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Case Study · Founder & CEO

National Equestrian League

Founder & CEO·2021 — Present·North America

Reimagining professional show jumping through teams, media and franchise ownership.

National Equestrian League
Executive summary

The National Equestrian League was conceived as a transformational project designed to accelerate the professionalisation and commercial growth of show jumping in North America.

Inspired by the franchise-based structures that have successfully driven growth in major professional sports leagues, the objective was to create a new competitive format capable of attracting investors, sponsors, media partners and new audiences while generating sustainable long-term value for athletes, owners and event organisers.

As Founder and CEO, I led every aspect of the project from concept creation through regulatory development, commercial strategy, league architecture, team ownership models, media planning and investor engagement.

Mission

To create the first truly professional team-based show jumping league in North America — designed around franchise ownership, city-based teams, enhanced storytelling, media-friendly competition formats and long-term commercial sustainability. A platform built to increase fan engagement, attract investment and expand the commercial appeal of equestrian sport beyond its traditional audience.

v1
League architecture
FEI
Compliant regulations
NA
Target market
Franchise
Ownership model
Key responsibilities
  • Founder and creator of the league concept
  • Development of the complete business model
  • Design of the sporting and competition structure
  • Development of FEI-compliant sporting regulations
  • Direct negotiations with the FEI regarding regulatory approval
  • Design of franchise ownership and team structures
  • Creation of sponsorship and commercial rights frameworks
  • Development of venue integration models
  • Television and media format development
  • Investor presentations and fundraising strategy
  • Intellectual property protection and trademark strategy
  • Strategic partnerships and stakeholder management
Achievements
  • 01Created a complete professional league concept from the ground up
  • 02Developed a team-based competition model tailored to the North American market
  • 03Designed a franchise structure inspired by major professional sports leagues
  • 04Developed the sporting regulations and competitive framework
  • 05Established a commercial model integrating sponsorship, media and team ownership
  • 06Led discussions with international stakeholders and governing bodies
  • 07Created a long-term vision for the commercial evolution of show jumping
Leadership scope
FounderCEOLeague DevelopmentSports InnovationCompetition Format DesignFEI RegulationsCommercial StrategyFranchise DevelopmentMedia RightsSponsorshipInvestor RelationsBusiness Development
Key takeaway

The National Equestrian League was more than a league concept. It was an attempt to rethink how equestrian sport could be structured, commercialised and presented to future generations of fans, investors and stakeholders. The project reinforced my belief that show jumping possesses significant untapped commercial potential and that innovation will play a critical role in the future growth of the sport.

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