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!

New York City is cashing in on the Knicks this summer. As Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced, the city has generated $200 million so far from these Finals, not including potential additional earnings. And with each potential home Finals game bringing in upwards of $90 million, the city is making bank. The city might be orange and blue, but it’s making a whole lot of green this summer. #Knicks #NYC #NBA #NBAFinals

ESPN isn’t the answer for women’s sports. They invested billions of dollars into the NBA and NFL, but they don’t have the time or resources to cover women’s sports at the same level. That’s why Just Women’s Sports was built, giving these women the platform they deserve. #ESPN #NWSL #WNBA #WomensSports

Women’s sports don’t need cable. Even though these leagues rely on television deals, the future is streaming. Just Women’s Sports creator Haley Rosen says their audience is on their phones, not watching cable. Do you think women’s sports should go all in on digital? #NWSL #WNBA #WomensSports

In 2017, one of the best women’s soccer players was working a second job in a coffee shop. Today, the 14 NWSL franchises are worth more than $2.8 billion collectively, and Spirit star Trinity Rodman signed a deal this winter worth more than $2 million annually. Just Women’s Sports Founder Haley Rosen joins us on the Will Ventures Podcast to share her personal story as a pro athlete and how it fueled her vision for building a new age media company focused on one thing: Women’s Sports. #NWSL #Soccer #Investment #WomensSports #WillVentures

Women’s sports are catching up to men’s sports sooner than you think. As Just Women’s Sports founder Haley Rosen points out, viewership is already competing right now—and it’s only a matter of when, not if, sponsorship dollars follow. That is why we invested in Just Women’s Sports and continue to invest in women’s sports. #WNBA #NWSL #NBA #Basketball #Soccer

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?