Ascending Athletes
Ascending Athletes is a privately held, 31-year-old services organization that helps current and former NFL players transition into corporate careers and business ownership through summits, employer introductions, and career resources, funded primarily by corporate sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersGrapevine, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ascending Athletes does
Ascending Athletes is a privately held career-transition and business-development services organization founded in 1995 and headquartered in Southlake, Texas. The company operates a small team (1-10 employees) under founder and president Andy Schroeder, with Julie Nelson serving as Director of Player Relations & Business Development. Its core mission is helping current and former NFL players transition into corporate careers and business ownership.
The company's service portfolio centers on three flagship programs: The Winning Edge (a premier transition program including resume development, mock interviews, and in-person employer interviews for players within five years of their last game), the Business Owners Summit (BOS - an annual summit expanding in 2026 to four regional conferences in Atlanta, Westlake TX, Los Angeles, and a virtual session), and the BOS Gala (an annual Super Bowl-week celebration of NFL entrepreneurs). Supporting programs include the NFL Job Shadow Program (March-June), the Lunch & Learn Series (virtual), Career Resources (resume/LinkedIn/interview preparation library), the Success Beyond the Game spotlight series, and the upcoming AOB Directory launching June 22, 2026. No proprietary technology or platform architecture is disclosed - the business is service-driven and event-driven, not technology-driven.
Ascending Athletes makes money primarily through two streams: event-based program revenue (participation fees for conferences, summits, and gala) and corporate sponsorships (with Visa and U.S. Bank named as 2026 program sponsors). Corporate partners gain access to NFL player talent for hiring, and franchise systems gain access to NFL entrepreneurs. The organization holds no patents, has no app, offers no API, and operates exclusively within the U.S. market. It maintains strategic alliances with the NFL Player Engagement department, the NFL Alumni Association, and Hall of Fame Village, which together form the institutional rails through which the company's programs are distributed.
Ascending Athletes firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ascending Athletes
- Legal name
- Ascending Athletes
- Website
- https://ascendingathletes.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ascending Athletes is a privately held, 31-year-old services organization that helps current and former NFL players transition into corporate careers and business ownership through summits, employer introductions, and career resources, funded primarily by corporate sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ascending Athletes industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Athlete Career Transition Services
- NAICS
- Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Athlete Post-Career Transition & Career Placement (Broadcast, Coaching, Business) (MPAKAMAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Full-Service Athlete Talent Agencies (Contract Negotiation & Career Management) (MPAKAMAA)
Keywords
Where Ascending Athletes is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Grapevine
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ascending Athletes business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Event-Based Programs: Revenue generated through event participation fees for BOS conferences, The Winning Edge program, and BOS Gala. Programs feature corporate connectivity, direct introductions to employers, entrepreneurial resources, and franchise opportunities.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors fund programs and events. 2026 programs are sponsored by Visa & U.S. Bank. Companies pay for access to NFL player talent pool and recruitment opportunities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels12 records
Ascending Athletes product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ascending Athletes is a career transition and business development organization that helps current and former NFL players build post-football careers and business ownership through programs, conferences, and networking events. Core offerings include The Winning Edge (transition program with employer interviews), Business Owners Summit (BOS) regional conferences, the BOS Gala, the NFL Job Shadow Program, and Career Resources (resume, LinkedIn, interview preparation). The organization also connects corporate employers with NFL player talent and manages the AOB Directory for NFL entrepreneurs.
Product overview
Ascending Athletes is a career and business development organization for NFL players and entrepreneurs, founded in 1995. The company offers a unified service portfolio centered on helping current and former NFL players transition into successful business careers. Core programs include The Winning Edge (a premier transition program with in-person employer interviews), the Business Owners Summit (BOS - annual conference with regional events and awards), and the BOS Gala (annual entrepreneurship celebration). Supporting services include Career Resources (resume building, LinkedIn optimization, interview preparation), the NFL Job Shadow Program, the Lunch & Learn Series, and the Success Beyond the Game spotlight series. A new AOB Directory platform for NFL entrepreneurs launches in June 2026. The company does not offer technology products, APIs, or AI-powered solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Winning Edge A premier transition program designed to help current and former NFL players whose last game was within the last 5 years successfully transition into careers and business ownership. Includes resume development, mock interviews, and in-person interviews with top employers.
- Business Owners Summit (BOS) An annual summit with four regional conferences designed to accelerate NFL athletes into successful, scalable business owners. Features access to proven operators, precision learning from subject matter experts, peer collaboration, corporate connectivity with buyers, and BOS Business Awards.
- BOS Gala Annual celebration of entrepreneurship, leadership, and community for NFL entrepreneurs, featuring red-carpet arrivals, keynote speakers, NFL entrepreneur panels, signature awards, and high-energy networking with corporate buyers.
- NFL Job Shadow Program A day-in-the-life, behind-the-curtain corporate experience program for NFL players to engage their transferable skills and create valuable network opportunities. Runs from March to June each year.
- AOB Directory (NFL Entrepreneurs Directory) An online directory allowing NFL entrepreneurs to register and showcase their businesses. Part of the NFL Entrepreneurs ecosystem managed by Ascending Athletes.
Quantifiable outcome
- Thousands of NFL players successfully transitioned to careers and business ownership
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ascending Athletes
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ascending Athletes technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ascending Athletes partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- VisamajorVisa is a major sponsor of Ascending Athletes' 2026 programs, supporting the organization's mission to help NFL players transition to careers and business ownership.
- U.S. BankmajorU.S. Bank is a sponsor of Ascending Athletes' 2026 programs, supporting career transition events and resources for NFL players.
- NFL Player Engagement DepartmentcoreAscending Athletes partners with NFL Player Engagement to deliver the NFL Bridge to Success program - a four-day program empowering former players through transition. Ascending Athletes representatives serve as corporate liaisons at these events.
- NFL Alumni AssociationcoreAscending Athletes collaborates with NFL Alumni Association, whose President Bart Oates (former player) coordinates transition programs and benefits for former players.
- Target CorporationcoreFormer player Ian Allen represents Target at NFL Bridge to Success career fairs, hiring former players. Target has hired over 10 former players through the program.
- AmazoncoreFormer players Benjamin Guidugli and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah serve as Amazon representatives at NFL Bridge to Success events, recruiting former NFL players. Amazon has hired numerous former players and spouses through the program.
- PepsiCo (Frito-Lay)coreFormer player Tony Dixon advocates for NFL player hiring at PepsiCo, helping recruiters understand athlete transferable skills.
- USI Insurance ServicescoreFormer player Erik Coleman serves as VP of Executive Businesses at USI Insurance Services, hiring former athletes.
- JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle)coreCEO Greg O'Brien (Harvard MBA, former athlete) leads JLL's commitment to providing access and opportunities for former collegiate and professional athletes.
- Hall of Fame VillageminorNFL Alumni Association (partner organization) partnered with Hall of Fame Village LLC to relocate NFL Alumni headquarters to Canton, Ohio and launch the NFL Alumni Academy complex.
- NFL Legends Business DirectoryminorAscending Athletes manages the NFL Legends Business Directory, launching June 22, 2026, providing visibility for NFL entrepreneur businesses.
- NFL (via NFL Legends Business Directory)coreThe NFL Legends Business Directory, managed by Ascending Athletes, connects NFL entrepreneurs with business opportunities and corporate partnerships.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ascending Athletes competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- NHL Players Association (NHLPA): Labor union representing NHL players with career transition and player development programs. Comparable in athlete transition mission, though focused on hockey rather than football.
Others
- LinkedIn (athlete-focused content programs): Professional networking platform that Ascending Athletes explicitly uses for player profile development. Functions as an enabling platform/tool that Ascending Athletes' Career Resources module teaches players to leverage, rather than a direct competitor.
Emerging players
- Opendorse: Athlete endorsement and NIL technology platform helping athletes monetize their name, image, and likeness. Comparable in athlete career enablement, though more tech-product focused and serving college/NIL primarily.
- MOGL (formerly INFLCR): Athlete marketplace platform connecting athletes to NIL and post-career commercial opportunities. Comparable in athlete-to-corporate pipeline enablement, though technology-mediated and primarily collegiate-focused.
Direct peers
- Athletes for Hope: Nonprofit that mobilizes professional athletes around charitable causes and post-career purpose. Comparable as an athlete lifecycle and identity-transition support organization, though focused on philanthropy rather than corporate placement.
- NFL Alumni Association: Nonprofit association of former NFL players providing transition support, networking, and benefits to retired players. Directly comparable mission of post-career support for NFL athletes, though operated as a league-affiliated nonprofit rather than a private services firm.
Broad incumbents
- Excel Sports Management: Sports agency representing athletes for contract negotiation, marketing, and post-career opportunities. Comparable in delivering end-to-end athlete career services, though focused on contract representation.
- National Basketball Players Association (NBPA): Labor union representing NBA players, with formal programs for career transition and player development. Directly comparable in mission (athlete post-career transition) but operates as a league union rather than a private services company.
- Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA): Labor union for MLB players offering transition and educational services. Comparable in providing post-career support infrastructure, though embedded within a player association rather than as a private firm.
- Wasserman: Global sports marketing and talent agency representing athletes across multiple sports for marketing, endorsements, and career opportunities. Comparable in athlete representation and post-career commercial support at significantly larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ascending Athletes social profiles
Digital presenceAscending Athletes financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ascending Athletes leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Ascending Athletes funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ascending Athletes M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ascending Athletes
What does Ascending Athletes do?
Ascending Athletes is a career transition and business development organization that helps current and former NFL players build post-football careers and business ownership through programs, conferences, and networking events. Core offerings include The Winning Edge (transition program with employer interviews), Business Owners Summit (BOS) regional conferences, the BOS Gala, the NFL Job Shadow Program, and Career Resources (resume, LinkedIn, interview preparation). The organization also connects corporate employers with NFL player talent and manages the AOB Directory for NFL entrepreneurs.
Is Ascending Athletes a public or private company?
Ascending Athletes is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ascending Athletes founded?
Ascending Athletes was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ascending Athletes based?
Ascending Athletes is headquartered in Grapevine, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ascending Athletes make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Event-Based Programs are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships.
Who are Ascending Athletes's main competitors?
NHL Players Association (NHLPA) is listed as a regional player. LinkedIn (athlete-focused content programs) is listed as an others. Emerging players are Opendorse and MOGL (formerly INFLCR). Direct peers are Athletes for Hope and NFL Alumni Association. Broad incumbents are Excel Sports Management, National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and Wasserman.
Does Ascending Athletes have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ascending Athletes.
What industry is Ascending Athletes in?
Ascending Athletes's product category is Athlete Career Transition Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAMAL, Athlete Post-Career Transition & Career Placement (Broadcast, Coaching, Business), with a secondary code of MPAKAMAA, Full-Service Athlete Talent Agencies (Contract Negotiation & Career Management). Its NAICS code is 7114.