From $10 Bitcoin to Scaling $10M Padel Clubs | Ryan Higgins & Hugo Jimenez

A sport can be fun, but a sport with the right economics can become a full-blown movement. We talk with Ryan Higgins of Wakit Rakit about how he keeps spotting trends early and why padel is the next one he’s betting on. Ryan shares his path from building million-dollar information product launches to buying Bitcoin at $10, then stepping back for a decade-long sabbatical before getting pulled into a racket sport that’s spreading fast worldwide.We get specific about what made padel stand out the first time he played in Australia: courts booked out for days, payments handled through an app, and a business model that can run with surprisingly light staffing. Ryan explains why that matters to operators, how padel differs from tennis, and why the US chose pickleball while much of the world chose padel. Then we zoom out to the opportunity: the United States is early in court count compared to places like Spain, and Ryan believes the market is hitting an inflection point.Ryan also breaks down the two-part strategy behind Wakit Rakit / Wakit Padel: helping others build facilities by selling padel courts and consulting, while also operating their own clubs with a plan to scale “franchise-like” across the country. You’ll hear why their first two locations are intentionally different, how they think about demographics and awareness, and the key hire they’re chasing to fuel rapid multi-city launches: a marketing leader who can educate a market from zero to obsessed.If you’re into startups, sports business, franchise growth, or trend-driven investing, you’ll walk away with a practical lens on timing, operations, and go-to-market. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share it with a friend building in consumer or fitness, and leave a review with your take: is padel the next breakout sport in America?About Board of AdvisorsBoard of Advisors is an invite-only community of entrepreneurs, CEOs, investors, and executives dedicated to helping one another grow personally and professionally. Through quarterly events, strategic introductions, peer-to-peer mentoring, and a culture built on giving first, BA creates an environment where leaders can solve problems faster, build meaningful relationships, and unlock new opportunities. When you're in the right room, anything is possible.Subscribe for more conversations with members of the Board of Advisors community as we continue releasing exclusive interviews recorded live from our Q2 Dallas event.#BAPodcast #BoardOfAdvisors #BACommunity #Entrepreneurship #CEOCommunity