V-Ten Partners

Sportico's 100 highest-paid athletes ranking is out 💰 Some things to note: - No women on the list. - Max Verstappen (#18) and Lewis Hamilton (#22) are the only two from motorsport. - Athletes from eight sports and 27 countries earned an estimated $6.2 billion - Only 12 ⚽️ players made the list #sportsbiz #linkedinsports

lululemon teases a Lewis Hamilton collaboration. Tomorrow. A shift is coming. #F1 #LH44 Formula 1 Scuderia Ferrari

Most companies talk about mission, but at Anduril Industries, it’s more than words. It's the filter. Their latest video flips the script on recruiting and highlights all the reasons "not" to work there. - No nap pods or remote lounging - A founder obsessed with subterranean warfare - Mission obsessed The message? If you’re not aligned with the mission, you won’t last. And that’s the point. When an organization is clear on its purpose, everything changes. The right people show up. The wrong ones self-select out. A strong mission isn’t a tagline. It’s a test. #brand #marketing #defense Jeff Miller

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮 1 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘀 … …or so I’ve been told by people in less "sexy" companies. But if that’s true, why do people follow visionaries? Why do they rally behind companies that redefine what’s possible? Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries, recently said on The Shawn Ryan Show that smart kids have avoided manufacturing because they don’t see a future. And this hasn't become just a manufacturing problem. It’s an 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺, a 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺, and a 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺. If people don’t see something worth believing in, they walk away. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲-𝘁𝗼-𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲. Talent follows 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻. Capital follows 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Customers buy into 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. Leaders being inspirational isn't some fluffy marketing tactic. Companies must embed vision into everything—from their mission to messaging. Because if your company doesn’t stand for something bigger, why should anyone care?

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨— but made them 10x more effective? Decades of hands-on expertise in manufacturing are now colliding with the relentless push of a digital-first world. The challenge is to adopt tech while preserving what made these companies great—without losing efficiency, agility, or resilience. Too often, digital transformation is framed as an all-or-nothing overhaul. But the real game-changers are small, strategic shifts. Take 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲—a smart, gradual approach. Instead of waiting for a machine to fail (or over-maintaining it on strict schedules), AI-driven analytics predict breakdowns before they happen. This isn’t about replacing people—it’s about 𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲. Or 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀—virtual replicas of physical operations. Companies like Porsche AG and Schuler Group use them to test changes before implementation, reducing costs and increasing flexibility. And there's 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, a painful lesson from pandemic disruptions. Cloud-based systems and AI-powered forecasting help manufacturers predict demand, optimize inventory, and avoid stockouts and bloated warehouses. The best transformations 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩—they blend what works with what’s next. What’s one AI-driven tweak (or any small, actionable move) that’s unlocking real progress in your business? Drop your insights below 👇 #ai #innovation #manufacturing

Ok, I see you FOX Sports. Here's their first new INDYCAR ad that will debut during today's National Football League (NFL) NFC Wild Card Game and features driver Josef Newgarden and NFL legend, Tom Brady. Like ESPN has done with Formula 1 during the Liberty Media era, I believe FOX can do with IndyCar, if not, even better. #IndyCar #sportsbiz #linkedinsports

"NUTSACK!" That is what Daniel said when taking that picture 😆 There's something powerful about watching an athlete transform their competitive drive and creative expression into a business venture. I saw this firsthand at Daniel Ricciardo's Enchanté x Shopify pop-up in NYC: personal authenticity can lead to business success. What makes this a unique popup experience is how everything was designed and setup to reflect who Daniel is. And watching him interact with guests, you see the same authenticity that makes him such a beloved figure. The partnership with Shopify is a great case study because Shopify 1) doesn't charge for this, and 2) doesn't just provide infrastructure; it goes out of the way to enable the creator's vision. Shopify is creating a blueprint for how technology partners should be empowering athletes (and creators) to build authentic brands. I like what Nirupam Singh said: "The activation also showed why athletes should invest in their stories, creativity, and businesses during their careers. Daniel’s sudden career shift allowed him to refocus on his thriving clothing line." Daniel's humility is striking. When he told my wife, Amy Landino, that he didn't like the word 'entrepreneur' used to describe him, she laughed and paused, confused a bit. Daniel explained that he doesn't see himself as an entrepreneur yet because he has to work to "earn it." I'd say you're well on your way, mate. Enchantè. Thanks for having me and my wife 🙏🏻 #sportsbiz #creator #shopify #nyc #brand

"NUTSACK!" That is what Daniel said when taking that picture 😆 There's something powerful about watching an athlete transform their competitive drive and creative expression into a business venture. I saw this firsthand at Daniel Ricciardo's Enchanté x Shopify pop-up in NYC: personal authenticity can lead to business success. What makes this a unique popup experience is how everything was designed and setup to reflect who Daniel is. And watching him interact with guests, you see the same authenticity that makes him such a beloved figure. The partnership with Shopify is a great case study because Shopify 1) doesn't charge for this, and 2) doesn't just provide infrastructure; it goes out of the way to enable the creator's vision. Shopify is creating a blueprint for how technology partners should be empowering athletes (and creators) to build authentic brands. I like what Nirupam Singh said: "The activation also showed why athletes should invest in their stories, creativity, and businesses during their careers. Daniel’s sudden career shift allowed him to refocus on his thriving clothing line." Daniel's humility is striking. When he told my wife, Amy Landino, that he didn't like the word 'entrepreneur' used to describe him, she laughed and paused, confused a bit. Daniel explained that he doesn't see himself as an entrepreneur yet because he has to work to "earn it." I'd say you're well on your way, mate. Enchantè. Thanks for having me and my wife 🙏🏻 #sportsbiz #creator #shopify #nyc #brand

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem reacts to the call for the governing body to introduce permanent stewards in Formula 1 by saying, "Who's going to pay for them?" Surely, Max Verstappen's Super Licence fees could cover salaries and expenses for 4-5 permanent Stewards, right? (This video was made last year using 2023 data) #sportsbiz #linkedinsports #politics

Max Verstappen continues his dominance of Formula 1's compensation landscape, securing a $75M earnings package for 2024. The Red Bull Racing & Red Bull Technology 4x World Champion commands a $60M base salary—the highest in series history—plus $15M in performance bonuses. Key insight: F1's unique compensation structure heavily weights guaranteed salaries for elite drivers at premier teams, while up-and-coming talent and smaller outfit drivers leverage performance-based incentives. Unlike other major sports, F1's restrictive team/sponsor obligations limit drivers' external earning potential. Something to think about: Verstappen made an estimated $5 million from his business endeavors over the 12 months ending in May, nowhere near what some other global sports stars hauled in on Forbes’ 2024 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes. || Forbes list was put together with the help of Formula Money || #sportsbiz #money #earnings #LinkedInSports #F1