The Everyday Millionaire Podcast: Episode 215 with Marcus Colston

Introduction

In Episode 215 of The Everyday Millionaire, host Patrick Franci welcomes former NFL player Marcus Colston to discuss his transition from professional sports to entrepreneurship. Marcus shares his insights on building wealth, overcoming challenges, and creating opportunities within the sports industry through his venture, Champion Venture Partners (CVP). This episode delves into Marcus’s journey, his business strategies, and his mission to democratize investment access for a broader audience.

Champion Venture Partners: Overview and Strategy

Marcus Colston introduces Champion Venture Partners as an investment firm focused on the "value chain of sports." Unlike traditional sports investments that center around team ownership in leagues like the NFL, MLB, NHL, and MLS, CVP broadens the scope to encompass the entire sports ecosystem. This includes areas such as fan engagement technology, sports performance technology, sports medicine, hospitality, real estate, and media content.

“We’re looking at the sports ecosystem as a whole... Everything from fan engagement technology to sports performance technology, sports medicine, hospitality, real estate, some media content.” – Marcus Colston [02:34]

Marcus explains that CVP aims to invest in companies that support the infrastructure of sports, often referred to as the "picks and shovels" of the industry. By doing so, CVP builds a diversified portfolio that not only focuses on scalable service businesses but also explores opportunities in collegiate sports, reflecting a growing trend in creating comprehensive sports districts around venues.

“The sporting districts are really a microcosm of our investment thesis and our strategy.” – Marcus Colston [05:14]

Marcus Colston’s Journey from NFL to Entrepreneurship

Marcus reflects on his decade-long career in the NFL, playing for the New Orleans Saints from 2006 to 2015. He attributes his entrepreneurial spirit to his upbringing and his father’s diverse business endeavors. Marcus emphasizes the importance of learning and adapting, which he began during his time as a professional athlete.

“Seeing him create something from scratch is... a seed that got planted in me.” – Marcus Colston [36:41]

He shares how his first exposure to business education came during his NFL career, leading him to invest in private companies and eventually co-found CVP. Marcus highlights the parallels between his athletic career and his business endeavors, particularly the focus on teamwork, resilience, and strategic growth.

“When I figured out that no flaw is a fatal flaw and you can learn from it... that changed everything for me.” – Marcus Colston [54:33]

Mission and Vision of CVP

The core mission of Champion Venture Partners revolves around providing access to high-quality investment opportunities. Marcus identifies two primary choke points in the investment landscape: access to high-quality deals and access to information and education. CVP addresses these by creating a platform that democratizes investment in the sports ecosystem, enabling both accredited and non-accredited investors to participate.

“Our mission as a whole is really around access... to build a diversified passive investment vehicle for folks.” – Marcus Colston [19:32]

CVP’s strategy includes building a robust deal flow pipeline, engaging domain experts, and offering diversified investment vehicles such as evergreen funds. These funds allow investors to contribute as little as $1,000 or $5,000, making alternative investments in sports-related businesses accessible to everyday people.

Addressing Financial Challenges for Athletes

Marcus discusses the financial pitfalls many professional athletes face, citing the lack of education and dependency on traditional financial advisors who often focus solely on stocks and bonds. CVP aims to bridge this gap by offering investment opportunities that go beyond conventional financial instruments, helping athletes and everyday investors build sustainable wealth.

“We’re creating a vehicle that folks can benefit from and create value from, but making sure that we educate at the same time.” – Marcus Colston [44:02]

He underscores the importance of financial education and diversified portfolios, emphasizing that CVP’s platform not only provides investment access but also educates investors on alternative asset classes, liquidity, and risk management.

“Education has to be equally important... teaching them about the alternative asset class, we’re teaching about the diversification, we’re teaching about liquidity and risk.” – Marcus Colston [22:19]

Investment Opportunities and Accessibility

Marcus elaborates on CVP’s investment model, highlighting its focus on long-term growth and sustainability. Unlike traditional venture capital firms that seek quick exits, CVP operates on a permanent capital basis, allowing for steady investment in high-quality businesses without the pressure of immediate returns.

“We don’t have to try and chase quick wins, we don’t have to go and hunt for unicorns. We can invest in quality businesses that have significant upside and growth potential.” – Marcus Colston [26:43]

The evergreen fund structure facilitates liquidity through semi-annual redemption periods, making it easier for investors to manage their investments and adjust their portfolios as needed. This approach ensures that CVP can cater to both individual and institutional investors, expanding its reach and impact.

Final Insights and Personal Reflections

Towards the end of the episode, Patrick and Marcus engage in a rapid-fire segment, touching on personal preferences and philosophies. Marcus shares his appreciation for integrity, teamwork, and consistent effort—values that have guided both his sports career and his entrepreneurial ventures.

“If people can walk away saying that this is a firm that operated with integrity, they did exactly what they said they were going to do.” – Marcus Colston [50:35]

Marcus expresses gratitude for overcoming odds and the opportunity to repurpose his experiences to help others achieve financial success. He emphasizes the importance of operating with integrity and fostering a collaborative environment within CVP.

“I'm grateful for the opportunity to have gotten here, taken the path less traveled, and really an opportunity to kind of repackage my experience to help other people that started in my situation.” – Marcus Colston [58:55]

Conclusion

Episode 215 of The Everyday Millionaire provides a comprehensive look into Marcus Colston’s transition from the NFL to entrepreneurship. Through Champion Venture Partners, Marcus is pioneering a new approach to sports-related investments, making them accessible to a broader audience while addressing critical financial gaps faced by athletes and everyday investors. His focus on integrity, teamwork, and education offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to build lasting wealth and achieve success in both business and life.

Notable Quotes

• Marcus Colston [02:34]: “We’re looking at the sports ecosystem as a whole... Everything from fan engagement technology to sports performance technology, sports medicine, hospitality, real estate, some media content.”

• Marcus Colston [05:14]: “The sporting districts are really a microcosm of our investment thesis and our strategy.”

• Marcus Colston [19:32]: “Our mission as a whole is really around access... to build a diversified passive investment vehicle for folks.”

• Marcus Colston [22:19]: “Education has to be equally important... teaching them about the alternative asset class, we’re teaching about the diversification, we’re teaching about liquidity and risk.”

• Marcus Colston [26:43]: “We can invest in quality businesses that have significant upside and growth potential.”

• Marcus Colston [44:02]: “We’re creating a vehicle that folks can benefit from and create value from, but making sure that we educate at the same time.”

• Marcus Colston [50:35]: “If people can walk away saying that this is a firm that operated with integrity, they did exactly what they said they were going to do.”

• Marcus Colston [58:55]: “I'm grateful for the opportunity to have gotten here, taken the path less traveled, and really an opportunity to kind of repackage my experience to help other people that started in my situation.”

Key Takeaways

1. Comprehensive Sports Ecosystem Investment: CVP’s strategy to invest across the entire sports value chain rather than just team ownership broadens investment opportunities and mitigates risk.

2. Accessibility and Inclusivity: By lowering the investment threshold and allowing both accredited and non-accredited investors, CVP democratizes access to high-quality investment deals traditionally reserved for the elite.

3. Education and Empowerment: CVP emphasizes financial education, ensuring investors understand the nuances of alternative assets, diversification, liquidity, and risk management.

4. Long-Term Growth Focus: Operating on a permanent capital basis enables CVP to invest sustainably without the pressure of quick exits, fostering steady growth and stability for both the firm and its investors.

5. Integrity and Teamwork: Marcus’s foundational values from his NFL career—integrity, teamwork, and consistent effort—are integral to CVP’s operations and client relationships, ensuring trust and reliability.

Final Thoughts

Marcus Colston’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, strategic thinking, and the ability to leverage one’s unique experiences to create meaningful change. Through Champion Venture Partners, he is not only building a successful business but also paving the way for a more inclusive and educated investment landscape within the sports industry. This episode serves as an inspiring blueprint for aspiring entrepreneurs and investors aiming to blend passion with purpose.