Young Money APAA Sports

What Young Money APAA Sports does

Young Money APAA Sports is a privately held sports representation agency formed in 2017 through the merger of APAA Sports Group (founded by Adie von Gontard) and Young Money (founded by entertainment executive Lil Wayne). Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, the firm delivers a 360-degree athlete representation model covering contract negotiation, marketing strategy, brand management, social media management, investment advisory, and real estate guidance across NFL, NBA, NCAA (NIL), global soccer, and international track and field.

The agency's service portfolio is organized around sport-specific representation modules (NFL Combine Preparation, NBA Draft Preparation, NCAA NIL Representation, Global Soccer Transfer Preparation) layered on a unified 360-degree platform. Core revenue derives from transaction-fee commissions on negotiated professional contracts (NFL, NBA, MLS, international soccer) and endorsement/brand partnerships, with an additional revenue stream from NIL deal representation for college athletes. The agency is NFLPA- and NBA-certified for player representation and FIFA-licensed for global soccer transfers.

Distribution is direct: certified agents and executives conduct enterprise-style outreach to athletes across the college-to-professional pipeline, leveraging IMG Academy networks, collegiate athletic contacts, and the cultural reach of the Young Money entertainment brand. Scale metrics cited by the agency include over $1.2 billion in cumulative athlete contracts negotiated, 350+ brand deals secured in 2025, a roster of 100+ clients across NFL, NBA, NIL, and soccer, and five athletes drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft (all making 53-man rosters), headlined by Travis Hunter at #2 overall. Notable brand partners across consumer categories include Jordan, Nike, ANTA, Powerade, Hyperice, COACH, Raising Cane's, McDonald's, Cadillac, Olipop, and Hollister.

Name

Young Money APAA Sports

Legal name

Young Money APAA Sports

Website

https://youngmoneyapaasports.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Young Money APAA Sports is a Tampa-based sports representation agency delivering 360-degree athlete representation across the NFL, NBA, NCAA (NIL), and global soccer, earning commissions on contract negotiation, endorsements, and brand deals for 100+ clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Athlete Representation Services

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (711410), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)

akta.pro primary industry

Athlete Financial Management & Wealth Advisory (Tax, Accounting, Investment) (MPAKAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Athletics Fundraising, Sponsorships & NIL Support (EDALAIAN), Athlete & Team Sponsorship Deals (Official Partners, Jersey/Kit Sponsors) (MPAKALAA), Performance & Incentive-Based Endorsements (Bonuses, Royalties, Affiliate/CPA Deals) (MPAKALAI), Sponsorship Sales, Valuation & Analytics Services (Rights Sales, Measurement, Consulting) (MPAKALAK)

Keywords

• Athlete representation
• Sports management
• Contract negotiation
• NIL representation
• Brand endorsement

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Athlete Contract Negotiation: Commission-based revenue from negotiating professional contracts for athletes in NFL, NBA, MLS, and international soccer. The agency takes a percentage of contract value as fee for representation services.
2. Endorsement and Brand Deals: Revenue from securing sponsorship agreements, brand partnerships, and endorsement deals for athletes. Agency negotiates deals with brands and takes commission on secured partnerships.
3. NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) Representation: College athlete representation for brand deals, marketing, and collective agreements. Manages day-to-day NIL activities including collective agreements and marketing for NCAA athletes.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Young Money APAA Sports is a full-service sports representation agency that signs individual elite athletes as clients and earns commissions by negotiating their professional contracts (NFL, NBA, MLS, international soccer), facilitating endorsement and brand partnership deals, representing college athletes for NIL agreements and transfer portal decisions, and providing 360-degree career management including marketing, social media, investment guidance, and long-term wealth planning.

Product overview

Young Money APAA Sports operates as a full-service sports representation agency offering a unified 360-degree platform for athlete career management. The core offering centers on athlete representation services spanning NFL, NBA, NCAA (NIL), and Global Soccer divisions. The service portfolio is organized around the 360-Degree Representation platform, which encompasses interconnected modules including Athlete Management, Marketing Strategies, Investment Services, Social Media Management, and Brand Management. Sport-specific services include Combine Preparation, Draft Process guidance, Contract Negotiations, NIL Representation, Transfer Portal navigation, and International Transfer Preparation. The agency was founded through a partnership between entertainment icon Lil Wayne and the von Gontard family, representing over 100 clients and negotiating over $1.2 billion in athlete contracts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Athlete Management Comprehensive career management for athletes from rookie deals to veteran extensions, with precision and transparency focused on securing contract terms that protect athletes and fuel their growth.
• Athlete Contract Negotiation Commission-based negotiation of professional athlete contracts across NFL, NBA, MLS, and international soccer; the agency takes a percentage of contract value as fee for representation.
• Endorsement and Brand Partnership Deals Commission-based sourcing and negotiation of sponsorship agreements, brand partnerships, and endorsement deals for athletes; agency negotiates with brands and earns a commission on secured partnerships.
• International Soccer Transfer Representation Strategic preparation, legal support, club negotiation, and contract execution for international soccer transfers, including moves between MLS, NWSL, and European/global leagues.
• International Soccer Contract Negotiations Precision contract negotiation with deep knowledge of international league rules, incentives, and standards to protect athlete interests while maximizing long-term value.
• NIL Representation Name, Image, and Likeness representation for NCAA athletes, including deal negotiations, eligibility protection, and brand partnership services to build long-term value.
• NCAA Transfer Portal Representation Navigational guidance for NCAA transfer portal decisions, including clear advice, compliance support, and opportunity analysis to help athletes make informed decisions about their collegiate future.
• NFL Combine Preparation Full-scale strategic preparation for NFL combines, including physical readiness, mental performance, interview training, and media preparation.
• NFL Draft Process Support Comprehensive guidance through the NFL draft, including logistics coordination, family coordination, media strategy, and draft-day positioning to maximize athlete visibility.
• NBA Draft Preparation End-to-end NBA draft guidance, from combine prep and workouts through interviews and draft-night strategy, ensuring athletes enter the league positioned for success.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 players drafted in 2025 NFL Draft with 100% making 53-man rosters
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jordan BrandcoreOthersBrand partnership and endorsement collaboration facilitated through Daveed Cohen's negotiation expertise. Jordan Brand is one of the world's most iconic athletic footwear and apparel brands.
• NikecoreOthersMajor athletic brand partnership and endorsement deals negotiated for athletes represented by the agency.
• ANTAcoreOthersInternational basketball footwear and apparel brand partnership for athletes.
• PowerademinorOthersSports beverage brand endorsement partnerships for athletes.
• HypericeminorOthersRecovery technology brand partnership for athlete recovery and performance products.
• COACHminorOthersLuxury brand partnerships for athlete lifestyle and fashion collaborations.
• Raising Cane'sminorOthersFast food brand partnerships and marketing activations.
• McDonald'sminorOthersMajor quick-service restaurant brand endorsement partnerships.
• CadillacminorOthersLuxury automotive brand partnerships for athlete endorsements.
• OlipopminorOthersFeatured as Travis x Olipop brand partnership on website; better-for-you soda brand collaboration.
• HollisterminorOthersFeatured as Mensah x Hollister brand partnership; apparel brand collaboration.
• HOLO FootwearminorOthersEmerging footwear brand partnerships sourced by Daveed Cohen.
• NFLPA (National Football League Players Association)coreOthersCertification and licensing body for NFL agents; multiple agency team members hold NFLPA certification for player representation.
• FIFAcoreOthersInternational soccer governing body through which Dennis Chin operates as FIFA Licensed Agent for global player transfers.
• Jacksonville JaguarsminorOthersNFL team that drafted Travis Hunter #2 overall in 2025; key client placement outcome.
• Duke Blue DevilsminorOthersNCAA football program representing Darian Mensah; key NIL and collegiate athlete relationship.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Creative Artists Agency (CAA): CAA is one of the world's largest talent and sports agencies with a deep football and basketball representation business. It competes with YMAPAA for top NFL and NBA clients but operates at vastly greater scale across entertainment, sports, and media.
• WME Sports (Endeavor): WME, part of Endeavor, is a global talent representation powerhouse with a sports division that competes for top NFL, NBA, and soccer clients. Its scale, IP ownership opportunities, and UFC ties offer broader resources than YMAPAA.
• Octagon: Octagon is a global sports marketing and athlete management agency with strengths in soccer, golf, and Olympics sports. It overlaps with YMAPAA's global soccer and athlete marketing practices, but operates at much greater scale.
• Wasserman: Wasserman is a major sports marketing and talent management agency representing elite athletes across multiple sports. Its athlete representation business directly competes with YMAPAA for marketing and endorsement mandates.

Direct peers

• Roc Nation Sports: Roc Nation Sports is the most structurally similar peer: a sports agency built on the cultural brand of a music icon (Jay-Z), offering contract negotiation, marketing, and lifestyle management to elite athletes across NFL, NBA, and soccer. It is the closest analog to the Lil Wayne / Young Money play.
• Klutch Sports Group: Klutch is a leading athlete representation agency founded by Rich Paul, dominant in NBA and expanding in NFL. It competes directly for the same elite client pool YMAPAA targets and similarly emphasizes culture-forward branding and full-service representation.
• Excel Sports Management: Excel Sports is a top-tier athlete representation firm with strength across golf, MLB, and NFL. Its athlete marketing, contract negotiation, and endorsement businesses directly overlap with YMAPAA's service portfolio and target client base.

Emerging players

• Range Media Partners: Range is a fast-growing, culture-driven talent management and sports representation firm with similar 360-degree positioning. Its artist-plus-athlete crossover model is conceptually similar to YMAPAA's entertainment-sports blend.
• Paradigm Sports Management: Paradigm is a multi-sport agency with strength in combat sports and growing NFL/NBA representation. Its 360-degree model and emphasis on athlete brand-building mirrors YMAPAA's positioning.
• Rep 1 Sports: Rep 1 Sports is an athlete representation agency with NFL and combat sports focus. It competes in the same mid-sized sports agency tier as YMAPAA for contract negotiation and marketing services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ymapaasports
• Instagraminstagram.com/youngmoneyapaasports
• Facebookfacebook.com/YoungMoneyAPAAsports
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/young-money-apaa-sports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Young Money APAA Sports