Entrepreneurship and wealth building

NFL Player Raising $10M and Creating 200+ Jobs: Walter's Story

NFL Player: Creating 200+ Jobs & Raising $10M | Pro Athlete Interview Series Ep. 12

Founders, former athletes and early stage entrepreneurs who want to hear how one operator approaches a Series A raise, partner risk and resilience.

What to take from this talk

1. Play for a purpose beyond yourself. Walter says his reason for playing was a team goal instead of a personal goal. He believes this made him less likely to quit.
2. Vet partners before committing money. Walter put six figures into a partnership after his playing career. He says it did not work out the way he hoped. He chose not to say more, but he named it as his costliest financial mistake.
3. Focus on what you can control. After being cut multiple times as a bottom roster player, Walter learned resilience. He says life is 10% what happens and 90% how you respond.
4. Learn outside your comfort zone. Walter says his biggest fear as a former player was not knowing what came next. That pushed him to learn who he was outside the helmet and become a lifelong learner. He also urges collaborating with people who are not like you.
5. Tie the raise to a clear problem. Walter says his company is seeking about $10 million in growth funding while pursuing another fintech platform. He points to two problems it targets. By his figures, 80% of capital needs for black and brown entrepreneurs go unmet each year, which he puts at $146 million annually, and 45% of African-American young men ages 18 to 24 are not in school or working. These are his estimates and were not independently verified.

What you will hear

Walter played two years in the NFL for the Eagles, Colts, Bengals and Bills. He is now building a fintech platform called our share with a high school friend. The platform helps assess entrepreneurs fairly using real time data. Walter says the company is exploring a deal to add another fintech platform for its blockchain and AI technology and is seeking about $10 million in growth funding.

Walter also describes a costly partnership. After his playing days he put six figures into a partnership, and he says it did not work out the way he hoped. He ties his approach to resilience from being cut several times. He also runs a Chicago nonprofit focused on youth leadership, entrepreneurship and workforce development, which he says has added 200 plus jobs.

Facts from this talk

• Walter played two years in the NFL for the Eagles, Colts, Bengals and Bills.
• He says his company is seeking about $10 million in growth funding while pursuing another fintech platform.
• He says his Chicago nonprofit has added 200 plus jobs and joined the Obama Foundation My Brother's Keeper initiative.

General education only. Not legal, tax or investment advice.

Talk to a securities attorney to explore options around offering documents, partnership agreements and acquisition deal structure. Do not use AI to write your own legal agreements.

Quotes from the session

Related questions

• How do I close a funding round?I close a funding round by focusing on investors who fit the opportunity and moving each interested prospect through clear, consistent follow-up.
• What documents do investors request during due diligence?Prepare a clear, organized package covering your operations, investments, compensation, team, and track record.
• How do I raise capital for my business?I raise capital by building a repeatable system for attracting the right investors, establishing credibility, and developing relationships before asking for money.

Questions about this video

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