Grandstand: Empowering Athletes in the Evolving Creator Economy.

In the ever-expanding landscape of the creator economy, which has already amassed a staggering $250 billion in value according to Goldman Sachs analysts, Grandstand is paving the way for college and professional athletes to dive into this thriving arena. This athlete-centric empowerment startup recently secured $2.75 million in funding through a round led by Will Ventures, and their vision revolves around launching an innovative app that offers fans the opportunity to closely follow and financially support their cherished players.

Ben Gardner, partner at Will Ventures and a former NFL player, emphasized the need for tailored digital tools to empower today's athletes who have evolved into compelling storytellers and entrepreneurs. He underlined the significance of Grandstand's approach, stating, "Grandstand finally gives athletes an interactive opportunity to provide their most engaged fans with a front-row, all-access pass across every step of their journey and unlock a massive new revenue stream in doing so."

In the initial stages of its development, Grandstand will collaborate with James Nicholas, a professional golfer and Yale University graduate boasting over 100,000 Instagram followers. Invited users will enjoy complimentary access to updates on Nicholas within the Grandstand app, while certain exclusive content such as posts and Q&A sessions will be available behind an athlete-specific paywall. Furthermore, athletes on the platform can explore merchandise and event opportunities, with Grandstand taking a percentage of the revenue generated through its app. In a unique twist, they are also extending equity in the company to athletes who actively participate.

Grandstand's CEO, Sandeep Rajan, said, "Athletes have some of the most loyal and passionate fan bases in the world but have not yet benefited from many of the tools and technologies that have unlocked creator freedom and monetization over the recent years. We believe that by applying the best of these ideas in a way that’s unique to athletes and their biggest fans, we can unleash a new era of true fandom in sports in a way that uplifts and unites athletes and their communities."

Grandstand is poised to revolutionize the way athletes and fans engage and thrive in the evolving landscape of the creator economy.