2 days ago
Aaron Rodgers-backed startup aims to be the IMDb for pro athletes
NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers is backing a startup that hopes to make athletes more accessible to companies, charities and sponsors.
launched on Tuesday as a rebrand of the former Online Sports Database. The site was created to improve access to athletes, offering a more streamlined way for organizations to connect with them.
The rebrand isn't just about a new name. is also rolling out a subscription-based model, offering users full access to its growing database for $29.99 per month, or $199.99 per year.
Rodgers, currently quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is an original founder in the platform. He's joined by a high-profile group of investors that includes legendary sports agent Scott Boras and the Google for Startups Cloud Program: Scale AI Tier, as well as private equity firms Solyco Capital, Prota Ventures, Bullock Capital and Pressplay Capital.
declined to comment on the exact size of Rodgers' investment in the company, but said it was in the seven figures.
CEO Sean O'Brien said is on pace for six-figure revenue and positive cash flow this year.
The concept was first co-founded in 2021 by actor and producer Ryan Rottman, who said he noticed a glaring gap in how athletes are listed compared with how actors are made available on IMDb.
"I had a producer from a Hallmark Christmas film look at my IMDb Pro profile — they saw me on "90210" — to see who my agent was and reached out. Since then, I've been in eight Hallmark Christmas films. Had that info not been right, they could have moved on to the next person, and I would have missed out," Rottman told CNBC.
He pitched the idea to Rodgers, who immediately got on board.
"Aaron likes to say we're building this not for the 1% of athletes, but for the other 99% — to help generate revenue, get their stories out there, find endorsement deals, support their charities. That's how it came to fruition," Rottman said.
Today, has more than 4,000 athletes and 2,000 agents in its database. Each profile offers everything from their representation to their endorsements and philanthropy. The company has a small team that works with the leagues and agents to compile and update the data.
It plans to scale the database by adding front office executives, team contacts and retired athletes in the future.
Rottman said agents have been embracing the platform.
"It saves them time, helps meet endorsement quotas, and we don't take a cut," he said.
The tool also helps avoid misfires in outreach, O'Brien said, citing NBA legend LeBron James as a hypothetical example.
"Before us, someone might email Rich Paul for a brand deal — but Maverick Carter is the guy you want for LeBron's business stuff. We eliminate that confusion," said O'Brien.
