The Sport Businessman Podcast

#80: The Founder Building Italy’s Fastest Growing Esports Organization | Emanuele Acerbis, NOVO Esports

21 min · 29 de jun de 2026
Portada del episodio #80: The Founder Building Italy’s Fastest Growing Esports Organization | Emanuele Acerbis, NOVO Esports

Descripción

How do you build a modern esports organization in a market that is still early, fragmented, and full of opportunity? In this episode, Edoardo Grandi speaks with Emanuele Acerbis, the co founder and CEO of NOVO Esports, one of Italy’s most ambitious competitive gaming organizations. NOVO was founded in 2023 and is already active across multiple top titles including Brawl Stars, Rocket League, VALORANT, EA SPORTS FC, League of Legends, Call of Duty, Teamfight Tactics, and Street Fighter. The organization has achieved early competitive success, including sweeping major European teams in Brawl Stars and becoming the defending champions of the Italian Rocket Championship. Emanuele explains how NOVO was created, what problem he saw in the Italian esports landscape, and why he believes the next generation of gaming organizations must combine competitive performance, brand building, and community development. We discuss how NOVO structures its business model, how revenue enters the company, and what makes an esports organization investable in today’s market. We also explore the growth outlook for esports in 2026, including consolidation, new technologies, and the opportunities that most people still overlook.If you work in gaming, esports, or digital entertainment, this conversation will help you understand how a modern organization is built from the ground up and where the next decade of growth will come from. What we coverHow NOVO Esports was founded and the early insight behind the company How the business model works and how revenue is generated What makes an esports organization investable in 2026 The competitive structure across NOVO’s titles including Brawl Stars, Rocket League, VALORANT, EA SPORTS FC, and League of Legends The biggest tailwinds shaping the gaming and esports industry How consolidation, AR and XR, and global investment trends will impact organizations The long term opportunities in Italian and European esportsThe social and educational role of gaming for young players, academies, and communities 🎙️ Guest: Emanuele Acerbis, Co Founder and CEO, NOVO Esports 📩 Contact Edoardo: edoardo@sport-businessman.com🌐 Learn business models in sports and entertainment: sport-businessman.com

Comentarios

0

Sé la primera persona en comentar

¡Regístrate ahora y únete a la comunidad de The Sport Businessman Podcast!

Empezar

2 meses por 1 €

Después 4,99 € / mes · Cancela cuando quieras

  • Podcasts exclusivos
  • 20 horas de audiolibros / mes
  • Podcast gratuitos

Todos los episodios

89 episodios

Portada del episodio How I See Athletes Creating Wealth With Short Careers (ft. Athletes Capital Podcast)

How I See Athletes Creating Wealth With Short Careers (ft. Athletes Capital Podcast)

Listen my conversation on the Athletes Capital Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FRZqMfnAp8If you’re new to my work, I’m Edoardo Grandi and I talk about how wealth is created in sports. I interview the people who build and buy the best businesses in sports, media, and entertainment so you can see how value is created at the highest level.How I got here18: Started speaking with entrepreneurs to understand how sports businesses create wealth.19: Founded Students of Sport Business, an EdTech startup. Engaged 15 elite European sports executives and 150 students. Failed due to funding and adoption.20: Worked in wealth management in Luxembourg and London. Saw how athlete and entertainer services were underserved.21: Joined Berkida Ventures (founded by a 49ers Enterprises advisor) in London. Worked on due diligence and new business with European football clubs and sports tech companies.22: Graduated from John Cabot University in Economics and Finance & Signed NCAA Division 1 at Fordham UniversityToday: Recorded more than 80 interviews with founders and investors in sports media and entertainment to show how the best sports businesses are built, scaled, bought, and valued.My mission is to help Italy produce world champion athletes, make wealth education for athletes and entertainers accessible, and help entrepreneurs succession plan their companies so they transition cleanly. Everything I do is built to help athletes, founders, and creators build wealth in the sports ecosystem.To everyone chasing excellence in sports, keep creating value. I hope this content helps you. The climb is steep, but that is what makes champions.Keep building and never quit,EdoardoDISCLOSURE:Content is educational. Business decisions involve risk. Athletes, founders, and entrepreneurs should evaluate their own strategies and risks. Your results may vary. You are responsible for your own choices.© 2026.

22 de jul de 20264 min
Portada del episodio What I Learned About Athlete Wealth Teams (ft. Athletes Capital Podcast)

What I Learned About Athlete Wealth Teams (ft. Athletes Capital Podcast)

Listen my conversation on the Athletes Capital Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FRZqMfnAp8If you’re new to my work, I’m Edoardo Grandi and I talk about how wealth is created in sports. I interview the people who build and buy the best businesses in sports, media, and entertainment so you can see how value is created at the highest level.How I got here18: Started speaking with entrepreneurs to understand how sports businesses create wealth.19: Founded Students of Sport Business, an EdTech startup. Engaged 15 elite European sports executives and 150 students. Failed due to funding and adoption.20: Worked in wealth management in Luxembourg and London. Saw how athlete and entertainer services were underserved.21: Joined Berkida Ventures (founded by a 49ers Enterprises advisor) in London. Worked on due diligence and new business with European football clubs and sports tech companies.22: Graduated from John Cabot University in Economics and Finance & Signed NCAA Division 1 at Fordham UniversityToday: Recorded more than 80 interviews with founders and investors in sports media and entertainment to show how the best sports businesses are built, scaled, bought, and valued.My mission is to help Italy produce world champion athletes, make wealth education for athletes and entertainers accessible, and help entrepreneurs succession plan their companies so they transition cleanly. Everything I do is built to help athletes, founders, and creators build wealth in the sports ecosystem.To everyone chasing excellence in sports, keep creating value. I hope this content helps you. The climb is steep, but that is what makes champions.Keep building and never quit,EdoardoDISCLOSURE:Content is educational. Business decisions involve risk. Athletes, founders, and entrepreneurs should evaluate their own strategies and risks. Your results may vary. You are responsible for your own choices.© 2026.

Ayer5 min
Portada del episodio My take on Athletes Investing in Football Clubs (Ft. Athletes Capital Podcast)

My take on Athletes Investing in Football Clubs (Ft. Athletes Capital Podcast)

Listen my conversation on the Athletes Capital Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FRZqMfnAp8 If you’re new to my work, I’m Edoardo Grandi and I talk about how wealth is created in sports. I interview the people who build and buy the best businesses in sports, media, and entertainment so you can see how value is created at the highest level. How I got here 18: Started speaking with entrepreneurs to understand how sports businesses create wealth. 19: Founded Students of Sport Business, an EdTech startup. Engaged 15 elite European sports executives and 150 students. Failed due to funding and adoption. 20: Worked in wealth management in Luxembourg and London. Saw how athlete and entertainer services were underserved. 21: Joined Berkida Ventures (founded by a 49ers Enterprises advisor) in London. Worked on due diligence and new business with European football clubs and sports tech companies. 22: Graduated from John Cabot University in Economics and Finance & Signed NCAA Division 1 at Fordham University Today: Recorded more than 80 interviews with founders and investors in sports media and entertainment to show how the best sports businesses are built, scaled, bought, and valued. My mission is to help Italy produce world champion athletes, make wealth education for athletes and entertainers accessible, and help entrepreneurs succession plan their companies so they transition cleanly. Everything I do is built to help athletes, founders, and creators build wealth in the sports ecosystem. To everyone chasing excellence in sports, keep creating value. I hope this content helps you. The climb is steep, but that is what makes champions. Keep building and never quit, Edoardo DISCLOSURE: Content is educational. Business decisions involve risk. Athletes, founders, and entrepreneurs should evaluate their own strategies and risks. Your results may vary. You are responsible for your own choices. © 2026.

20 de jul de 20264 min
Portada del episodio #83: Money Monday | How a Stadium Signage Business Can Make More Money

#83: Money Monday | How a Stadium Signage Business Can Make More Money

If you’re new to my work, I’m Edoardo Grandi and I talk about how wealth is created in sports. I interview the people who build and buy the best businesses in sports, media, and entertainment so you can see how value is created at the highest level.How I got here18: Started speaking with entrepreneurs to understand how sports businesses create wealth.19: Founded Students of Sport Business, an EdTech startup. Engaged 15 elite European sports executives and 150 students. Failed due to funding and adoption.20: Worked in wealth management in Luxembourg and London. Saw how athlete and entertainer services were underserved.21: Joined Berkida Ventures (founded by a 49ers Enterprises advisor) in London. Worked on due diligence and new business with European football clubs and sports tech companies.22: Graduated from John Cabot University in Economics and Finance & Signed NCAA Division 1 at Fordham UniversityToday: Recorded more than 80 interviews with founders and investors in sports media and entertainment to show how the best sports businesses are built, scaled, bought, and valued.My mission is to help Italy produce world champion athletes, make wealth education for athletes and entertainers accessible, and help entrepreneurs succession plan their companies so they transition cleanly. Everything I do is built to help athletes, founders, and creators build wealth in the sports ecosystem.To everyone chasing excellence in sports, keep creating value. I hope this content helps you. The climb is steep, but that is what makes champions.Keep building and never quit,EdoardoDISCLOSURE:Content is educational. Business decisions involve risk. Athletes, founders, and entrepreneurs should evaluate their own strategies and risks. Your results may vary. You are responsible for your own choices.© 2026.

13 de jul de 20263 min
Portada del episodio #82: Money Monday | How a TALENT REPRESENTATION BUSINESS can Make More Money

#82: Money Monday | How a TALENT REPRESENTATION BUSINESS can Make More Money

If you’re new to my work, I’m Edoardo Grandi and I talk about how wealth is created in sports. I interview the people who build and buy the best businesses in sports, media, and entertainment so you can see how value is created at the highest level.How I got here18: Started speaking with entrepreneurs to understand how sports businesses create wealth.19: Founded Students of Sport Business, an EdTech startup. Engaged 15 elite European sports executives and 150 students. Failed due to funding and adoption.20: Worked in wealth management in Luxembourg and London. Saw how athlete and entertainer services were underserved.21: Joined Berkida Ventures (founded by a 49ers Enterprises advisor) in London. Worked on due diligence and new business with European football clubs and sports tech companies.22: Graduated from John Cabot University in Economics and Finance & Signed NCAA Division 1 at Fordham UniversityToday: Recorded more than 80 interviews with founders and investors in sports media and entertainment to show how the best sports businesses are built, scaled, bought, and valued.My mission is to help Italy produce world champion athletes, make wealth education for athletes and entertainers accessible, and help entrepreneurs succession plan their companies so they transition cleanly. Everything I do is built to help athletes, founders, and creators build wealth in the sports ecosystem.To everyone chasing excellence in sports, keep creating value. I hope this content helps you. The climb is steep, but that is what makes champions.Keep building and never quit,EdoardoDISCLOSURE:Content is educational. Business decisions involve risk. Athletes, founders, and entrepreneurs should evaluate their own strategies and risks. Your results may vary. You are responsible for your own choices.© 2026.

6 de jul de 20263 min