SE Valley Times

Arizona State University and GoDaddy have collaborated to launch a groundbreaking initiative, the Student Athlete Venture Studio. This program is designed to empower college athletes beyond their sports careers by providing them with the necessary tools, mentorship, and resources to develop and grow business ventures.

Involving the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at ASU, GoDaddy, and Sun Devil Athletics, this collaboration combines ASU's entrepreneurial resources with GoDaddy's digital expertise. Jeff Kunowski, associate director of innovation programs at the Edson E+I Institute, emphasized the program's goal of enabling athletes to become entrepreneurs. "The Student Athlete Venture Studio enables collegiate athletes to become entrepreneurs and provides a proactive approach to navigating NIL successfully," he stated.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2021 ruling, student-athletes have been navigating the newly available landscape of financial benefits from their name, image, and likeness without penalties from the NCAA. Thus, the initiative aims to assist athletes in understanding and leveraging these opportunities.

Student-athletes in the program will receive both online and in-person educational content and opportunities for grant funding. They will also have access to a collaborative working space at Mountain America Stadium, convenient due to its proximity to Sun Devil Athletics facilities.

As part of its involvement, GoDaddy will provide over 650 student-athletes with free access to digital branding tools, including GoDaddy Airo, the company's AI-driven online presence solution. Jared Sine, chief strategy and legal officer at GoDaddy, remarked on the potential synergy, stating, "We’re thrilled to combine the business-building power of GoDaddy Airo with the drive and immense potential of these enterprising student-athletes."

The program was inspired by a collaboration between Kunowski and Kate Fitzgerald, a former ASU women's beach volleyball player. Fitzgerald, who launched her brand VBAmerica, shared, "NIL regulations and ASU’s innovative resources allowed me to launch VBAmerica and build opportunities for life after sport." She further emphasized the studio's mission to empower athletes through NIL and entrepreneurship.

Participants of the program will present their venture ideas for seed funding during an annual Demo Day. This initiative is set to pave the way for college athletes aiming to extend their skills beyond sports.