Shark Tank for student-athletes. Pitch your post-graduation business idea to alumni investors for real seed funding.
The ultimate "Long Game" event—from NIL deals to entrepreneurial career
GamePlan Grant + Mentorship
Real seed funding for the winner
Next Draft Event:
Live-streamed quarterly • Open to all GamePlan NIL athletes
From NIL Incubator to live pitch—the ultimate Long Game pathway
Work with the GamePlan Incubator to refine your post-graduation business idea. Access mentorship, business planning tools, and market research.
Timeline: 2-3 months before Draft
Submit your 2-minute pitch video and executive summary. Our selection committee reviews all applications.
Selection Rate: Top 8-10 finalists chosen per quarter
Selected finalists get 1-on-1 coaching from alumni investors to refine pitch, financials, and presentation skills.
Includes: 3 coaching sessions + pitch deck review
8-minute live pitch to alumni investor panel. Streamed to entire GamePlan community. Winner gets $25K + mentorship.
Prize: $25,000 GamePlan Grant + 6 months mentorship
Former D1 Football
VC Partner • $50M Fund
Former D1 Soccer
Angel Investor • Tech
Former D1 Basketball
CEO • SaaS Startup
Former D1 Baseball
Real Estate Dev
Former D1 Track
CPG Brand Founder
All judges are former student-athletes from the GamePlan Alumni Network
Founder: Marcus J. • Former D1 Football • University State
Personalized nutrition app for college athletes using AI meal planning. Secured $25K grant + additional $75K from judge angels.
"The Draft gave me the credibility and capital to launch. Within 6 months we had paying customers across 12 campuses."
Founder: Sarah W. • Former D1 Basketball • Tech University
Sustainable athleisure brand made from recycled materials. Direct-to-consumer model targeting Gen Z athletes.
"Winning The Draft connected me with mentors who understood the athlete mindset. We're now in talks with major retailers."
Only platform creating direct path from NIL deals → post-grad entrepreneurship
Not just exposure—$25K grants + follow-on investment from alumni network
Judges are former athletes who've built successful businesses—they get it
Applications for Q1 2025 Draft are now open. Limited to 10 finalists.
Application deadline: 30 days before each quarterly Draft event