Company Type

Collegiate X is a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) marketplace connecting college athletes with brands and sponsorship opportunities in a highly regulated and fast-moving ecosystem.

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Problem

Shortly after launching its first product version, Collegiate X faced challenges common to early-stage platforms:

• No refined go-to-market strategy post-launch
• Difficulty positioning clearly in a crowded and regulated NIL landscape
• Lack of structured sales and outreach systems
• Need to attract both athletes and brand partners simultaneously

Without a clear GTM motion, scaling adoption carried significant risk.

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System Built

Grow Big Ventures partnered with Collegiate X to design a strategic foundation for early growth.

The system included:

• Go-To-Market Strategy: Defined channels, narratives, and sequencing for athletes and sponsors
• Sales Enablement Frameworks: Outreach systems and booking processes to accelerate partnerships
• Positioning & Messaging: Clarified brand story for investors, partners, and end users
• Rapid Activation: From first call to implementation-ready insights within days

The focus was clarity, speed, and strategic leverage.

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Outcome

The engagement delivered immediate strategic value:

• Streamlined onboarding and engagement flow
• Clear roadmap for accelerating adoption across key segments
• Stronger positioning in conversations with investors and partners
• Increased confidence in scaling within the NIL ecosystem

Collegiate X moved from early uncertainty to focused execution.

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Testimonial

“From our very first conversation, our team was blown away by the ideas and strategies Zane and the Grow Big Ventures team brought to the table for a new and rapidly evolving NIL market.

The experience was seamless—from reaching out, to scheduling, to receiving actionable insights that can significantly accelerate growth on the Collegiate X platform. Their ideas are truly priceless.”

— Anjay Sakuru, Founder & CTO

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Conclusion

This case highlights the importance of early strategic clarity in emerging markets. By refining go-to-market execution, sales motion, and positioning, Grow Big Ventures helped Collegiate X accelerate traction and compete confidently in the NIL space.

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Disclosure

“Omni is a portfolio and partner company of Grow Big Ventures. Omni provides fulfillment services for certain engagements and is owned and operated by the GBV team.”

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