Starting a Business in Sport 

Launching a business can be a very daunting prospect, especially in the world of sports. 

That said, it’s also a very exciting opportunity, and far from an impossible task.  

Our most recent GIS Insight Series session saw host Lynsey Hooper catch up with four entrepreneurs who shared their experience and advice with GIS students and alumni.  

One of these entrepreneurs is ex-GIS student, Edem Spio. 

Having studied our International Sports Management degree, Edem is the co-host of the Africa Business of Sport podcast, one of the biggest in Africa.  

Edem shared that he started the podcast the day before submitting his final project with GIS and highlighted the importance of leveraging the people around you when starting a business.

“The good thing I found about being able to do this journey early on was the value of the network I built.  

“Being a GIS alumnus, I had access to top people in the industry, and by getting to know them, they get saw what my passions are, what my skills are, and how I understand the“Being a GIS alumnus, I had access to top people in the industry, and by getting to know them, they saw my passions, skills, and understanding of the industry.”

Starting early, as Edem emphasised, was a recurring theme throughout the session. Right to Dream academy founder Tom Vernon said that starting early was a vital reason for his success. 

“The biggest advantage was that I started when I was 19”, he explained. “I’m often contacted by people who are inspired by Right to Dream who want to start academies in their mid-thirties.  

“I tell them, ‘You’re going to be 45 before you realise whether this is going to work out or not’… so my advice is: don’t wait. Start early.” 

Starting your business as soon as possible allows you to fully commit to it. it. Reflecting on his journey, Tom said that starting young was key to his success because he could “stick at it for a long time when no one believed in us.”

Tom elaborated further, advising that the best time to launch a business is “when you have no responsibilities.”

Being very open with Lynsey, Tom told the panel, “The fewer responsibilities you have, the easier it is. Starting your own business is absolutely horrendous; you’re going to feel more insecure than you could ever imagine, and you’ll be absolutely convinced that you’re not good enough to do it.  

“It’s not for everybody, but giving it a go when you’re young is the best thing to do.” 

As daunting as starting a business can be, Tom’s experience shows that even the most successful business owners share the same feelings any prospective entrepreneur may have. 

The perseverance required to navigate these early stages was a point UCFB alumnus Thomas Freismuth. Thomas Freismuth also discussed. Having started his own football agency, Thomas reflected on his journey.

“I’ve been doing this for five years, the first three are the toughest”, he said. 

“It’s a process that never stops, so you can always try to improve.” And Improve is what he did- Thomas’ agency, GROW, now manages players and coaches across seven different countries.  

One piece of advice Thomas gave was the ability to learn quickly, a sentiment another panellist Abiola Ijasanmi, fully agreed with.

Abiola, the first woman to hold the position of Chief Operating Officer at the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is now an investor in women’s sports in Africa. She described how embracing a fast-learning mindset has helped her in this new venture.

“Venture capital is a totally new area for me, so I’m learning everything. The great thing for me, as with most entrepreneurs, is that I’m not fazed by that. It’s just another thing I have to learn about which I’m enjoying.” 

Towards the end of the session, Lynsey asked the panel to provide one piece of advice that they would give to start up businesses. Thomas highlighted the importance of a clear vision.

“You need a clear vision of what you want to achieve and how. Don’t focus too much on competitors. Football is a very competitive industry, but if you’re stuck on what others are doing, you’ll lose your way.” 

Abiola offered reassurance to anyone worried about starting their entrepreneurial journey, saying, “Don’t be afraid. We all live and learn as we go along.

“I think it’s about taking that leap of faith and going for it.”

If you’re interested in starting your journey with a course at GIS, click here to find out what we have on offer. 

Article by Zakaria Anani