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Another athlete just closed in on a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal, but he’s not in it for the love of money, but more so for the love of the game. NJ.com reports that 17-year-old sophomore point guard Elliot Cadeau just secured a five-figure NIL deal with Swedish company Vitamin Well. The Swedish Bergen Catholic student — signed to Roc Nation Sports – has reportedly become the first American high school athlete to sign an international NIL deal. “It means a lot,” Elliot told NJ.com. “I really try to embrace my international side so working with companies over there in Sweden, I feel proud of that.”
If you can dream it you can achieve it! Heading a business with popular sweet treats is seventeen year old entrepreneur Cory Nieves. After taking one bite into Nieves’ brand you will soon realize why many are racing to try the cookie made from all-natural and high-quality ingredients. Mr. Cory’s Cookies carries Double Dark, Oatmeal Raisin, Sugar, and luckily the list will be expanding! If you thought leading a company as a teen was impressive, wait until you find out Mr. Cory’s Cookies was launched while Nieves was only six years of age! Nieves never imagined he would be running a successful cookie business. Rather the idea came because Nieves was tired of riding public transportation in his local town of Englewood, New Jersey and he also wanted to help his mother secure a car. “While this all started out as a way for a son to help his mom, it’s become so much bigger. I know it’s hard for the fatherless kids out there, but he has a drive and a tenacity that prevents him from giving...
It is a good day for Earl Little Jr. The incoming University of Alabama football defensive back has signed with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports. The division will represent Earl Little Jr. in the hunt for name, image, and likeness deals (NIL). In a recent Instagram post, Earl Little Jr. received a warm welcome. “Officially part of the #RocFam. Welcome, @earllittlejr,” the post read. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Roc Nation Sports (@rocnationsports) Roc Nation Sports’ has an impressive array of athletes including LaMelo Ball , Robinson Cano, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Saquon Barkley, Dez Bryant, and more. Therefore, Earl Little Jr. will be in good company. “Roc Nation represents some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment,” an industry source said, according to On3. “Being linked with a group like this will help Earl Little strengthen his ability to obtain NIL deals. It also further strengthens the value of potential deals. Having a group...
Jay-Z may no longer be in a New York state of mind. As AfroTech previously reported, the billionaire business mogul made a move to open a New York sportsbook in partnership with sports e-retailer Fanatics, making a bid with the New York State Gaming Commission back in August 2021. Now, according to 1010 WINS, the state’s gambling commission has approved nine mobile sports betting operators for the state, but neither Jay-Z-backed Fanatics nor Barstool Sports’ Penn Sports Interactive was recommended for a vote by the state. Thomas DiNapoli, the State’s comptroller, said that he estimates mobile sports gambling could bring in an excess of $500 million by 2025 to the state. But, it should be noted, the nine companies that were approved — including DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM — have agreed to pay a tax rate of 51 percent to the state of New York to operate their companies in the state. So, perhaps this can be considered a “blessing in disguise” of sorts. Casinos and mobile companies...
For decades, Black people have been a force in the sports industry, yet when it comes to making a profit from the game, the coins are far and few unless we’re athletes. And, Kai Bond says it’s time we change that. Bond — a partner at Courtside VC, a company that focuses on sports, gaming, and fitness verticals — says the time is now when it comes to sports innovation that can lead to something huge for the culture. “Sports used to be a game, and now it’s culture,” said Bond during the latest Black Tech Green Money episode with host Will Lucas. “When you think about the power of sports in society, it’s one of the things that can bring us together; it’s one of the things that divide us. Sports figures, athletes, you see it today in social media, their influence is outsized, and you know the ‘shut up and dribble’ conversations that have happened. We’re talking about individuals who are transforming society at a faster pace; I would argue than politicians because they’re at the...
John Thompson III is entering a different league as investing in sports seems to be a blueprint to success. Coming from a sports background himself, the former Georgetown basketball coach is now a minority-owner in the American Cornhole League (ACL). The ACL’s popularity is picking up speed and its impressive growth caught his interest to invest. In his CNBC interview, Thompson III claims that “the league is positioned to increase revenue over this decade.” “You kind of chuckle when you think about it,” Thompson III told CNBC. “But as you dive in and do the research, cornhole is one of the fastest-growing activities in the world. Is it a risk? Absolutely. But all investments are a risk. I feel strongly about the management team that’s we’re putting together and the team already in place.” Along with Thompson, Asland Capital Partners CEO James Simmons III also invested in the first funding round for the ACL and their investments will go toward the sport’s overall expansion. According...
Black women in the music industry continue to make business moves. R&B singer Kaash Paige recently became the first female recording artist to invest in an esports organization. According to a press release, on Sept. 2 Paige invested in Team 33 — a Hollywood-based invite-only esports team. As a seasoned gamer herself, Paige believes that “the future of music is going to tie into gaming” and hopes to be a part of esports’ impact. “I made a significant investment in Team 33 because I have always been passionate about the eSports industry, and I wanted to be the first female recording artist to co-own an eSports team that I can collaborate with and promote my music and concerts through,” Paige said in a press release. Paige first joined Team 33 as a celebrity ambassador in 2020, shortly after Team 33 launched in November. Now, her investment puts her alongside fellow artists like Ty Dolla $ign and 24kGoldn. “To be the first in the entire world to have a female recording artist as a...
Pay disparities between women and men athletes are a prominent issue that athletes have vocalized for decades but in more recent years companies are finally listening. Amongst the top five most popular sports in the country, women were consistently underpaid in comparison to their male counterparts, according to a 2019 study from Adelphi University. The most striking disparity exists between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) with male athletes averaging over $8 million in player compensation in comparison to the $75,000 female athletes receive. Women’s fight for equal pay has been a long-fought battle that has seen a string of victories over the last few years. In 2017, the USA Women’s Hockey team announced a strike to dispute unfair wages and earned a deal where they received an increase in salaries and performance bonuses. In 2018, the World Surfing League became the first global league to award an even distribution of...
If you’re waiting for Jay-Z to slow down when it comes to his money moves, you’ll probably be waiting a long time. According to a press release, his latest business venture is with Phoenix Suns’ Chris Paul as the two businessmen have helped raise a $3 million investment round for Misha’s Kind Foods — a vegan cheese brand. The seed funding round included participation from Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners (MVP) firm, Paul and branding firm Lisa Shamus & Partners. “The mission of Misha’s directly aligns with our values,” said MVP Co-founder Jay Brown in a press release. “When we first discovered Misha’s we found some immediate synergies. We embrace companies that value sustainability, empowerment, inclusivity, accessibility, convenience, health and wellness, and personal expression.” Plant-based investments is far from new territory for both Jay-Z and Paul. According to VegNews, Jay-Z helped raise $300 million for Impossible Foods and has invested in other vegan brands such as Partake...
Hollywood power couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z can celebrate many new firsts in their latest campaign, “ABOUT LOVE,” with the American luxury brand Tiffany & Co. As AfroTech previously reported, in Beyoncé’s cover story for Harper’s Bazaar, the star revealed that she and her husband were the new faces of Tiffany & Co. Now, t he two have brought light to a collective vision the two shared to conceptualize a new interpretation of “modern love.” “Beyoncé and JAY-Z are the epitome of the modern love story. As a brand that has always stood for love, strength and self-expression, we could not think of a more iconic couple that better represents Tiffany’s values. We are honored to have the Carters as a part of the Tiffany family,” Executive Vice President of Product & Communications Alexandre Arnault shared in a press release.
Technology continues to change the world of sports as we know it, and Reebok recognizes that. For years, access to sports facilities has not been the norm for children in underserved areas often pushing them to reinvent the wheel when it comes to playing some of their favorite games. Now, Reebok is equipping those same communities with the resources that they need to play big thanks to augmented reality (AR) technology tools. Courting Greatness is a FW21 basketball campaign that was launched by the company in late July that uses technology to provide a real-world environment of playable basketball spaces where they may not exist. Photo courtesy of Reebok “Technology is undeniably just part of the fabric of our culture now,” said Inga Stenta, Head of U.S. Marketing for Reebok in an exclusive interview with AfroTech. “As you see things continuing to evolve and move, it is becoming more and more connected to the sports space. What we are really trying to do in this situation is...
The cannabis space is still in need of some serious diversifying, but actress and activist Rosario Dawson is helping to change the face of the industry with her newly-appointed role. Today, Dawson joined the Board of Directors of leading cannabis-infused beverage company Cann, making history as one of the first queer women of color to serve on the board of a major cannabis brand. Image Courtesy of Cann The barrier-breaking move is one that the actress was eager to be a part of, noting that the cannabis company is setting an example that could be a catalyst for change across the industry. “Cann has proven to be such a leading voice for diversity and inclusion in the cannabis industry that I knew I had to get involved with the company,” Dawson tells AfroTech exclusively. “Their example is one to follow. As one of the first multi-racial women to serve on the board of a major cannabis brand, my mission is to use this position to push the industry towards much-needed change happening...
Jay-Z’s Roc Nation has a hand in nearly every industry these days, and now it’s casting its net even wider with the future of esports. Roc Nation Sports has partnered up with the Gaming Community Network (GCN) — which is also part of GameSquare Esports Inc. — to create global gaming solutions for star-studded athletes and expand their presence in esports, a press release reports. The multi-year partnership intends to build on a collaboration that will develop “authentic bespoke athlete-centric strategies” for athletes — including esports tournaments, gaming content production, live streaming events as well as offer content syndication across the GCN Network, which hosts 85-plus gaming and esports-centric websites. “Partnering with Roc Nation Sports continues our growth of building GameSquare into an esports powerhouse,” said GameSquare CEO Justin Kenna in a statement. “With our recent acquisitions of Complexity and Cut+Sew/Zoned and adding Paradigm Sports to our advisory board, we...