Episode #13 - Three Breakthroughs: College Sports Turn Pro, Miles Per Gallon, and Ethereum ETFs
Tech Optimist Podcast — Tech, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation
Join Alumni Ventures’ Mike Collins and Drew Wandzilak on the Tech Optimist podcast as they discuss three breakthroughs. First, they explore the new compensation model for NCAA athletes, which promises to transform collegiate sports. Next, they debate the relevance of the ‘miles per gallon’ standard in today’s push for greater fuel efficiency. Finally, they delve into the world of finance with the emergence of Ethereum ETFs, marking a significant step towards cryptocurrency acceptance in mainstream investment. Tune in to discover how these innovations are shaping the future.
Episode #13: Three Breakthroughs
College Sports Turn Pro, Miles Per Gallon Becomes Outdated, and Ethereum ETFs
See video policy below.
In this episode, we explore:
- New Compensation Model for NCAA Athletes: They explore how this model promises to transform collegiate sports.
- Relevance of the ‘Miles per Gallon’ Standard: They debate its relevance in today’s push for greater fuel efficiency.
- Emergence of Ethereum ETFs: They delve into the world of finance with this significant step towards cryptocurrency acceptance in mainstream investment.
Watch Time ~27 minutes
The show is produced by Alumni Ventures, which has been recognized as a “Top 20 Venture Firm” by CB Insights (’24) and as the “#1 Most Active Venture Firm in the US” by Pitchbook (’22 & ’23).
READ THE FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Creators and Guests
HOST
Mike Collins
CEO, and Co-Founder at Alumni Ventures
Mike has been involved in almost every facet of venturing, from angel investing to venture capital, new business and product launches, and innovation consulting. He is currently CEO of Alumni Ventures Group, the managing company for our fund, and launched AV’s first alumni fund, Green D Ventures, where he oversaw the portfolio as Managing Partner and is now Managing Partner Emeritus. Mike is a serial entrepreneur who has started multiple companies, including Kid Galaxy, Big Idea Group (partially owned by WPP), and RDM. He began his career at VC firm TA Associates. He holds an undergraduate degree in Engineering Science from Dartmouth and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
GUEST
Drew Wandzilak
Senior Associate, Alumni Ventures
Drew has worked in high-growth industries as both an investor and operator, focusing on how people and technology interact within organizations. His venture experience began at AV’s Seed Fund, identifying and supporting early stage founders across a variety of industries. This experience led him to join Holistic Industries, a leading private multi-state operator of cannabis cultivation facilities and dispensaries, where he focused on business intelligence, corporate development, and M&A. Prior to rejoining AV, he worked with the founding team of Mirage, an NFT marketplace and view layer for augmented reality assets. Drew has a BS from Northwestern University in Education and Social Policy with concentrations in Learning & Organizational Change and Entrepreneurship. He is also an ambassador of Northwestern’s Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and a member of Chicago Inno’s 25 under 25.
To Learn More
Click the logos below for more information.
Important Disclosure Information
The Tech Optimist Podcast is for informational purposes only. It is not personalized advice and is neither an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any security. Such offers are made only to eligible investors, pursuant to the formal offering documents of appropriate investment funds. Please consult with your advisors before making any investment with Alumni Ventures. For more information, please see here.
One or more investment funds affiliated with AV may have invested, or may in the future invest, in some of the companies featured on the Podcast. This circumstance constitutes a conflict of interest. Any testimonials or endorsements regarding AV on the Podcast are made without compensation but the providers may in some cases have a relationship with AV from which they benefit. All views expressed on the Podcast are the speaker’s own. Any testimonials or endorsements expressed on the Podcast do not represent the experience of all investors or companies with which AV invests or does business.
The Podcast includes forward-looking statements, generally consisting of any statement pertaining to any issue other than historical fact, including without limitation predictions, financial projections, the anticipated results of the execution of any plan or strategy, the expectation or belief of the speaker, or other events or circumstances to exist in the future. Forward looking statements are not representations of actual fact, depend on certain assumptions that may not be realized, and are not guaranteed to occur. Any forward- looking statements included in this communication speak only as of the date of the communication. AV and its affiliates disclaim any obligation to update, amend, or alter such forward-looking statements whether due to subsequent events, new information, or otherwise.