AdamBreneman81 suggested a minor league

Read more: willventures.com/blog/the-rise-…

83% of Gen Z wants to spend less time on their phone, but as consumers wade through ads, slop, and long-winded product reviews, bloated screen time is the cost of doing business. #WillVentures #DigitalDetox #AI

The NCAA likes to think it has rules, but it has no meaningful way to enforce any standards. That means NIL money, the transfer portal, academic standards, and eligibility limits are out of control, and there are only two ways to rein them in.

The NCAA’s biggest problem won’t be fans turning their back on the sport, it won’t be players transferring after every season, and it won’t be athletes picking money over tradition. #NCAA #CollegeFootball #NBA