Youth Inc. Season Two Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Greg Olsen's Youth Inc. Expands with New Podcast Season and Upcoming Commerce Platform
NEW YORK– (October 28, 2024) – Youth Inc., the first digital media network dedicated exclusively to youth sports content and commerce, today announced that Season Two of its popular Youth Inc. Podcast will launch on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Following the company’s 2024 $4.5 million seed funding round, led by Will Ventures, Youth Inc. is developing a new centralized hub blending news, original content, and retail for the youth sports market.
Launched in 2022, Season One of the Youth Inc. Podcast featured conversations with iconic athletes like Jerry Rice, Russell Wilson, Jennie Finch, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. After a breakout debut season with more than 400,000 downloads, millions of impressions, and a nearly perfect viewership rating, Youth Inc. Is expanding its vision as it prepares to launch Season Two. Co-founded by Emmy Award-winning NFL analyst and Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen, former Fanatics executive Ryan Baise and Audacy, Inc.’s Tim Murphy, the podcast will feature acclaimed sports psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais as co-host, offering crucial insights for navigating today’s complex youth sports landscape.
“While there are more than 30 million young athletes in our country today, there has never been a platform designed to speak directly to families, coaches, and players about the challenges of today’s current state of play,” said Olsen. “Season one taught us invaluable lessons, and we're excited to bring even more insights and depth in Season Two. Partnering with Dr. Gervais, we’ll provide our audience with the tools and knowledge to succeed, all while making the journey engaging and enjoyable."
Season Two of the podcast will address the critical challenges young athletes face today including fostering resilience, managing the pressures of competition, and leveraging mindset training for long-term success. The six- episode season is presented by two Founding Partners: Players Health, a sports technology company offering digital risk management services and insurance products to ensure a secure environment for athletes, and MaxU, a cutting-edge platform providing personalized, 24/7 support to help young athletes build skills that enhance their mental performance and overall development.
As Youth Inc. enhances its content offerings, it is also set to launch a robust commerce platform in early 2025, designed to further support young athletes and their families. Led by former Fanatics head of new ventures, Ryan Baise, the platform will offer a range of products and services tailored specifically for youth sports families and coaches.
"The youth sports landscape is ripe for transformation, and we believe our platform will revolutionize how families access vital information and resources," said Baise. "Our aim is to create a comprehensive marketplace where parents, athletes, and coaches can discover rigorously vetted content and products that reflect the investment they make in their young athletes' futures."
To listen to Season One of the Youth Inc. podcast (available on major podcast platforms, YouTube, and social media in both video and audio formats), watch the Season Two trailer or for more information, please visit Youth Inc.
About Youth Inc.
Youth Inc. is the first digital media network dedicated exclusively to youth sports content and commerce. Co- founded by NFL alum and Fox Sports broadcaster Greg Olsen, former Fanatics executive, Ryan Baise, and former Audacy and New York Times Co. executive, Tim Murphy, Youth Inc. provides parents, coaches, and athletes with expert-driven guidance and resources to navigate the evolving youth sports landscape. For more information, visit www.youth.inc or follow along on YouTube, Instagram, X, and TikTok.
Youth Inc. Launch Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Youth Inc. Launches Youth Sports Content & Commerce Marketplace with $4.5M Seed Round.
[Nashville, TN, 5/13/2024] Co-founded by NFL alum and decorated Fox Sports broadcaster, Greg Olsen, Youth Inc. is the first digital media network dedicated exclusively to youth sports content.
"As a parent and coach of three young athletes, I appreciate the challenges families and coaches face while trying to make the best choices for their kids,” said Olsen. “If we can create a resource to help them make those decisions, then mission accomplished.”
Through its content arm, Youth Inc. will guide parents, coaches, and youth athletes through the opportunities and complexities presented by youth sports. The company will work with professional and college athletes, coaches, and thought leaders to create original material while aggregating content from third-party creators. Co-founder Tim Murphy, formerly EVP of Strategy & Corporate Development at Audacy, will serve as the company’s President of Media.
Season One of the Youth Inc. video podcast was released in 2022 as part of Audiorama, Inc., a joint venture between Olsen, Vince Vaughn, Ryan Kalil, and Powerhouse Capital.
Alongside its media offering, Youth Inc. will offer a DTC marketplace with a curated selection of brands for youth sports fans, coaches, and athletes. "A premium, on-demand merchandise experience is missing from the youth sports market. By leveraging new technology and a differentiated supply chain, we aim to uplevel how youth sports products are sourced, furnished, and delivered," said Ryan Baise, CEO and co-founder of Youth Inc. The company will also offer a service to help large youth sports organizations manage their merchandise function.
Baise, a Fanatics alum who oversaw new ventures for the merchandising giants’ Commerce division, believes the youth sports industry is at an inflection point.. “Youth Sports is now attracting capital from some of the world’s best investors. Meanwhile, athlete participation is down and the barrier to entry has never been higher. As an industry, we have the opportunity and obligation to make information and participation more accessible to 65M youth sports parents and athletes.”
Will Ventures led the round with co-investments from Ryan Sports Ventures, Hello Sunshine co-founder Jim Toth, NFL quarterbacks Josh Allen and CJ Stroud, Ohio State Football Coach Ryan Day, and ISOS Ventures.
Youth Inc. will be based in Nashville and greater Philadelphia with plans to launch its platform later this year.
For more information, please contact info@youth.inc.