Spark is a five-pillar program that will provide all 600-plus Sun Devil student-athletes with essential, in-depth knowledge from industry leaders on entrepreneurship, branding, financial literacy, social media, and the detailed specificities of Name, Image and Likeness. A rare combination of former professional sports agents, professional athletes, business executives, and existing partners – including the ASU/adidas Global Sports Institute, ASU’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Opendorse, and MidFirst Bank – affords Sun Devil student-athletes’ exclusive educational opportunities to advance their careers both athletically and professionally.
Entrepreneurship
From its inception in 2018, the primary goal of the partnership between the Global Sport Institute (GSI), Entrepreneurship + Innovation group, and Sun Devil Athletics was to inform student-athletes of the entrepreneurial resources that are available to them via ASU and to empower them to utilize those resources to pursue business, social and philanthropic endeavors.
GSI and E+I’s efforts with SDA are focused primarily on two main areas: knowledge and practice. Knowledge pertains to our collective effort of educating and empowering student-athletes to develop and utilize an entrepreneurial mindset as they navigate their academic and/or professional careers. We offer more specific educational platforms for those that have an interest in developing an idea, starting a business, or establishing an initiative that creates a positive social impact.
The practice element of our program is mainly targeted towards those that are pursuing an entrepreneurial endeavor. Through ASU E+I’s Venture Devils program, GSI offers 1:1 coaching, opportunities for grant funding, and access to a growing network of advisors through strategic relationships and partnerships for qualified ventures.
Although the partnership is geared towards student athletes, Venture Devils primary goal is to support all student, faculty, and community-based entrepreneurs in developing viable businesses, nonprofits, and enterprises.
Social Media
In conjunction with the announcement of Spark, Sun Devil Athletics has extended their contract with Opendorse, an industry leader in helping professional athletes maximize their value via social media since 2012. SDA has been utilizing the company’s platform for nearly two years which helps bridge the connection between the content captured by the department’s strategic communications department and puts it in the hands of the student-athletes to build their social media presence and brand with drag-and-drop media libraries, one-tap publishing technology, and real-time analytics in one powerful platform.
Financial Literacy
With building a brand and preparing student-athletes for their future as professional athletes or their professional careers in business, financial literacy is instrumental in their growth. MoneyMoments by MidFirst Bank is an award winning financial education program that helps students set up their financial lives for success. By engaging students in interactive learning experiences such as virtual workshops and online tutorials, MoneyMoments helps thousands of students annually make positive financial changes that can impact their future for years to come.
NIL Education
In addition to SDA’s usage of Opendorse Social, ASU has expanded their relationship with Opendorse by adding their Ready program to their student-athlete offering, which includes assessments, consultation sessions with industry leaders, and resources in one NIL education solution. The Ready program offers student-athletes the opportunity to understand their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rights and receive hands-on assistance from experts to maximize their value while on campus. The program offers three core pillars to student-athlete success: assessment, education and performance - tailored to each individual student-athlete.
Entrepreneurship
From its inception in 2018, the primary goal of the partnership between the Global Sport Institute (GSI), Entrepreneurship + Innovation group, and Sun Devil Athletics was to inform student-athletes of the entrepreneurial resources that are available to them via ASU and to empower them to utilize those resources to pursue business, social and philanthropic endeavors.
GSI and E+I’s efforts with SDA are focused primarily on two main areas: knowledge and practice. Knowledge pertains to our collective effort of educating and empowering student-athletes to develop and utilize an entrepreneurial mindset as they navigate their academic and/or professional careers. We offer more specific educational platforms for those that have an interest in developing an idea, starting a business, or establishing an initiative that creates a positive social impact.
The practice element of our program is mainly targeted towards those that are pursuing an entrepreneurial endeavor. Through ASU E+I’s Venture Devils program, GSI offers 1:1 coaching, opportunities for grant funding, and access to a growing network of advisors through strategic relationships and partnerships for qualified ventures.
Although the partnership is geared towards student athletes, Venture Devils primary goal is to support all student, faculty, and community-based entrepreneurs in developing viable businesses, nonprofits, and enterprises.
Social Media
In conjunction with the announcement of Spark, Sun Devil Athletics has extended their contract with Opendorse, an industry leader in helping professional athletes maximize their value via social media since 2012. SDA has been utilizing the company’s platform for nearly two years which helps bridge the connection between the content captured by the department’s strategic communications department and puts it in the hands of the student-athletes to build their social media presence and brand with drag-and-drop media libraries, one-tap publishing technology, and real-time analytics in one powerful platform.
Financial Literacy
With building a brand and preparing student-athletes for their future as professional athletes or their professional careers in business, financial literacy is instrumental in their growth. MoneyMoments by MidFirst Bank is an award winning financial education program that helps students set up their financial lives for success. By engaging students in interactive learning experiences such as virtual workshops and online tutorials, MoneyMoments helps thousands of students annually make positive financial changes that can impact their future for years to come.
NIL Education
In addition to SDA’s usage of Opendorse Social, ASU has expanded their relationship with Opendorse by adding their Ready program to their student-athlete offering, which includes assessments, consultation sessions with industry leaders, and resources in one NIL education solution. The Ready program offers student-athletes the opportunity to understand their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rights and receive hands-on assistance from experts to maximize their value while on campus. The program offers three core pillars to student-athlete success: assessment, education and performance - tailored to each individual student-athlete.