Sports Management Worldwide

What Sports Management Worldwide does

Sports Management Worldwide (SMWW) is a privately held online sports business education company founded in 2001 by Dr. G. Lynn Lashbrook and headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, with an additional operational presence in Portland, Oregon. The company delivers 40+ eight-week online courses covering sports agent certification prep (NFLPA, NBA, FIFA, MLB), analytics, GM & scouting, player development, sports broadcasting, digital video editing, sports betting and cryptocurrency, and emerging verticals such as esports, cricket, rugby, flag football, and motorsports. Courses are delivered through a web-based learning management system with weekly live interactive Zoom video chats led by 50+ active sports industry executives including former GMs, agents, scouts, and analytics pioneers, and incorporate industry-standard tools such as Synergy, Catapult, and XOS Digital.

SMWW operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market reaching students in 162-163 countries, with revenue generated primarily through course tuition (approximately $1,195 single payment or three $399 monthly installments), bundled Advanced Certificates for career specialization, and university credit fees through partnerships with Fort Hays State University and Concordia University Chicago, which jointly offer Masters, MBA, and Doctorate pathways. The company also runs an apprenticeship layer, eight annual career conferences at marquee sports industry events, and three wholly-owned operating subsidiaries — SMWW Agency (athlete representation), SMWW Scouts (scouting services), and SMWW Internships (virtual and traditional placement) — that extend the education brand into downstream service economics. Customer segments are aspiring sports professionals, career changers, athletes transitioning into sports business, and military veterans via the SMWW-FHSU Military Pathway.

The business is founder-led by the Lashbrook family with no disclosed external investors or funding rounds, operates with 11-50 employees, and has grown its alumni base to 15,000-30,000 graduates placed across every major US and international sports league. Marketing relies on a multi-channel mix including content marketing, social media, email newsletters, paid search, alumni referrals (including NIL opportunities), and on-site enrollment at career conferences. Pricing includes economic discounts for residents of certain countries and military discounts, with payment plans to broaden accessibility for individual consumers.

Name

Sports Management Worldwide

Legal name

Sports Management Worldwide

Website

https://sportsmanagementworldwide.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sports Management Worldwide is an online education platform offering 40+ eight-week sports business courses taught by 50+ active industry executives, serving aspiring sports professionals in 162+ countries through direct-to-consumer enrollment and university degree partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Sports Business Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Media, Entertainment & Sports (EDABALAS)

akta.pro secondary industries

Strategic Meetings Management (SMM) & Governance (THACAFAA), Sports Community Relations & Grassroots Program Management (MPAKAKAJ)

Keywords

• Online sports education
• Sports career training
• Sports agent certification
• Sports business courses
• Athletic management training

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition: SMWW generates revenue through 8-week online sports business courses. Students pay tuition per course, with options for single payment or monthly installment plans. Course fees include all materials, textbooks, and access to the web-based classroom.
2. Advanced Certificates: Bundled course packages offered at discounted rates for students wanting to become experts in specific fields, providing a land-and-expand revenue opportunity
3. University Credit Programs: Graduate and undergraduate university credit available through Fort Hays State University partnership for additional fees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SMWW offers over 40 eight-week online sports business courses delivered via live interactive Zoom sessions taught by active sports industry executives. Course offerings cover sports agent certification, sports analytics, GM and scouting, player development, digital video editing with professional tools, sports broadcasting and media, sports betting and cryptocurrency, and esports. The company also provides Advanced Certificates, university degree pathways through partner institutions, apprenticeships, sports career conferences, and operates SMWW Agency and SMWW Scouts subsidiaries.

Product overview

Sports Management Worldwide (SMWW) is an online sports business education platform offering over 40 eight-week courses designed to advance careers in the sports industry. The core offerings include Sports Agent certification prep courses, Analytics courses, GM & Scouting courses, Player Development courses, and specialized courses in sports betting, cryptocurrency, digital video editing, broadcasting, and media. The platform operates on a modular architecture with individual courses, bundled Advanced Certificates for career specialization, Sports Leadership Degree programs in partnership with universities, Apprenticeship programs for hands-on experience, and Career Conferences for networking. Additional sub-brands include SMWW Agency (full-service athlete representation) and SMWW Scouts. All courses feature weekly live interactive Zoom video chats with industry mentors and include industry-standard tools such as Synergy Sports, Catapult, and XOS Digital. The platform serves students from over 162 countries with online accessibility and global participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sports Agent Certification Courses Eight-week online certification preparation courses for aspiring sports agents across NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, FIFA, soccer, and name/image/likeness representation, taught by active sports agents and industry executives.
• Sports Analytics Courses Eight-week online courses covering analytics, data science, and AI applications in baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer, for aspiring sports analytics professionals.
• GM & Scouting Courses Eight-week online courses in general manager and scouting fundamentals across baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer, targeting aspiring front-office executives and scouts.
• Player Development Courses Eight-week online courses focused on player development strategy and methodology across baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer.
• Sports Betting and Cryptocurrency Course

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates work in every major league globally including NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, MLS, English Premier League, and more

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fort Hays State University (FHSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership allowing SMWW students to earn graduate or undergraduate university credit through FHSU. SMWW-FHSU Military Pathway also provides GI Bill sports management education options for veterans.
• Concordia University Chicago (CUC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership program where CUC offers Masters in Sports Leadership, MBA in Sports Management, and Doctorate in Leadership: Sports Leadership through SMWW curriculum and instruction.
• NetScouts BasketballcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NetScouts Basketball, an international basketball scouting company, for the National Prep School Invitational tournament management and NBA draft profile coordination.
• United States Sports AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership where Dr. Lashbrook taught as adjunct professor and was recognized as Professor of the Year in 2000.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Coursera: Large-scale online education platform offering courses, certificates, and degrees from accredited universities. Comparable to SMWW as a D2C online learning destination, but operating at vastly greater scale and across all industries rather than specializing in sports.
• MasterClass: Premium online education platform featuring celebrity and expert-led video courses. Comparable to SMWW in selling access to high-profile industry practitioners via online video, though MasterClass targets general consumer audiences rather than sports-career credentials.
• edX: University-backed online education platform offering accredited courses and degree programs. Comparable to SMWW in partnering with universities for credit and degree pathways, though edX's catalog and credentialing weight are far larger.
• Skillshare: Subscription-based online learning community with project-driven video courses. Similar to SMWW in short-format, instructor-led online courses, but Skillshare focuses on creative and business skills rather than sports-specific career preparation.

Direct peers

• LinkedIn Learning: Subscription-based professional development course library with career-aligned content. Directly comparable to SMWW's model of paid, online, career-focused courses with industry software training, but with broader professional scope rather than sports-specific depth.
• Udemy: Online course marketplace where individual instructors publish paid video courses on professional and niche topics. Closely mirrors SMWW's online course delivery, instructor-driven content, and per-course pricing model.

Emerging players

• Wharton Executive Education: Premium business school's executive education arm offering sports business programs and certificates. Comparable to SMWW in delivering structured sports business training, but anchored to a top-tier university brand and significantly higher price points.
• SportTechie: Sports technology media, events, and education platform covering sports analytics, innovation, and business. Comparable to SMWW in serving sports business professionals with training and content, but focused on technology and innovation rather than agent/scouting prep.

Others

• Sports Business Journal: Leading trade publication and events business covering the sports industry. Comparable to SMWW in targeting sports industry professionals with careers-focused content, though SBJ is a media/events company rather than a credentialing education provider.
• Wasserman: Global sports marketing and talent representation agency. Comparable to SMWW's SMWW Agency and SMWW Scouts subsidiaries as a sports talent representation business, and a potential placement partner for SMWW alumni.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/smww
• Facebookfacebook.com/sports-management-worldwide-58059955899
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sports-management-worldwide

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sports Management Worldwide