[ad_1]
Former NFL player Andrew Hawkins. Justice/Bloomberg via Getty Images
One of Andrew Hawkins’ biggest regrets as an investor is not being more aggressive in acquiring Sneaker Blog several years ago, which ended up being valued at nearly $4 billion. StockX is the leading online resale platform.
Hawkins, a former NFL wide receiver, connected with Josh Lubar, creator of a website then called Campless, and pitched him on turning it into a business. But Hawkins said he got distracted by his football career and found himself bought by Dan Gilbert, owner of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, who then turned it into StockX.
“I was very upset,” Hawkins said. “But you can pick a winner, that was the ultimate lesson.”
Hawkins, 37, is currently the co-founder of StatusPro, a sports technology and gaming startup. The company debuted its first virtual reality game, his NFL Pro Era, in 2022 and recently closed its $20 million funding round led by GV, formerly known as Google Ventures. did. The company also plans to expand into creating his VR games for other sports, such as boxing, baseball, and tennis.
retired NFL players @hawk He says he didn’t spend his first paycheck because he was afraid of missing his next paycheck.
He also talks about missing out on being one of the first investors. @stockX https://t.co/4L3YKjiQKB pic.twitter.com/iKEDlbY1PN
— Bloomberg (@business) March 7, 2024
Hawkins recently spoke to Bloomberg about other investment stories and lessons learned.
When you got your first big paycheck in the NFL, how did you spend it?
I put it away. I didn’t spend any money because I was worried that I wouldn’t get my second paycheck. So I literally went to the bank and thought, if I get terminated tomorrow, I have about $15,000 now and I’ll be able to start my new life off right.
And when was the last time you felt accomplished?
I don’t think I ever felt successful. And that can be a good thing or a bad thing. But I guess that’s what keeps me hungry and keeps trying new things.
Let’s get back to my regrets about StockX. What did Ruber say to you after he sold it to Gilbert?
He turned around and said, “Hawk, you were one of the first people to come to me as a business.” I’d like you to be one of the first investors. ”
I was so angry that the money I didn’t invest was taken out from under me.
Is there anything you’ve invested in that you wish you hadn’t invested in?
yes. I won’t go into specifics, but there was a media company that I invested in. That was a great suggestion.
At the end of the day, what I learned in that moment as an investor is that you have to be very confident that the culture and ideology that aligns with your idea exists and that you can execute on it.
[ad_2]
Source link
