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Few players matched Baron Davis’s electrifying and explosive energy in his prime. The two-time NBA All-Star dazzled fans with his towering dunks and smart ball handling. Since retiring in 2012, Davis has served as Mr. Multi-Hyphenate, handling every thing from maintaining a diversified investment portfolio to replenishing IMBD page with subtitles of actors and producers. Now he channels his passion and competitive spirit into building a recent legacy through his company Business in the game (BIG).
Launched in 2017, BIG is a members-only platform that gives its community with networking and thought leadership events, investment opportunities and useful personal connections.
“Many entrepreneurs work alone,” Davis says. “BIG is a network where entrepreneurs can connect with people who have been in their shoes – investors, senior executives and industry talent.”
The idea got here from Davis’ locker room conversations with his NBA teammates. “I realized that boys were as competitive in other areas of life as they were on the field,” Davis recalled. “Whether it was art, technology or something else, their passion was inspiring.” Motivated by their stories, Davis had an epiphany: “What if there was a platform where we could share ideas, we could share deal flow, and then we could see other people’s deals and provide insight.”
Davis draws heavily on his NBA experience to shape his vision for BIG. “In sports you have specialized coaches – for strength, shooting, diet and more,” he says. “I want to take the same approach.”
In other words, it’s about greater than just getting as many people in the room as possible – it’s about getting the right people together. This means creating a network of entrepreneurs, investors and thought leaders tailored to your individual needs. “You want to come in knowing you’re surrounded by like-minded people,” Davis says. “When I attend conferences, people often visit me. But I’m there to meet others, and I don’t always make those connections.”
Contrary to popular belief, most athletes don’t get to sail off into the sunset in a boat full of money when they’re done playing. Notoriously short careers often force them to move on to a new career after “retirement.” While investing has become a standard way for former players to maintain financial security, it can also be risky. “We are seen as an easy target,” Davis says. “People assume we [athletes] “They don’t know our value outside of sports, especially in industries like technology.” His solution? Start teaching them.
This idea has manifested itself in the type of an app, which is expected to launch in 2025. The goal is to “operationalize” the audience by using the algorithm to share proven business opportunities with BIG members and populating the “feed” with relevant content, workshops and more. He sees the BIG app as a way to streamline the event and give attendees a Facetime with the people they met. Davis hopes that the community he is building will grow BIG enough (pun intended) to function a resource for businesses and entrepreneurs. “When it’s time to innovate or you want to learn something new about yourself, your company and your leadership, BIG is here for you,” Davis says.
After years of studying the changing sports landscape, Davis and his team imagine the time to launch is now. “Now more than ever, brands have the opportunity to be the voice of creators and the sales channel,” says Davis. The next step is to work out how to reap the benefits of this chance. For Davis, it comes down to answering two key questions: where is your audience and who is it? And how do you build the right community around your brand?
As we navigate our increasingly virtual world, especially in industries like sports, Davis believes direct-to-consumer and direct-to-fan models are becoming increasingly vital. He says it’s about giving fans access while also allowing creators to control their very own content and updates. “Platforms like YouTube, Instagram and TikTok are great for showcasing personality and connecting with fans,” Davis says. But his most important concern is what happens next. “What is advertising these days when everyone has it?” – wonders the former quarterback. “Where will you bring this audience back and how will you continue to meaningfully engage them?”
Davis has all the time been a playmaker, averaging seven assists per game throughout his NBA profession. Although he now not calls bullshit, Davis continues to lead the way in creating opportunities for his “partners,” connecting entrepreneurs with investors and guiding athletes through their post-career transitions. Kicking off its ninth 12 months, Davis and BIG will host their event first summit on October 19where they plan to start beta testing their app. “We feel like we’ve built more than just technology,” Davis says. “We have created a tool that unites people.”