Behind every highlight reel is a messy maze of contacts, gatekeepers, and missed opportunities—until someone maps it.
In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Ryan Rottman, actor-turned-founder who conceived an “IMDb for athletes,” and Sean O’Brien, CEO and former CMO who scaled Modloft from ~$25M to nearly $100M and helped Kevin Costner’s Autio build engineering in-house. Backed by marquee investors (including super-agent Scott Boras) and a recent CNBC debut, AthleteAgent.com centralizes accurate, validated contacts for athletes and agents across growing pro leagues. Ryan and Sean share how they’re boosting deal flow for the 99% of athletes, tightening product focus, and building trust in an industry famous for being fragmented and insular.
Key Takeaways:
→ How a dinner with Aaron Rodgers sparked the idea for an “IMDb for athletes”
→ Why athlete representation and endorsement deals are so fragmented—and how they’re solving it
→ The surprising industries subscribing to AthleteAgent (from Coca-Cola to financial advisors)
→ How AthleteAgent is bringing transparency, trust, and deal flow to athletes and agents
→ Why sports representation and endorsements are so fragmented—and how a centralized “pro LinkedIn” changes the game
Ryan Rottman is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of AthleteAgent.com, a groundbreaking sports tech platform. In his role, Ryan oversees business operations, strategic partnerships, and platform development, helping expand the site’s reach across professional leagues and enhance its database of verified athlete and team contacts.
Before stepping into the tech and sports business world, Ryan built a successful career in entertainment, starring in films such as Billionaire Boys Club, The Open Road, and a variety of Hallmark originals, as well as television series like 90210(CW), The Middle (ABC), and The Lying Game (ABC Family). His background in production and storytelling has been instrumental in shaping AthleteAgent.com’s user experience and brand identity. Ryan combines business acumen with creative vision, bringing a unique edge to the intersection of sports, media, and tech.
Connect With Ryan Rottman and Sean O'Brien:
Website: https://www.athleteagent.com/
Instagram: https://www.athleteagent.com/
