Blake Lawrence, Co-Founder & President of Opendorse - SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show College Sports Series

2025-08-13

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show - College Sports Edition, Wayne Kimmel and Co-Host Ken Shropshire interviewed the Co-Founder & CEO of Opendorse, Blake Lawrence. Lawrence explores the rapid evolution of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in college sports—covering the impact of recent executive orders, the financial literacy young athletes need, and the shifting dynamics of athlete compensation. He offers insights into the challenges and opportunities NIL presents, the implications of the t...

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show - College Sports Edition, Wayne Kimmel and Co-Host Ken Shropshire interviewed the Co-Founder & CEO of Opendorse, Blake Lawrence.

Lawrence explores the rapid evolution of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in college sports—covering the impact of recent executive orders, the financial literacy young athletes need, and the shifting dynamics of athlete compensation. He offers insights into the challenges and opportunities NIL presents, the implications of the transfer portal, and introduces his book, NIL 101: The House Settlement, which demystifies the complexities of NIL for athletes and industry stakeholders.

After a promising career as a University of Nebraska linebacker was cut short by injury, Lawrence pivoted to business—earning his marketing degree in 2009 and MBA in 2011. In 2010, while completing his MBA, he co-founded Hurrdat, a fast-growing social media agency later acquired in 2014. Building on that success, Lawrence and former teammate Adi Kunalic launched Opendorse in 2012. What began as a simple tool to help one friend manage endorsement deals quickly grew into the leading platform connecting athletes, brands, and sports organizations.

Under Lawrence’s leadership, Opendorse has partnered with major sports associations including the NFLPA, MLBPA, PGA Tour, NHLPA, and Team USA. Today, the platform serves more than 100,000 athletes, 3,000 brands, and thousands of organizations—backed by $40 million in venture capital and patent-pending technology that quantifies athlete endorsement value.

Known for blending lessons from the locker room with entrepreneurial grit, Lawrence champions values like teamwork, accountability, competitiveness, and relentless work ethic. Beyond running Opendorse, he is a sought-after speaker and media voice, appearing on ESPN’s Outside the Lines, SportsCenter, Today Show, Bloomberg QuickTake, and more.

Blake Lawrence:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakealawrence/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blake_lawrence/

X: https://x.com/Blake_Lawrence

NIL 101: The House Settlement: https://blakelawrence.gumroad.com/l/NIL101TheHouseSettlement?utm_campaign=house-posts&utm_medium=social&utm_source=x

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Blake Lawrence and Opendorse

02:51 The Evolution of NIL and Opendorse' Role

08:29 The Impact of NIL on Young Athletes

12:07 Financial Literacy and Support for Athletes

16:31 Compensation Disparities and Locker Room Dynamics

21:14 The Transfer Portal and Its Implications