Mbappe Revealed as Oakley’s Newest Global Ambassador
The Paris Saint-Germain star announced that he has signed a multi-year partnership with the eyewear giant. Mbappe has an extensive portfolio of high-profile endorsements, which includes Nike, Dior, Hublot, and served as the FIFA 2021 cover star. In his announcement, Mbappe pointed to being inspired by Oakley’s “disruptive, innovative spirit and the drive to create positive change.” He will serve as the face of the “Be Who You Are” campaign.
FTX Establishes $2B Venture Fund
After a game-changing year, cryptocurrency exchange FTX seeks to keep pace with its meteoric growth in 2022. The company announced on Friday that it is setting up a $2 billion venture fund that will fuel crypto startups across sectors. It has tapped Amy Wu, previously of Lightspeed Venture Partners to lead the effort. Additionally, FTX’s CEO Sam Bankman Fried announced that it is looking into establishing stock trading functionality on its platform.
Naomi Osaka Tops Forbes List of Highest-Earning Women
Hot off the heels of announcing her partnership with TAG Heuer, Naomi Osaka took home top honors of female athletes who secured the bag in 2021. Osaka made $57.3 million, both on and off the court, thanks in part to her extensive list of endorsements, which includes Nike, Louis Vuitton, and Yonex. Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Simone Biles, and Garbine Muguruza rounded out the top 5.
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Sotheby’s Prepares for IPO
With the turn of a new calendar year, many companies have announced their intentions to go public. On Thursday, Sotheby’s revealed that it has selected Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to work on a U.S. listing — with an IPO potentially taking place this year at a $5B valuation, excluding debt. The auction house reported a record $7.3 billion in sales for 2021, a year-over-year increase of 32%. The increase was driven, in part, by Sotheby’s expanded digital art business, which went up nearly 150% in 2020.
Michigan State Inks Historic Partnership with Caesars Sportsbook
The Spartans are doubling down on sports betting. Michigan State named Caesars Sportsbook as the “official and exclusive sports betting partner and iGaming partner of MSU athletics.” While the details of the deal are not known at this time, Caesars will have naming rights for a premium section of the football stadium and outsized visibility in tailgating spaces.
Tesla Opens Online Store to Dogecoin
It is widely known that Tesla boss Elon Musk is an outspoken proponent of Dogecoin. And to demonstrate his belief in the meme coin, he has opened the Tesla store to accept the tender to purchase select goods. Since the announcement, the value of dogecoin has increased 9%.
Read Boardroom’s wide-ranging interview with Dogecoin co-founder Billy Markus.
Atlanta Dream Co-owner Renee Montgomery Talks Business on New Podcast
Renee Montgomery is staying busy in her second chapter. The former WNBA All-Star retired from the league in 2020, and since then has pieced together an impressive resume from taking a stake in the Atlanta Dream to being appointed a general partner at Valor Ventures. On Thursday, the former UConn Husky announced her new podcast, Montgomery & Co, which will focus on her business ventures, as she speaks in conversation with her mother, sister, and fiancé about the experiences of being black and brown women in pursuit of entrepreneurial interests
NBA Unveils HBCU Fellowship Program
HBCU students looking for a resume boost need to look no further than the NBA. The league announced the NBA HBCU Fellowship Program, on Thursday. The program seeks to provide a select group of HBCU students with a foundational business experience. Selected students will intern with the league across a wide range of departments, from ticket sales to corporate social responsibility.
Tiger Woods-backed SPAC Seeks to Raise $150M Through IPO
Tiger Woods recently returned to the links, but after being sidelined with an injury, the five-time Masters champion had more time to develop his business portfolio. One of his ventures, the Sports & Health Tech Acquisition Corp is looking to raise $150 million with an enterprise value estimated between $650 million and $1 billion. RBC Capital Markets has been tapped to manage the offering.
Shaun White Boosts Whitespace Brand with Snowboard and Clothing Lines
It’s difficult to believe that the Winter Olympics are set to start in just a matter of weeks. As he prepares for his final Olympic appearance in China, three-time gold medalist Shaun White announced that his brand Whitespace will expand its offerings to include snowboards and an extended apparel line. White will debut the snowboard model in Beijing. White has paired with online outdoor retailer Backcountry to launch the line.
