Autograph by Tom Brady
3 minute read · Issue Number 106 · February 4th, 2022
Tom Brady, the GOAT – greatest NFL player of all-time – retired from the NFL this week.
After 22 widely successful seasons and absolutely nothing left to prove on the playing field, Tom is ready for his next challenge.
What do great players do after they excel in their sport? They find new mountains to conquer – usually in the world of business and technology.
Amongst many ventures, Brady already owns a wellness coaching firm, an apparel company, and a content production company.
His most exciting venture for me is the blockchain-powered company Autograph, which he launched in 2021 in Los Angeles.
Autograph is a platform based on the Polygon blockchain that brings together some of the biggest names in sports, entertainment, fashion, and pop culture to create and sell unique digital collectible experiences as non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
They’ve already partnered with huge superstars like Tony Hawk, Tiger Woods, Usain Bolt, The Weeknd, Simone Biles, Wayne Gretzky, and others in less than a year.
The best part?
They’re starting with celebrities, but the platform aims to support talented creators at every stage of development.
The platform pretty much works like NBA Top Shot – where they auction and sell the NFTs every time a new collection comes out.
Autograph’s traction is unbelievable – but you wouldn’t expect anything less from the GOAT:
It took just 10 minutes for a whole collection of 16,600 NFTs to sell out, which grossed around $1.3 million in total sales.
So far, they’ve sold +100,000 NFTs (prices ranging from $12 to $1,500 each)
It feels like the company is taking off, as they recently raised $170 million from huge venture capital firms Andreessen Horowitz and Kleiner Perkins:
The Bottom Line
Like Michael Jordan through the Jordan brand and Alex Rodriguez through investments in technology and real estate, Brady seems ready to carry that winning mindset outside the sport.
Brady earned more money in the NFL than any other player ever has, but him riding the NFTs wave, entering the metaverse, and building tools to support creators may be signs of what the GOAT expects from the future. So maybe we should pay attention!
🔗 Learn More about NFTs in Sports
NFTs and a Thousand True Fans by Chris Dixon
How to buy Tom Brady’s NFTs? – Learn more about the platform, its dedicated marketplace, and how to get involved.
Unlocking Web3 in Sports – a massive Halftime Snacks episode with Matt Wurst - CMO of Mint.
🎙 Halftime Snacks Podcast
The Transformation of High School Athletics
Cole’s the CEO & Founder of Snap! Mobile – a platform that aims to improve the fundraising process for educational programs and youth sports teams.
During our quick chat, Cole shared stories from being a pro athlete and an entrepreneur in sports; we learned how Snap! ’s brand went from idea to product to monetization. And we ended up discussing verticals, trends, and technologies relevant to Snap! ’s future.
Listen on Apple | Spotify | Google
Follow the Halftime Snacks on Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn
Apply to be a guest on the Halftime Snacks Podcast here.