Episode #238: Brian Zwerner
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: Fintech to founder: Built Aquina Health, a tech-enabled lender serving doctors and healthcare providers waiting 30–90 days on reimbursements; scaled and sold to a strategic. Pivot with purpose: Launched Sportal Space (the “OpenTable for gyms/fields”), hit school-district roadblocks, then pivoted to a high school sports media and live-streaming business. Loved by the community, tough to monetize — and ultimately shut down. Birth of Beyond The Game: Partnered with former NFL DT Andre Fluellen to help athletes find second careers and equity opportunities in startups without writing big checks. Influence over income: Their model lets athletes earn sweat equity as brand ambassadors, creators, and door-openers to leagues, teams, and media groups — while business/tech investors fund the rounds. Wild bets that fit: Fan Controlled Football — seven-on-seven arena football where fans pick plays live — exemplifies their “entertainment + athlete edge” thesis, alongside bets in gaming, fantasy, wearables, and web3. Catch the full story on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLRbyYw08gw Memorable Quote: “Athletes make the best entrepreneurs.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Brian Linkedin Globe
Episode #226: Monika Shah – Small Packages
Monika Shah, Small Packages — Turning Thoughtful Gifting into a Relationship Engine Monika Shah is the CEO and co-founder of Small Packages, a curated gifting company built to help people connect when they can’t be together in person. She joined co-founder Julie at the start of COVID, fell in love with the mission, and now leads the build of Present, an app designed to help you remember important moments, nudge consistent check-ins, and make it effortless to show up for the people who matter. From negotiating sweat-equity partnerships to shipping nationwide (and into the UK), Monika shares the playbook for growing a modern gifting brand that’s really about relationship health and retention—not one-and-done transactions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpR9iIvDltE 5 Key Takeaways from this Episode: Sweat equity done right: If you join as a partner, negotiate a clear vesting/milestone schedule up front—trust plus structure protects everyone. From CPG to startup exits: Monika was the first hire at a startup that later sold to SC Johnson, giving her end-to-end perspective on building, scaling, and exiting. Gifting as strategy, not swag: Small Packages pairs curated boxes with handwritten notes and corporate-friendly workflows to open doors and deepen relationships. Present app = retention engine: In beta, Present reminds you about birthdays, anniversaries, and “it’s been a while” check-ins, offers call prompts, and logs touchpoints—plus a gift marketplace beyond boxes. Fast growth, smart expansion: Small Packages ships across the U.S. and has opened gifting to the UK; the business crossed $1M revenue in ~3 years by pairing physical product with tech-driven service. Watch the full interview now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpR9iIvDltE Memorable Quote: “We want you to be present in your relationships.” — Monika Shah Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now