#Japan #Tokyo #Sports Innovation #MEDIA INCUBATE #Athlete Career JV

Unleashing Athlete Potential: The Athlete Career JV

In an exciting development for athletes and sports brands, Media Incubate has unveiled a new initiative called the "Athlete Career JV". This program focuses on leveraging the unique assets of athletes, including their competitive experience, brand power, and fan communities, to create joint ventures (JVs) with businesses and investors. With an aim to support athletes in transforming their careers post-sports, the initiative also addresses broader societal challenges in athlete career transitions.

The Rationale Behind the Program

In Japan, the creation of second careers for athletes remains a pressing issue. Despite the valuable skills, resilience, and deep connections they have built over years of competition, many athletes lack the opportunities and support systems necessary to turn these assets into business value. At the same time, companies are increasingly interested in tapping into the potential of sports to drive new business ventures and branding strategies. However, traditional partnerships often fail to fully harness an athlete’s true value, making it essential to create a framework that goes beyond mere advertisement.

The Athlete Career JV aims to reposition athletes not just as endorsers, but as co-founders of businesses, thus facilitating sustainable value creation.

Unique Features and Strengths of Athlete Career JV

A standout feature of the Athlete Career JV program is its use of Media Incubate’s extensive media support experience and a robust network of over 100 experts through initiatives like the "Future Project" and the business community "MIE". This wealth of resources is designed to connect athletes with companies and investors, ensuring optimal matches for sustainable business creation.

Designed as an open co-creation framework, the program invites athletes at all stages of their careers – both current competitors and retirees – to participate. By harnessing their passion and skills, the initiative aims to link athletes’ experiences with solutions to societal issues while driving business growth.

Three Phases of Implementation

The Athlete Career JV unfolds in three distinct phases:

1. Asset Visualization: This phase focuses on identifying the assets athletes possess, such as competitive history, social media influence, networks, and brand value, using the "JV Asset Mapping" service. This often reveals previously unrecognized value.

2. JV Design: In this stage, discussions with businesses and investors take place to establish the optimal business model, including investment ratios, role delineations, decision-making processes, and profit-sharing frameworks that will sustain the partnership.

3. Proof of Concept (PoC) and Commercialization: This phase utilizes AI technology from "AIBizImpact" for market validation, MVP development, and leveraging the media network for promotional efforts, thus supporting the realization of business ventures. Additionally, the "JV Impact Lab" fosters cross-industry connections to accelerate growth.

Expected Outcomes for Participants

Athletes who join the program can look forward to not just immediate rewards, but also long-term returns from joint venture stakes. This setup allows for ongoing revenue generation as businesses expand, enabling athletes to attain new heights beyond their sporting endeavors. Furthermore, participants will gain invaluable skills in business management, which could prove beneficial if they choose to start their own ventures in the future.

For companies, collaborating with athletes presents opportunities for enhanced branding, effective engagement with sports fans, and shared risk through joint ventures. The unique networks and problem-solving capabilities that athletes possess can significantly contribute to business success.

Investors, on the other hand, are presented with attractive investment opportunities that balance social impact and financial returns, aligning with ESG investment principles. The rapid growth expected from athlete-led enterprises offers a distinctive appeal different from traditional investment avenues.

Diverse Business Horizons

The program anticipates initiatives across various sectors including:

• - Sports Technology and Healthcare: Directly leveraging athletes’ insights and expertise.
• - Community Development and Sports Tourism: Harnessing athletes' popularity for local engagements.
• - Education and Coaching Platforms: Addressing societal needs for nurturing the next generation.
• - Fan Community Business Models: Innovating new business opportunities based on existing fan bases.
• - Product and Service Development for Performance Enhancement: Leveraging athletes' first-hand experiences to inform compelling offerings.

How to Get Involved

For those interested in the Athlete Career JV, Media Incubate welcomes inquiries. Following an initial contact, an individual meeting will be arranged to provide details and gather insights. The process will then lead to matching and business discussions, ultimately culminating in forming joint ventures.

The program is open for applications from athletes – whether active or contemplating their second career – and any companies or investors intrigued by the sports business. Media Incubate looks forward to connecting with a wide array of participants in this new venture.

Contact Information

To learn more about the Athlete Career JV, please reach out to:
Masaki Hamasaki, CEO, Media Incubate
Email: [email protected]
LINE: Contact Line

In a closing statement, Masaki Hamasaki shares, “I believe that the skills and passion athletes cultivate through their competitive journeys can significantly impact the next generation of industries. By blooming in the business arena, athletes can not only extend their legacy but also bring transformative influences to society.”

Company Overview

• - Name: Media Incubate, Inc.
• - Founded: March 30, 2016
• - CEO: Masaki Hamasaki
• - Location: 3-4-1 Ichigaya Sunatoharacho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
• - Business: Joint venture creation support, AI consultancy, M&A buyer support, media for investors, executive community management, future project promotion
• - Website: Media Incubate