Podcast #6 | NIL Boom: How This Creighton Student Built a Sports Marketing Agency in 8 Weeks скачать в хорошем качестве

Podcast #6 | NIL Boom: How This Creighton Student Built a Sports Marketing Agency in 8 Weeks

In this episode, I sit down with Val Shafak, the founder of NIYOU, an Omaha-based sports marketing company bridging the gap between collegiate athletes and major brands. Val shares the incredible story of how NIYOU was born out of an entrepreneurship class at Creighton University, moving from a concept to a live pitch in just eight weeks. He dives deep into the realities of the "NIL boom," detailing his first major wins with brands like Raising Cane’s and Nissan, and how he navigated the "year of doom" and the "valley of death" that every entrepreneur eventually faces. Whether you are a sports fan, an aspiring entrepreneur, or interested in the future of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations, this episode offers a raw and insightful look at building a business from the ground up in the Midwest. Connect with Val Shafack: LinkedIn:   / valery-shafack   Website: https://ni-you.com/ Timecodes 00:00 – Cold Open: Defining "True NIL" and initial brand wins 00:30 – Introduction to Val Shafak and NIU 01:10 – The 8-week challenge: Building a company in a Creighton classroom 02:15 – Notable athletes and brands (Creighton, Huskers, Nissan, Cane's) 03:05 – What is NIL? Endorsements vs. "Pay for Play" 04:15 – The assessment: Why Val was cast as a "Conductor" 06:16 – Facing the "Valley of Death": The year of doom and entrepreneur struggle 08:00 – The Raising Cane’s Story: From a cold email to a 24-hour close 09:55 – Partnering with Nissan and Creighton Athletics 11:10 – Team evolution: From co-founders to sole ownership 15:09 – Navigating legal regulations and compliance in sports 16:45 – The loneliness of entrepreneurship and finding community 19:08 – The future of NIL and university-led compensation 20:21 – Vision for growth: Expanding to San Francisco and New York 21:40 – Omaha inspirations: Noddle Companies and local mentors 14:35 – Overcoming the loneliness of entrepreneurship 16:15 – The future of NIL and university-led compensation 17:30 – Vision for the future: Expansion to San Francisco and New York 21:10 – Omaha inspirations: Noddle Companies and local mentors