Episode #238: Brian Zwerner Part 2
Brian Zwerner — Beyond The Game Network: Turning Pro Athletes into Startup Powerhouses Brian Zwerner is an investor and advisor in sports, media, web3, and fitness — and the founder of Beyond The Game Network in Atlanta. After two decades in capital markets and a successful fintech exit, Brian pivoted to startups, media, and athlete-led venture building. His story is a playbook for pairing hard-won finance chops with the grit and mindset of professional athletes. From Wharton to investment banking to founding Sportal, Brian’s journey shows how to spot real problems, pivot fast, and build communities that create outsized opportunity. Today, he and his partners back companies where athletes can move the needle through credibility, access, and content — not just capital. Key Takeaways: Web3 adoption curve: Of 20 portfolio companies, only 2 had a web3 plan at investment—now 9 do. Momentum is real and accelerating. NFTs rebranded: Think digital collectibles/passes/memberships, not hype art drops. Used well, they bring fans closer to your business. Enterprise validation: The NBA’s Top Shot surpassed $1B in 18 months; Nike acquired RTFKT; Adidas partnered in the space—signal, not noise. Fitness “move-to-earn”: Tokens/NFTs as behavioral incentives will mature beyond early missteps (e.g., StepN), solving churn and habit-building. Metaverse reality check: VR/AR is progressing (Quest headsets, Roblox, Fortnite), but mass-scale “Ready Player One” is years away—expect steady, practical steps. Catch the full story on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EofDt8qXx9w Memorable Quote: “I see the tip of the spear of these amazing tech startups… and I just believe it—deep in my bones—that it’s coming.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Brian Linkedin Globe
Episode #134: BigByte Insights – Shahzeb
Shahzeb Sheikh of BigByte Insights: Turning Real Estate Data into Predictive Power Meet Shahzeb Sheikh, founder of BigByte Insights, a tech-savvy entrepreneur revolutionizing how investors make decisions in the real estate space. With a background that blends computer science, finance, and data science, Shahzeb is creating next-gen analytics platforms for stock market investors, REIT analysts, and crypto/NFT enthusiasts. Shahzeb’s journey from the corporate finance world to launching BigByte Insights is a masterclass in using technical skills and curiosity to build a business that’s shaping the future of real estate and beyond. Top 5 Takeaways from Episode 134: BigByte Insights predicts REIT earnings using web-scraped data and machine learning, giving stock investors an edge before earnings are reported. His NFT project “Ugly Monkey” offers real utility—exclusive access to two powerful data platforms: IntelStocks.ai and CoinAlgo.com. He’s building sentiment analysis tools that scan Reddit and Discord communities to track market trends and alpha in both stocks and crypto. Shahzeb’s journey began in his living room, running four CPUs and web-scraping real estate pricing trends—proof you don’t need a big office to build a big idea. He believes the metaverse is the next internet, and the businesses that prepare now will be the Amazons and Googles of tomorrow. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djWNscF-UqU Memorable Quote: “It’s not just what you know—it’s who you know. And the more diverse your network, the more you’ll learn.” — Shahzeb Sheikh Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Shahzeb Facebook Linkedin