How Long Before We Get a $6 Trillion Sports Team?
This week we drop in on the Lakers deal, get an update from our reporter in Cannes about where all the sports marketing money is going, and say something nice about AI for once. Plus we start our weekly Club World Cup scorecard.
Also check out the latest episode of the Deal, where Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly sit with David Blitzer, co-founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, to discuss how his teams use data and analytics.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ex-Blackstone Investor Raises $7M for Meridian, Private Equity's New AI Operating System
NEW YORK, June 20, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Meridian, the AI-powered deal management platform for the private markets, today announced its $7 million Series Seed fundraise. The round was led by 645 Ventures with participation from existing investor Chaac Ventures. Meridian also welcomed a group of high-impact angel investors – industry leaders from private equity, credit, and M&A law, many of whom have actively shaped Meridian as early users. Founded by Alexander Sen, a former investor at Blackstone, Thoma Bravo, and CVC, Meridian is building the AI operating system for private market investors. The company combines modern CRM with deep workflow automation and proprietary AI agents to solve the core operational pain points of the world's leading investors – from deal origination to exit. "Private equity still runs on fragmented, manual systems: clunky software, Excel trackers, and scattered third-party data subscriptions," said Alexander Sen, founder and CEO of Meridian. "We're building software that finally reflects how top investment teams source and diligence deals – and we've vertically integrated AI to enable workflows that were never possible before." Meridian brings together a team of over 25 across New York and Miami, with experience spanning enterprise software, AI infrastructure, and capital markets. The company has also hired an experienced customer team who guide firms through the most important technological shift facing private markets today. At the heart of the platform is Scout, Meridian's AI engine. Scout powers intelligent agents that map markets, pinpoint the right companies, automate core evaluation workflows, and surface relationship signals where they matter most. It helps firms spot high-conviction deals before the market does – giving teams a decisive sourcing and diligence edge. Meridian has to date focused on the top of the market, helping some of the world's largest private equity and credit firms run better, more intelligent deal sourcing and evaluation processes. The platform is quickly gaining share at top 100 firms and is now expanding into LPs, investment banks, and global hedge funds – reflecting a broader shift toward modern infrastructure across every layer of private company investing. "There's a generational shift happening in private markets – more complexity, more competition, and more data," said Nnamdi Okike, Managing Partner at 645 Ventures. "AI is a game changer for private market deal sourcing, due diligence and deal management. Firms that do not leverage AI in this new market will be left behind. We were particularly drawn to Alex's insights into how AI will transform private markets, which were developed through his experience in private equity. Meridian is arming investors with the system they'll need to win." The funding will be used to expand Meridian's AI capabilities, accelerate product development, and scale go-to-market efforts globally. "Private market firms are under pressure to move faster, operate leaner, and make sharper decisions," said Sen. "Software is no longer just overhead at private equity firms – it's become a source of edge. The best investors are treating technology and data as central to how they generate outsized returns." To request a demo or learn more, visit About Meridian Meridian is the AI-native operating system for institutional private markets. The platform combines next-generation deal software, massive datasets, and intelligent agents into a single system that helps investors originate, evaluate, and execute with greater speed and precision. Founded by Alexander Sen, a former investor at Blackstone, Thoma Bravo, and CVC, Meridian serves private equity, credit, and broader financial services firms engaged in M&A. The company is headquartered in New York and Miami, with a team of product builders, engineers, and customer leaders with deep experience across enterprise software and private markets. Learn more at About 645 Ventures 645 Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that partners with exceptional founders building iconic companies. The firm invests at the Seed and Series A stages and supports founders through its proprietary software platform Voyager and deep Connected Network. 645 Ventures manages over $550M in AUM across five funds. Learn more at View source version on Contacts Media Contact Kelsey Cullen, KCPR650.438.1063kelsey@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tiah-Mai Ayton: Boxing's Next Superstar Steps Into The Pro Ranks
Tiah-Mai Ayton: Boxing's Next Superstar Steps Into The Pro Ranks originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Many have already hailed Briton Tiah-Mai Ayton as the next major star in women's boxing, making her one of the sport's most promising prospects. Advertisement She is only 18 years old, yet she has won all 21 of her amateur fights, giving her an unbeaten record and solidifying her position as a formidable opponent. Five national crowns and a gold medal from the Under-19 World Amateur Championships, which she won spectacularly last year, are among her many achievements. Ayton's quick ascent through the amateur ranks attracted the interest of both promoters and boxing fans. In a very competitive area, her power, skill, and poise have made her stand out. She is now prepared to move forward and start her professional career after signing a long-term promotional contract with Matchroom Boxing. Ayton is well-positioned to have a significant influence on the world stage now that he has joined Matchroom, one of the largest sports promotion firms. This action demonstrates her sincere desire to have a significant impact on women's boxing. Ayton has everything it takes to win a world championship in the future with the correct direction, publicity, and preparation. Her debut is highly anticipated, and her transition from amateur to professional is being attentively monitored. Ayton, who is well-known for her aggressive fighting style and deft technical skills, is supposed to make every battle exciting. Although the teen's talent and discipline indicate she is prepared for the exam, the professional ranks will present additional hurdles. Ayton embodies a new generation of British talent ready to transform the sport as more young female fighters gain prominence. She is an inspiration to wannabe boxers nationwide in addition to being a possible future world champion. Tiah-Mai Ayton is a name that the boxing community will be hearing a lot more about in the years to come because of her unbeaten amateur record, world title already under her belt, and support from one of the sport's top promoters. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
22 minutes ago
- New York Times
Enzo Maresca says Nicolas Jackson red cards will not impact his Chelsea future
Enzo Maresca insisted that Nicolas Jackson's indiscipline is not putting his Chelsea future at risk after the striker received his second straight red card in his last four appearances for the club in a 3-1 defeat against Flamengo in the FIFA Club World Cup. Jackson was dismissed by referee Ivan Arcides Barton Cisneros in the 68th minute at Lincoln Financial Field — only four minutes after coming off the substitutes bench to replace £30million signing Liam Delap — after raising his studs to the ankle of Flamengo defender Ayrton Lucas. Advertisement Chelsea were already 2-1 down, having conceded twice in three minutes to Bruno Henrique and Danilo after Pedro Neto had given them a first-half lead. Flamengo substitute Wallace Yan then added a third to seal Flamengo's victory and all but ensure that Maresca's team are playing for second place in Group D. Jackson — who issued an apology on social media shortly after full time — will now miss Chelsea's final group match against Esperance de Tunis on Tuesday, but FIFA have the power to review and increase his suspension if they deem a one-match ban insufficient. He will also sit out the first match of the new Premier League season against Crystal Palace on August 17 as he serves the final match of his ban for the red card he was shown against Newcastle United in May after he caught Sven Botman with his elbow. Asked if Jackson's red cards are putting his Chelsea career at risk with Delap now poised to get a sustained run as the team's first-choice striker, Maresca replied: 'No, the red card has nothing to do with Nico's future. He had the first one against Newcastle when Liam was not even here and another one (against Flamengo). 'I'm not sure that it's 100 per cent a red card but the referee decided for that, and Nico knows very well that in both situations (it) was not something good for the team.' Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone, Marc Cucurella revealed that Jackson apologised to his Chelsea teammates in the dressing room after the match. 'He's very sad,' he said of Jackson. 'He tried to win the ball, had the bad luck that he kicked his leg and that's it. He's a young player with a lot of quality but maybe needs to improve a little bit in these things. He has to learn. After the manager spoke, he said sorry, he didn't do it on purpose. He's a very important player for us, we miss him the next game but this is football.' Jackson also apologised publicly with a statement on Instagram. 'Another red card… and honestly, I'm so angry at myself,' he wrote. 'I work hard every day to help the team not to put us in this kind of situation.I still don't fully understand how it happened. But one thing is clear: it wasn't intentional. Just a football moment that went the wrong way. No excuses. I take full responsibility.' Advertisement Flamengo coach Filipe Luis was firm that Jackson's tackle merited a straight red card, but backed the Senegal international to recover and continue to grow in his career. 'He's so good, he's young, he has all the potential, all the quality that the club needs,' Filipe Luis said of Jackson. 'For sure he will surpass this little mistake. It was clear. I saw it in front of me, and for me it was a red. But it's just a small detail for a big player who can be one of the biggest strikers in the world.'
