Andrew Petcash

St. Petersburg, FL, USA

Founder at Profluence

Founder and GP @ProfluenceCo Building the future of sports media & venture.

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Articles

What Investors Are Looking for in Sports

3 weeks ago | profluence.com | Andrew Petcash

We’ve had dozens of top sports investors on the podcast…However, many of them respond with cryptic messages about what they’re looking for (and rightfully so). To provide the best info possible for Profluence members…I asked investors in anonymity what they are REALLY looking for. This is a gold mine👇One of the most prominent sports VCs sent me this. We are looking for the following in SportsTech:1.
The New Arms Race in Sports: Education x AI

1 month ago | profluence.com | Andrew Petcash

It might feel cliché to say it, but education is the ultimate low-hanging fruit of AI. Why? Because 1:1 tutoring (or in the context of sports, 1:1 training) has always been the gold standard. Now imagine that tutoring/coaching is:SuperintelligentAvailable 24/7 for a low costPersonalized to your learning styleContinuously improving based on your behaviorThat’s not coming…it’s already here. And it’s going to have a MAJOR impact on sports (especially downstream).
Sports is Getting Financialized (and Where Alpha Still Exists)

1 month ago | profluence.com | Andrew Petcash

The sports capital floodgates are OPEN. In the past few weeks, we’ve seen a surge of announcements that would’ve felt unthinkable just a few years ago. Here’s what’s hit the wire:Mark Cuban unveiled a $750 million sports fund. Dave Checketts, former MSG Sports CEO, announced a $1.2 billion fund for sports-related investments (podcast here)Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz, launched a $1 billion fund targeting sports and entertainment.
DICK'S Sporting Goods (and the Great Verticalization of Sports)

1 month ago | petcashpost.com | Andrew Petcash

Happy Thursday, and I appreciate everyone showing up to read this insightful piece. Here are a few updates:Congrats to Profluence member Brian Hough, who secured his pre-seed round with another Profluence member, Simon Sokol of Relay Ventures. We have hit 800 members on the platform. We’re running a member-only event in NYC on June 3rd (info to be shared via the app)Join Profluence today and start experiencing wins like Brian:Now to today’s piece 👇It started as a bait-and-tackle shop. Now?
SportsTech Stays Hot: Reviewing Final Numbers from 2024

1 month ago | profluence.com | Andrew Petcash

Two new SportsTech reports recently came out. I spent hours dissecting them, so you don’t have to. If there’s anything I’ve come to learn in sports…This is an AMAZING time to be building in the industry. Let’s Dive In 👇Tracxn has some interesting data that has internally sparked a lot of debate. They have over 20,000 sports companies listed (with roughly ~15% of them funded).
The WWE-ification of Entertainment

2 months ago | profluence.com | Andrew Petcash

After watching NFL punter-turned-popular-sports-media-personality Pat McAfee get choked out on Netflix’s Monday Night Raw…I’m convinced the entire world is starting to resemble a WWE storyline. And probably because it is:Politicians going on comedian podcasts. TikTok pranksters launching 8-figure CPG brands. 10% of U.S. women aged 18–24 now on OnlyFans. New sports leagues and investment funds popping up weekly. Creators having more cultural weight than Holleywood celebs.
Growth Stage Funds Entering Sports At Record Rates

2 months ago | profluence.com | Andrew Petcash

Sports used to be a trophy asset — now it’s a growth asset focused on monetization, operating leverage, and exit potential. In the last 12 months alone, we’ve seen new growth funds emerge and big private equity players launch sports verticals:Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz, launched Halo Experience, aiming to raise $1B+ for sports and adjacent investments. Norwest Venture Partners (backers of Uber, Calm, & Opendoor) joined a $300M round in Playfly Sports, and is interested in doing more deals.
Picks & Shovels Sports Companies

2 months ago | profluence.com | Andrew Petcash

Every day, there seems to be a launch of a new sports league. And while a handful will go on to succeed…This has attracted builders who see the need to help support them with technology. Pick-and-shovel companies will breed massive wins in sports. Let’s Dive In 👇The idea of “picks and shovels” comes from the California Gold Rush in the 1800s. Thousands of people rushed west to dig for gold. A few struck it rich. Most walked away with nothing. But the real winners?
Sports Franchises: The Hottest Asset Class in the World

2 months ago | profluence.com | Andrew Petcash

Team values are at all-time highs across traditional sports leagues (e.g., the Boston Celtics sold for $6.1 billion). And with private equity now entering the space — the momentum behind franchise values won’t be slowing down anytime soon. Here is a fascinating chart showcasing sports teams vs the S&P 500:Today, we’ll explore what’s driving this appreciation, where the space is headed, and some more data-driven insights.
The Economics of Sports Events: A $958B Industry Breakdown

Mar 26, 2025 | profluence.com | Andrew Petcash

This is pretty wild…Sports now make up 1/4th of the entire global events market. Let that sink in. Here’s the breakdown:Global Events Market = $958 Billion𝟮𝟴%: Business Events𝟮𝟰%: Sports𝟭𝟴%: Music Concerts𝟭𝟱%: Conferences𝟭𝟬%: Festivals𝟬𝟱%: OthersSo where does the revenue come from? • Sponsorships ($441B)• Ticketing ($325B)• Other ($192B)Today, we’re diving deep into this growing space — and spotlighting a company that’s quietly capturing the upside.