Caleb Downs isn’t just one of college football’s brightest defensive backs—he’s also the co-founder of Launch Point, a breakthrough NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) platform that’s quickly gaining traction in Ohio. With a mission to connect collegiate athletes to brands, Downs built Launch Point from the ground up, self-funding its earliest stages and generating real revenue—all before turning 21. Named one of Forbes Local Columbus’s “30 Under 30” in 2025, Launch Point is turning heads both on and off the field.
Why it matters now? Athletic brands are clamoring for authentic voices, while athletes are eager for streamlined, fair access to NIL partnerships. Launch Point bridges that gap: a lean, athlete-first marketplace that scales quickly and ethically. It’s insider innovation that’s already reshaping how college athletes monetize their personal brands—starting in Columbus, but with potential reach far beyond.
👤 The Origin Story
Caleb Downs burst onto the national stage as a unanimous All-American and Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year at Ohio State. But off the field, he saw something few others did: peers struggling to find quality NIL deals, buried in spreadsheets and overwhelmed by opaque processes.
At a pivotal moment, Downs reflected: “You have to know yourself to have a good brand.” He realized that while athletes like him were quality ambassadors, they needed infrastructure to scale their reach and protect their brand—especially when negotiating with major brands like Armani, DSW, and A‑Game hydration.
So, between practices and film sessions, Downs built Launch Point. He self-funded its MVP: a simple, athlete-centric platform where collegiate players could register, showcase their attributes, and pitch brands directly. No seed rounds. No venture pressure. Just the grit of a student-athlete on a mission.
That mission earned him a spot in Forbes Local Columbus’s 30 Under 30 Class of 2025—proof that Launch Point is more than a passion project. It’s a blueprint for next-gen athlete empowerment, driven by someone who knows the field inside and out (ohiostatebuckeyes.com, sportskeeda.com).
🧠 Market Pain / Problem
The NIL era unlocked opportunity—but it also unleashed chaos. Athletes juggle scouting for deals, managing IP rights, recording deliverables, and dealing with IRS complications—all without a playbook. Brands scramble, too, hunting for authentic athlete partners, but often face friction and fraud.
The result? Wasted time, missed deals, and endless confusion. A system meant to decentralize athlete endorsements quickly became overloaded with intermediaries and broken tech. Athletes deserve control and simplicity; brands demand trust and transparency.
Launch Point zeros in on this breakdown—offering a streamlined path to genuine, fair partnerships. The problem isn’t demand—it’s the fractured marketplace. That breakdown is Launch Point’s opportunity.
🛠️ Product + MVP Launch
Launch Point’s MVP was deceptively simple: a curated dashboard where athletes like Downs could showcase social reach, athletic stats, and sponsorship history to registered brands. It included:
- Athlete profiles (stats, imagery, contact info)
- Brand discovery (AI-matched based on sport, values, size)
- Deals in process (tracking agreements, deliverables, payouts)
Built on a lean budget, the MVP was launched at Ohio State in early 2024. Within weeks, fellows secured deals with respected brands—proof the model worked. Without venture funding or external guidance, Launch Point turned promise into platform in record time.
💸 Fundraising Timeline
Here’s where Launch Point stands:
- 2024–2025: Entirely self-funded by Downs and co-founders—no external capital raised.
- Generating revenue through commissions and platform subscriptions.
- No public seed or VC rounds yet; building proof of concept before seeking institutional funding.
This grassroots approach gives Launch Point freedom—to move fast, iterate on user feedback, and retain control over its mission before institutional round pressures emerge.
📊 Business Model
| Segment | Revenue Model | Channels & Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Athletes | Subscription or commission per deal | Direct outreach at colleges |
| Brands | Subscription + per-deal fees | Brand marketing teams, collegiate brand reps |
Launch Point earns by taking modest commissions on each deal and charging subscription fees to brands seeking direct access to curated athlete talent. Athletes often access the platform at no cost, enabling rapid growth in registered users.
Distribution works through peer referrals among athletes, college NIL consultations, and early brand partnerships. With zero outside capital, every dollar comes from value delivered.
📚 Tactical Lessons
- Start Inside the System
Example: Downs is both athlete and co-founder—giving insider insight into NIL chaos.
Apply: Solve a problem you experience firsthand. Your authenticity becomes the product. - Keep It Lean
Example: No VC. Just self-funded MVP. Moves faster with less pressure.
Apply: Build something that works at scale before courting capital. - Focus on Simplicity
Example: MVP had only core features—profile, match, manage. No fluff.
Apply: Launch a single feature that solves a major friction point. - Leverage Authority
Example: NCAA star endorsing his own service builds instant trust.
Apply: Use your credentials to jumpstart credibility without marketing budgets. - Generate Proof Before Fundraising
Example: Revenue and brand deals let Launch Point talk to investors from a position of strength.
Apply: Show traction—not just traffic—before taking capital. - Platform = Two-Sided Network
Example: Athletes attract brands. Brands attract athletes. Flywheel engaged.
Apply: Prioritize growth on one side, then the other follows.
🔥 The Call to Arms
Builders: athletes aren’t the only ones needing playbooks. You are.
Launch Point started because one person—Caleb Downs—saw broken systems through lived experience and decided to fix them. That’s the spark: deep empathy + a methodical repair mindset.
No outside funding. No flashy pitch deck. Just grit, clarity, and early users who needed what he built. If you’re wrestling with fragmented systems—college admissions, freelance onboarding, fitness coaching—it’s not too late. Build what you need. Start small, find your costumer-in-chief, iterate, and stay nimble.
Your lived pain could be someone else’s goldmine. If you feel the dissonance—maybe it’s time to do something about it.
Launch Point is still early. But it’s already rewriting the rules for athlete empowerment.
What’s your Launch Point?
Hell yes. Let’s build something pure, purposeful, and powerful.