Beyond the Game: Lessons in Youth Sports and Business Leadership with Ted Sullivan

From Baseball to Business: Exploring Youth Sports Tech with Ted Sullivan In this episode of 'The Next Next,' host Jason Jacobs speaks with Ted Sullivan, co-founder and former CEO of Game Changer, a youth sports scorekeeping app. Sullivan shares his journey from playing minor league baseball to entering the sports tech industry. The conversation covers the development and growth of Game Changer, its acquisition by Dick's Sporting Goods, and Sullivan's subsequent role as Chief Growth Officer at IMG Academy. The discussion also delves into philosophical topics such as parenting, work-life balance, and the future of youth sports. Jacobs updates listeners on his current venture into youth sports technology, inspired by the intersection of sports and digital tools to build a business that serves kids and families while maintaining personal well-being. 00:00 Introduction to Today's Guest: Ted Sullivan 00:31 Ted Sullivan's Career Journey 01:17 Philosophical Insights on Parenting and Youth Sports 03:26 Ted's Entrepreneurial Ventures 07:04 The Role of Sports in Entrepreneurship 10:08 Challenges in Modern Youth Sports 15:36 Balancing Fun and Competition in Youth Sports 24:29 IMG Academy: Inside Look 31:06 Digital Expansion of IMG Academy 35:07 IMG Academy Plus: Expanding Access to Student Athletes 35:25 NCSA: The World's Largest Recruiting Platform 36:55 The Growth and Impact of IMG Academy Plus 38:03 Exploring Game Changer and Personal Reflections 39:13 Building a Youth Sports Technology Endeavor 45:05 Challenges and Opportunities in Youth Sports 52:49 Game Changer: Origin and Evolution 59:40 Reflections and Future Plans 01:02:20 Conclusion and Podcast Information Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).