Where Athletes & Enterprises
Build Equity Together
A national platform that transforms professional athletes into business owners, investors, and strategic partners with Black-owned enterprises.
Built for Legacy,
Not Just Business
The Athlete & Enterprise Exchange (The Exchange) is a multi-city platform that equips professional athletes and entrepreneurs to build sustainable ownership, scalable businesses, and long-term legacy.
Through structured education, curated matchmaking, and live engagement, the Exchange helps participants navigate complex financial ecosystems, foster valuable partnerships, and enhance collaboration opportunities with banks, lenders, investors, and institutional partners.
Core focus areas include financial literacy, fraud prevention and compliance, entrepreneurial readiness, and capital access.
The Exchange connects professional athletes with vetted, high-performing businesses through a structured, risk-managed ecosystem. We prepare athletes for ownership and investment, while giving entrepreneurs access to capital, partnerships, and growth opportunities—so both sides can build long-term wealth together.
Three Pillars of The Exchange
A proven pathway from first education session to real deals — structured, supportive, and intentional at every stage.
Education & Coaching
Athletes are introduced to the realities of business ownership beyond endorsements and passive income. The curriculum covers owner mindset, business models, financial statements, valuation, risk, legal structures, due diligence, ethics, and brand alignment — equipping them with confidence, clarity, and discernment to engage responsibly.
Business owners gain exposure to structuring for partnership, financial readiness, governance, strategic collaboration models, and long-term growth — positioning them to engage in high-level relationships while protecting the integrity of their businesses.
Curated Relationships
The Exchange facilitates intentional, high-quality connections between Professional Athlete Partners (PAPs) and qualified business owners — not mass cohorts or open pitch cycles. These curated interactions may lead to strategic advisory roles, brand-aligned partnerships, ownership or co-ownership discussions, and long-term growth collaboration. Every interaction prioritizes fit, shared values, and informed decision-making.
Certification & Oversight
The Exchange includes a structured education and certification process ensuring all participants engage from a baseline of understanding, accountability, and shared expectations. This framework supports responsible matchmaking, reduces risk, and reinforces trust across the ecosystem. Participation does not guarantee funding, investment, or partnerships — the program's role is to prepare, protect, and position participants.
The Athlete Curriculum
Nine modules designed to equip professional athletes with the knowledge, discernment, and frameworks needed to engage responsibly in ownership, investment, and strategic partnerships.
Also Designed for NIL Athletes
Today’s college athletes are earning real money — signing brand deals, building audiences, and managing income years before turning pro. But 61% struggle to navigate their deals, and exploitation by unregulated agents is rising. The Exchange provides NIL earners with the same financial literacy foundation, governance framework, and protective ecosystem that professional athletes rely on — so they enter professional sports already prepared.
Transitioning from Athlete to Entrepreneur & Owner Mindset
Understand the fundamental shift from player to owner — and what it takes to lead a business with the same discipline you brought to the game.
Understanding Business Models
Learn how businesses generate revenue, create value, and sustain growth — so you can evaluate opportunities with clarity and confidence.
Reading Financial Statements for Owners
Demystify balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow reports — the essential language of any ownership conversation.
Business Valuation Basics
Understand how businesses are valued and what drives price — so you never enter a deal without knowing what you're actually buying.
Risk, Governance & Red Flags in Private Business Deals
Identify the warning signs that protect your capital and reputation — and learn how strong governance structures separate sound deals from costly mistakes.
Legal Structures, Deal Terms & Ownership Rights
Plain-English breakdowns of LLCs, equity splits, operating agreements, and the deal terms that define what you actually own and control.
Due Diligence for Non-Operators
A practical framework for evaluating businesses before you commit — even if you're not running day-to-day operations.
Ethics, Conflicts of Interest & Reputation Protection
Navigate the intersection of business and personal brand — understanding how to protect your integrity and legacy in every deal you consider.
Athlete Brand Alignment & Strategic Partnerships
Learn how to leverage your personal brand as a strategic asset — and how to identify partnerships that amplify rather than diminish your influence.
The Athlete Fast Pass
For professional athletes who already have meaningful experience in entrepreneurship, business ownership, or investing — and may not require the full educational curriculum.
The Fast Pass recognizes that some athletes are already operating businesses, owning franchises, or actively investing and simply need access to a structured, protected environment where opportunities can be explored responsibly. This pathway allows qualified athletes to demonstrate readiness and enter The Exchange ecosystem more efficiently, while still meeting the program's governance, ethics, and protection standards.
Who May Qualify
Athletes may be eligible for the Fast Pass if they demonstrate significant experience in one or more of the following areas:
Business Ownership
- Founder or co-founder of an operating business
- Franchise owner
- Managing partner in an established company
Investment Activity
- Active investor in private businesses
- Ownership stake in multiple ventures
- Real estate investor or operator
Executive Leadership
- Serving as CEO, partner, or executive in a company
- Board member or strategic advisor to a business
Entrepreneurial Track Record
- Businesses generating consistent revenue
- Significant operating responsibility
- Prior successful exits or scaled ventures
The Review Process
Athletes applying for the Fast Pass complete a short readiness review rather than the full foundational curriculum. This review includes:
Athlete Business Profile
A summary of current businesses, investments, leadership roles, and areas of interest.
Governance & Ecosystem Orientation
A brief orientation covering the standards, expectations, and ethical guidelines that govern The Exchange ecosystem.
Alignment Conversation
A short discussion to understand the athlete's goals, investment interests, and how they may wish to engage with certified enterprises.
Fast Pass Certification
Athletes approved through this pathway are designated as Athlete & Enterprise Exchange — Certified Athlete (Accelerated Pathway) and may then participate in the ecosystem alongside other certified athletes and vetted enterprises.
Important Notes
The Fast Pass pathway recognizes experienced entrepreneurs while maintaining the safeguards that protect both athletes and enterprises. This pathway:
- Does not guarantee investment opportunities or partnerships
- Does not allow direct solicitation of athletes by businesses
- Does not waive ecosystem governance requirements
Two Tracks. One Mission.
Professional Athletes
You've mastered discipline, pressure, and teamwork. Now channel that same energy into ownership. The Exchange gives you the knowledge, network, and deal access to build wealth that lasts beyond your playing days.
- Structured business & investment education
- Curated introductions to vetted entrepreneurs
- Advisory, franchise, and co-ownership opportunities
- A community of peers on the same journey
Black Business Owners
You've built something real. The Exchange connects you with professional athletes who bring capital, brand power, and influence — giving your business the strategic partner it needs to reach the next level.
- Access to athlete investors and brand partners
- Participation in curated Boardroom Huddle events
- Institutional-readiness support through NBBOA
- Visibility to a national network of professionals
Powered by the United Athletes Foundation
& NBBOA
The Exchange is a strategic partnership between the United Athletes Foundation (UAF) and the National Black Business Owners Association (NBBOA) — two mission-aligned organizations committed to economic empowerment, athlete transition, and the growth of Black-owned enterprise.
Every resource, event, and partnership inside The Exchange is built on a shared foundation of governance, compliance, and community — giving athletes and entrepreneurs the structure they need to build with confidence.
The People Behind The Exchange
Reggie Howard
President, United Athletes Foundation • The Athletes Perspective
“The Exchange exists to change that narrative. This is not about quick wins, hype, or risky ventures. It is about preparation, protection, and informed decision-making.”
Having played on football’s biggest stage during Super Bowl XXXVIII and later transitioning into entrepreneurship, Reggie Howard understands firsthand the gap athletes face when the game ends. Through the United Athletes Foundation, he is building a national framework that respects the discipline and influence athletes already possess — while providing the tools, safeguards, and pathways needed to build lasting economic stability and generational impact.
Cherie Shepherd
President, NBBOA • The Black Business Owners Perspective
“This initiative is personal to me. We are not just advocating for equity — we are building the systems that make it possible.”
Cherie Shepherd founded the National Black Business Owners Association to close wealth gaps through systems, not just capital. The Exchange is the embodiment of that mission — a credible ecosystem where athletes and entrepreneurs engage responsibly and strategically. Through structured vetting, education, and oversight, The Exchange creates the trusted bridge that both communities have long needed.
Two Pathways, One Standard
The Exchange recognizes that both athletes and entrepreneurs enter the program with different levels of business experience. For this reason, two pathways are available.
Fast Pass
Accelerated Certification
For athletes and entrepreneurs who already have significant business ownership, investment, or operating experience. Fast Pass participants move through an accelerated certification track, validating their existing knowledge and readiness to engage.
Certification Pathway
Full Program
For athletes and entrepreneurs who want to build their knowledge and prepare for responsible ownership, partnerships, and business growth. Participants complete the full curriculum and certification process before entering the matchmaking ecosystem.
Partner With Us
The Exchange is growing — and we're looking for aligned organizations and individuals to help us build something lasting. There are three ways to get involved.
Sponsor
Align your brand with a mission-driven initiative at the intersection of professional athletics, Black entrepreneurship, and economic equity. Sponsorship puts your organization in front of a curated national audience of athletes, business owners, and community leaders.
Strategic Partner
Join The Exchange as an institutional or organizational partner. We are actively building relationships with mission-aligned organizations — such as minority business development councils, community development financial institutions, and Black-focused economic empowerment organizations — whose networks, resources, and expertise deepen the impact of the ecosystem for both athletes and entrepreneurs.
Workshop Facilitator
Are you a subject matter expert in finance, law, entrepreneurship, brand strategy, or business operations? Facilitators lead sessions within The Exchange curriculum, bringing real-world expertise directly to athletes and business owners navigating the ownership journey.
Interested in any of these opportunities? Reach out and let’s start the conversation.
Contact Us to Partner →Ready to Build Your Legacy?
Whether you're a professional athlete ready to own something, or a Black entrepreneur ready for your next-level partner — The Exchange was built for you.
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Vetted cohorts only.