Services

Welcome to Athletepreneur U small business network. We have three Partnerships we offer. Businesses can do a lot on their own, and careful strategic partnerships can help two companies go further together. Strategic partnerships are agreements between non-competing businesses in which both parties share risks, rewards and decision-making power. Partnerships are often an underestimated way that founders and CEOs can grow their businesses. They can help to expand a customer base, increase brand awareness, and can help overall reach and service functionality. 

  • Business & Brand Development Coaching – Help athletes translate their skills into a personal brand and business strategy.
  • Networking & Mentorship Programs – Connect them with successful entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts.
  • Financial Literacy & Investment Guidance – Teach budgeting, investing, and wealth management tailored for athletes.
  • Marketing & Social Media Strategy – Help them maximize their presence and grow their audience authentically.
  • E-Commerce & Product Development – Guide them on launching their own merchandise, training programs, or other business ventures.

The goal is to give them the tools to not just succeed in sports, but beyond it too. Would you like help refining your ideas further?

What other services can I offer to athlete entrepreneurs?

You’ve already got a solid foundation, but here are even more services tailored for athlete entrepreneurs:

  • Legal Support & Contract Assistance – Help them navigate sponsorship deals, business agreements, and intellectual property protection.
  • Event & Speaking Engagement Opportunities – Connect them with chances to share their story, inspire others, and build their personal brand.
  • Business Incubator & Startup Support – Provide resources to launch and scale their ventures, from funding access to operational guidance.
  • Content Creation & Media Training – Teach them how to craft engaging content and handle interviews with confidence.
  • Mental Resilience & Leadership Development – Equip them with mindset training to manage the pressures of entrepreneurship.
  • Sponsorship & Partnership Strategies – Guide them on securing brand deals and building valuable collaborations.
  • Tech & Innovation Integration – Show them how to leverage digital tools, AI, and cutting-edge platforms for business growth.

The goal is to turn their competitive edge into business success. Want help mapping out a full strategy for implementation?

What challenges do athlete entrepreneurs commonly face?

Athlete entrepreneurs often encounter unique hurdles as they transition from sports to business. Here are some of the most common challenges:

  • Time Management – Balancing training, competitions, and business responsibilities can be tough.
  • Financial Stability – Many athletes struggle with inconsistent income streams, making long-term planning difficult.
  • Brand Identity Shift – Moving from being known as an athlete to an entrepreneur requires careful rebranding.
  • Lack of Business Education – Many athletes haven’t been formally trained in entrepreneurship, making strategic decisions harder.
  • Trust & Network Limitations – Finding reliable business partners and navigating unfamiliar industries can be overwhelming.
  • Mental Pressure & Stress – Entrepreneurship comes with risks, and athletes may feel pressure to succeed outside of their sport.
  • Public Perception & Expectations – Fans and sponsors might expect them to stay solely in athletics rather than pursue business ventures.

Helping athletes build business literacy and strong networks can make a huge difference in overcoming these challenges. Would you like to explore solutions tailored for your network?

AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIP 

Affiliate partnerships are ones in which a company receives a fee for referrals from their partner. This payment can be a flat fee or a percentage of the partner’s contract. The details would be outlined in a contract or memorandum of understanding. For example, we typically will provide training and development or consulting services that help organizations with their people, so that they can drive business growth. We teamed up with a tech partner to help amplify the learning and development that we offer to companies. In turn, they refer us to their other clients. For any business that comes through the partnership, we give them a percentage of the sales. They’re also getting branding by being affiliated with us. 

PRODUCT PARTNERSHIP

We partnered with a tech company. We embedded this assessment into our programs in order to enhance our program experience and collect data that supports our program outcomes. 

Another product partnership you might be familiar with is between American Express and Amazon. They teamed up to offer a co-branded credit card for small businesses to use in the marketplace, with point and cash-back benefits for entrepreneurs using Amazon services. 

REFERRAL PARTNERSHIP

The final type of partnership that we’ve found really beneficial is referral partnerships, like the one we have with a professional association. We are one of their go-to partners for talent development and diversity, equity and inclusion solutions for their members. 

Now, this happened organically. The association had seen our work and their members value our offerings. If there is authenticity and alignment, a partnership like this can be incredibly powerful long term in your business. 

AGREE ON YOUR SUCCESS.

Communication is so important to strategic partnerships. We connect with our partners once a month at a minimum, because we want to make sure that we are cross-selling, or marketing additional products to existing customers. We want to make sure we’re sharing what we’re working on and we want to make sure that we’re informed of things happening in their organization.