We have secured a preferred rate at the Higueron Hotel by Hilton for conference attendees. Availability is first come, first serve. Please reach out to saktish.ganesh@nbpa.com for more information.
About
The National Basketball Players Association serves to protect and support the rights and talents of the 450 best basketball players in the world, magnify the power of their collective, and amplify their voices as leaders. With that in mind, we're excited to welcome you to the Inaugural NBPA Performance Summit @ The Sanctuary, where we will bring together some of the most renowned experts, athletes, and decision-makers in the sports tech industry.
The two-day event will run from July 18-20th and will explore the latest developments and advantages in the sports performance and tech space. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in expert-led workshops, attend interactive demonstrations, and engage in thought-provoking discussions with fellow thought leaders and athletes.
Taking place in Fuengirola, which is conveniently located between Malaga and Marbella, participants will also have the chance to take in the local culture and enjoy some time at the beach or on the local golf courses.
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World-class athletes
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Investors
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C-Suite executives
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Industry experts
Meet Our Emcee

Benny Bonsu
Global Sports Leader in Media and Business
Benny Bonsu, an award-winning industry trailblazer, currently serves as the Director of Daily Content at Olympic Channel Services, a division of the prestigious International Olympic Committee (Olympics.com). Her leadership in this role signifies her outstanding commitment to the sports media industry. Her previous position as the Head of Editorial for Women’s Sports at GiveMeSport was marked by the unprecedented success of Women’s Sports coverage in the UK, a testament to her dynamic leadership. This remarkable accomplishment also earned her historic recognition in 2019, as she became the UK's first female sports editor. Benny has an impressive portfolio of high-profile on-air projects, working alongside broadcasting powerhouses such as BBC, Sky Sports, BT Sport, Modern Times Group, LOCOG 2012, and Alibaba. With her contributions to FAWSL, English Premier League, NBA, NFL, and London 2012 Olympics among others, she has consistently produced award-winning content, exhibiting her proficiency in the field. Renowned for her charismatic, direct, and tenacious approach to sports journalism, Benny is deeply respected by her industry peers, athletes, and the emerging generation of sports leaders. Her distinguished body of work has earned numerous accolades, including nominations for “Sports Leader Under 40 of the Year,” and “Sportswoman of the Year” at the 2018 Baton Awards. She was also a notable finalist in the 2017 Women’s Trust Award “Best Media Individual of the Year” category. In addition to her professional roles, Benny serves on the Board of Directors for Basketball England, the Sports Journalists Association, and African Health Now, demonstrating her commitment to the industry. She is an active advocate for diversity in newsrooms and nurturing emerging talent in the sports industry. In addition to her impressive professional achievements, Benny Bonsu holds esteemed ambassador roles in several global initiatives. She proudly serves as the inaugural ambassador for the Global First Ladies Alliances, Benny also works with The END Fund, fighting fervently for the eradication of neglected tropical diseases. Further extending her sphere of influence, she is an ardent ambassador and champion for UNESCO's Fit for Life Programme.Beyond her roles in the corporate world, Benny contributes to society through her non-profit organization, the 3012LEADERs Foundation and 3030 Academy. These initiatives are geared towards empowering communities through gender equality, grassroots sports, and amplifying athletes' voices.
Meet Our Speakers

Alysse Soll
CEO, Underdog Advisory & Chair, Women in Sports Tech (WiST)
Alysse Soll is the CEO of underdog advisory, the investment arm of underdog venture team, a venture studio. In this role, she leads underdog’s efforts in sourcing, investing, advising, and fundraising for startups across the sports ecosystem, with a mission to support female and BIPOC founders. Alysse is a 17-year veteran of the National Hockey League, launching the San Jose Sharks in 1990, where she pioneered fan acquisition platforms adopted by all NHL teams and other North American professional leagues. At the NHL, Alysse first launched and led the Fan Development Department driving global fan engagement through an era of unprecedented growth. She later launched the NHL’s first marketing department, driving digital engagement and programming. Prior to underdog venture team, she was President of NewModel Advisory, a boutique sports innovation consultancy which connects sports tech start ups with sports properties across the globe. Alysse was recently recognized by SBJ as one of the 2022 Power Players in Sports Technology. She is an Angel investor, capital fundraiser and M&A for sports tech startups (pre-seed through Series A), and a certified (Series 7, Series 63) FINRA registered representative. Alysse is actively engaged as an advisor across the startup sports technology ecosystem and serves as a judge and mentor for Sports Tech and Innovation Accelerators including Stadia Ventures, Mass Challenge, Comcast/NBCUniversal, DivInc., Tech Stars, and Pokatok. Alysse serves on non-profit Boards, as the Chair of WIST (Women in Sports Tech) and as Deal Co-Chair of the Harvard Business School Alumni Angels where she also leads the Sports sector investments. Alysse serves on corporate Boards including Healium, a health and wellness tech company and Zoomph, a sports analytics company. Alysse is a graduate of Cornell University with a BA in Japanese Studies and Harvard Business School, Advanced Management. As a former athlete, world-class figure skater and Varsity Ice Hockey Player, she knows a thing or two about discipline, grit, patience, and practice. She is a proud mother of an amazing college student who keeps her on her toes.

Andre Iguodala
4x NBA Champion. GP Mastry Ventures. Co-Host of Point Forward Podcast. NYT Best Selling Author. Jumia Board Member.
Andre Iguodala, a 19-year NBA veteran, has excelled both on the court and in the business world. As a four-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, former All-Star, and two-time Olympic gold medalist, he has also made his mark as an entrepreneur in technology and e-commerce. Andre has invested in over 50 companies, including Coinbase, Robinhood, Dapper Labs, and Zoom. He is a co-owner of the Leeds United Football Club and serves as an investor and board member for Jumia Technologies (NYSE: JMIA), as well as a board advisor for Zuora (NYSE: ZUO). Andre has emerged as a thought leader in sports, business, and venture capital. He co-founded The Players Technology Summit and authored the bestselling memoir, 'The Sixth Man.' Additionally, Andre co-hosts the popular sports podcast, Point Forward, alongside his friend and former teammate, Evan Turner. Throughout his NBA career, which spanned the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets, and Philadelphia 76ers, Andre demonstrated his defensive prowess, earning accolades such as the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award and multiple All-Defensive Team selections. Andre Iguodala and his family reside in California.

Andrew Hawkins
President and Co-Founder, StatusPRO
ANDREW “HAWK” HAWKINS, President and co-founder of StatusPRO, a venture-backed sports tech company specializing in software simulations, and the developer of the first-ever NFL Virtual reality video game, NFL PRO ERA. Following a seven-year NFL playing career, during which he earned a Master’s degree from Columbia University, Andrew “Hawk” Hawkins went on to consult for NBA and NFL teams in addition to sports analytics-based companies. He’s served as on-air talent at NFL Media, Roku, Amazon Studios, ESPN, Discovery, and Uninterrupted. Hawk’s experience working with brands and his continuing effort to democratize the athlete experience has served him well as an entrepreneur and now cofounder of StatusPRO.

Anthony Paladin
Senior Manager Sports Performance & Analytics, Presight AI & G42
Tony is a sports analytics solutions expert in assisting elite international sports teams and athletes to optimize their personal wellness and performance enhancement goals through big data management, artificial intelligence and MultiOmic applications. Currently, Tony works closely with the UAE cycling team, Mercedes Petronas AMG Formula 1, the UFC, and numerous international sports teams. Tony has 18 years experience in business management, exercise physiology, orthopaedic rehabilitation, sports science and high performance athlete management. Tony is highly experienced in leadership, team management and project management, as well as being a registered Biokineticist (Exercise Physiologist) with Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). Tony was a professional rower (Crew member) from 1998 to 2012, World Championship medallist, Olympic Games qualifier and Commonwealth Games gold medallist. Following on from a career in rowing, a “Gold medal” approach has been maintained to all aspects of life with great reward in team performance, mentoring and coaching in all spheres from disability to high performance.

Antonio Cacorino
CEO, APEX Capital
Antonio is Co-founder and CEO of APEX. He holds a Bsc in Economics from Catolica Lisbon and a Msc in Finance from Cass. Before starting APEX, he spent 10+ years in the financial services industry based out of London, with various leadership roles in institutions such as BNP Paribas CIB, Leonteq and Welz. He founded APEX with the belief that athletes want to have a leading role as investors and have the expertise, know-how and network to add value in the sector. In the first 2 years, his belief has led APEX to close 14 investments and partner with 70+ athletes across multiple sports.

Benoit Ammann
Senior Manager of Sport Technology and Analytics and High-Performance Programs, Saudi Olympic Committee
Benoit recently joined the Saudi Olympic Training Centre (SOTC) as the Kingdom ushers in a new era for Saudi Sport. His role at SOTC is to implement technology and analytics strategies to support growth and development, pushing the limits to optimize human performance. He plays an instrumental and strategic role bringing technologies to support sustainable high-performance programs and services for Team Saudi athletes. Prior to his role, he held a similar position at the Singapore Sports Institute (SSI). Working with his team, one of his major projects was the development and deployment of a complete integrated Athlete Data Management System. This new platform contributed to building analytics capacities, impacting on objective decision making, and efficient sports organization management, while engaging with the entire competitive sports community in Singapore. Most recently, Benoit has been developing Computer Vision initiatives, maximizing current Computer vision technology, A.I. and machine learning. He partnered with Major Technology companies, to provide applications to address the challenges in data collection for Performance Analysis & Optimization, Training & Athlete monitoring, Broadcasting and Fan engagement.

Brian Moore
Co-Founder & CEO, Orreco
Dr Brian Moore is co-founder and CEO of sports and data science company Orreco. Brian has led global research in applied sports science since 1999 working with world class Olympic athletes as part of his doctoral research at Brunel University, London. He has worked directly with multiple World and Olympic medalists, and numerous pro sports teams and athletes competing in NBA, EPL, NFL, WNBA, NWSL, WSL, NHL, PGA Tour, UEFA, America’s Cup Sailing and Formula1. An Applied Physiologist, Brian has an international reputation for using sports science and data science to provide evidence-based actionable analytics to accelerate recovery, optimize performance and prolong the careers of elite athletes.

David Foster
Deputy Legal Counsel, National Basketball Players Association (NBPA)
David Foster serves as the NBPA's Deputy General Counsel with the added responsibility of helping create and implement long-term strategic business plans designed to drive growth for the union. Foster works alongside the General Counsel on all issues related to collective bargaining and agent regulations and serves as the NBPA's lead attorney on matters related to technology, public policy, player health, and discipline. Foster joined the NBPA in 2015 after an 11-year career as a prosecutor at both the state and federal levels. Since joining the NBPA, Foster has testified before multiple government bodies on behalf of the union, defended player rights in grievance proceedings, and enforced the regulations that govern all NBPA certified agents. In addition to these responsibilities, Foster most recently served as the Interim Executive Director for the NextGen Basketball Players Association, the union for NBA G League players. Under Foster's leadership, the union’s members enjoyed increased wages and benefits as well as improved working conditions. Prior to joining the NBPA Foster was prosecutor for over a decade serving first as an Assistant District Attorney in Queens County, New York and then an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. Foster graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and then went on to receive his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. In 2019, Foster became the first person from the NBPA to earn a Sports Business Journal 40 under 40 award.

Didac Lee
Co-Founder, Galdana Ventures
Previous to co-founding Galdana Ventures in 2015, Dídac has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years, founding several tech companies (among others: Inspirit, TradeInn, Fhios, Peninsula, Threepoints – Planeta, Safe365), today they account for 1000 employees and 400M in turnover annually. Dídac is well known in the start-up world as a Business Angel. He invested in some of the top Spanish start-ups (some of them are Vicio, Housfy, Exoticca, Paack, Glovo, LingoKids) and he currently serves as mentor and Board Member to many of them. Dídac is Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Galdana Ventures. With 1B USD fund invested in Silicon Valley (50%), China (30%) and Europe (20%), Galdana Ventures is considered one of the best performing Venture Capital Fund of Funds globally. Dídac is a former Board Member of FC Barcelona, he served on the Board for 10 years from 2010 to 2020. Since 2018, he was Head of Digital, an internationally recognized reference in its field, with 370M followers in social media and more than 100M Euros in annual turnover. Among Lee ́s achievements at FCB, one of the biggest is the leading of the digitalization of the Club, creating Barça Digital, Barça Studios and Barça Merch (BLM); his legacy is applauded by many. Throughout his career he received remarkable honors for his work, among them Doctor Honoris Causa from the Universidad del Siglo 21 (in 2018), Entrepreneur of the Year (PIMEC 2019), Best Business Angel (AEBAN 2019), Best European Mentor (Founder Institute, 2013) and Best Tech Entrepreneur (Cambridge University 2005). Dídac is a proud figuerenç (Figueres is a small town located 140km Northeast of Barcelona). When he is not traveling between China and the Silicon Valley, he lives in Barcelona and Figueres; he loves practicing adventure sports like quad and buggy racing, advanced scuba diving (SSI Divemaster y CMAS 3*) and skateboarding. His parents emigrated from Taiwan to Spain more than 50 years ago, he is fluent in 5 languages including Mandarin Chinese

Esteban Granero
CEO, Olocip
More than a decade of experience in Spanish First Division, English Premier League and more than 400 official matches. U-19 European Championship, Spanish Copa del Rey and a LaLiga Championship are his main football records. Esteban, founder of several projects in professional sports and industry, particularly Olocip, a pioneering company specialized in the development and implementation of Artificial Intelligence. Under the technical direction of its technological partners, the prestigious scientists Concha Bielza and Pedro Larrañaga (both AI full professors with more than 30 years of experience), positioning itself as a disruptive company of maximum reliability and based on scientific rigor. For this reason, in 2018 Esteban was awarded by the CSIC at the Science Gala for the "Promotion of Research and Science” and received recognition from the Community of Madrid as a highly innovative company in Research and Innovation for intelligent specialization. In addition, since 2019, Olocip has been a member of the European Artificial Intelligence Alliance. He is also currently Chief Strategic Officer at Best Of You Sports, a leading company in the sports sector, member of the advisory board of the World Football Summit and a member of the expert committee of the Spanish marketing association.

Evan Turner
Former National College Player of the Year & Consensus First Team All-American. Former Big-10 Player of the Year & Most Outstanding Player. 2nd Overall Pick in 2010 NBA Draft. Co-Founder of the Point Forward Podcast.
Evan Turner, a graduate of The Ohio State University, is a former first-team AP All-American and National Player of the Year. Evan was the 2nd overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, selected by the Philadelphia 76ers. Following his 10-year NBA career as a player, he served as an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics. Turner is an experienced investor with a diverse portfolio which includes commercial real-estate holdings, commodities, fashion-retail, cryptocurrency, and technology to name a few. He is the co-host of the podcast series Point Forward with Andre Iguodala, which launched in January 2022. Evan has a strong commitment to philanthropic endeavors in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois where he currently resides.

Eyal Eliakim
Co-Founder and CTO, Zone7
Eyal Eliakim (Co-Founder and CTO, Zone7) is an experienced Data Scientist and Performance Analyst with a demonstrated history of working in the sports industry and business insights field. A strong information technology professional, Eliakim worked as a Data Analyst at Salesforce, Head of Performance at Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem, and a Research Analyst at the Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences at the Wingate Institute prior to co-founding Zone7 in 2017.

Hasim Ay
Head Physiotherapist, Turkish National Basketball Team
Hasim Ay is a highly specialized expert in sports injury prevention and performance enhancement for basketball and soccer players. He possesses exceptional expertise in predicting injuries before they occur, earning him a strong reputation in the field. Hasim holds bachelor's degrees in athletic training and physical education from Istanbul, Turkey, as well as a bachelor's degree in physiotherapy from Eindhoven, Netherlands. His pursuit of knowledge led him to undertake post-graduate programs in orthopedic manual therapy in Perth, Australia, and advanced movement analysis at Washington University in Saint Louis, United States. What sets Hasim apart is his unique blend of physical medicine and movement science, combined with his collaboration with pioneers in osteopathic and chiropractic medicine. This distinctive combination has made him a prominent figure in the field of physical medicine and movement science. As a senior physical therapist, he became the first physical therapist in Turkish history to win a silver medal in the European Championship in 2011. He also contributed to the success of the Turkish National Women's Basketball Team, which achieved a fifth-place finish in the Olympic Games in London in 2012, a bronze medal in the European Championship in 2013, and fourth in the World Championship in 2014 and European Championship, respectively, in 2015. Currently, Hasim serves as a consultant physical therapist for the Turkish Basketball Federation, providing valuable expertise. He also consults with European soccer teams and NBA players, further establishing his influence in the field of sports medicine and physical therapy.

Iris Córdoba Mondéjar
General Manager, Global Sports Innovation Center (GSIC) powered by Microsoft
Born in Buenos Aires, Iris has a Degree in Law from the University of Buenos Aires, a Master's Degree in Administration and Public Policy from the INAP-University of Alcalá, and a Master's Degree in Digital Economics from the School of Industrial Organization. She has obtained the research proficiency of the PhD in Applied Economics from the University of Alcalá. She has developed her professional career linked to the promotion of entrepreneurship, and support of small and medium enterprises from the public-private perspective, both in Latin America and in Spain with a major emphasis on cultural industries, Spanish economy, sports, and entertainment industry. She put into operation and directed for 6 years the Plataforma del Español, an innovative non-profit business association that promotes the positioning of the Spanish language as an economic resource, and entrepreneurship in the cultural industries sector. Since the beginning of 2015, she has set up and runs the Global Sports Innovation Center powered by Microsoft, a collaborative initiative between the public, private and academic sectors, which aims to promote innovation in the sports industry, creating an ecosystem that is currently composed of more than 200 companies and institutions that in a coordinated way generate synergies and value projects in the sector. Iris also actively participates as a speaker, mentor and jury in startup competitions and in events linked to sports and technology on national and international levels such as Sports Analytics World Series, The SPOT, TEKAN TEN by Asics, WFStartcup by GSIC, among the others. In 2016, she was recognized as one of the 10 most influential women in the sports industry according to the ranking published annually by Metadeporte magazine. Likewise, in 2017 she was a candidate to be one of the top 100 women leaders in Spain of the magazine Mujeres y Cía. She is an active member in various forums, such as the CSD woman, the Sports Committee of the Spanish Association of Women Marketing, Soccer in Words from the Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library or Engagement de Mujeres y Cía. Iris is also a member of World Football Summit Advisory Board. In 2018 she entered the list of Top 100 Female Leades of Spain in the category Revelation and Entrepreneurs. At the end of 2018, Metadeporte magazine named Iris Córdoba one of the 20 most influential women in the sports industry in Spain. In early 2021, Iris was awarded ”Exceptional Women of Excellence” by Women Economic Forum. In 2023 Iris entered the ranking of the 100 most influential women in the tech sports industry of Spain by WOMEN'S SPORTS INSTITUTE in the category 'Professional of Research, Technology and Innovation'.

Jerome Adams
20th US Surgeon General & Executive Director of Purdue's Health Equity Initiatives
Dr. Jerome Adams is currently a Presidential Fellow and the Executive Director of Purdue's Health Equity Initiatives on October 1, 2021. He is also a Distinguished Professor of Practice in the departments of Pharmacy Practice and Public Health.As the 20th U.S. Surgeon General and a prior member of the President’s Coronavirus task force, Dr. Adams has been at the forefront of America’s most pressing health challenges. A regular communicator via tv, radio, and in print, Dr. Adams is an expert not just in the science, but also in communicating the science to the lay public, and making it relevant to various audiences.

Jonas Baer-Hoffmann
General Secretary, FIFPRO
Jonas Baer-Hoffmann is General Secretary of FIFPRO, which represents 60,000 professional footballers through 66 national player associations. During his time in the role, FIFPRO has amongst other advances successfully negotiated amendments to the sport’s international employment rules including: improved global contract protections and termination rights for players, first global maternity regulations, and guaranteed prize money and equal conditions for Women’s World Cup players in 2023. Baer-Hoffmann is leading strategic development and industry talks with FIFA – with whom FIFPRO adopted a universal “Charter for Player Data Rights” in 2022 – as well as with other football and business stakeholders on player data rights, the evolution of data ownership and protection in professional football. General Secretary since January 2020, he joined FIFPRO in 2012 to work on strategy, policy, stakeholder relations and public affairs in various roles, having co-established a trade union for basketball players in Germany, and represented multi-sport federation EU Athletes.

Jose Calderon
Special Advisor, Cleveland Cavaliers
Jose Calderon is a highly accomplished 14-year NBA player, renowned for his exceptional skills and leadership. He has earned three Olympic medals, a Gold Medal in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, and triumphs in Eurobasket. As a UNICEF Ambassador, he actively supports initiatives for children's welfare. Calderon holds key roles as a Special Advisor to the Front Office at the Cleveland Cavaliers and a Global Advisor at Sngular. Additionally, he has ventured into entrepreneurship, co-founding Owqlo, and embraced the media world as a talk show host for UNIQ

Jose Maria Arrabal
General Secretary for Sport, Regional Government of Andalusia
Jose María Arrabal is a seasoned professional with a distinguished background in business development, marketing, and sports management. Currently serving as the General Secretary for the Regional Government of Andalusia, Spain, he plays a pivotal role in shaping and overseeing sports-related policies and initiatives. With a strong educational foundation and extensive experience in prominent organizations such as La Liga and Malaga C.F., Arrabal brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his current position. His strategic leadership and dedication to promoting sports make him a valuable asset in driving the growth and development of the sporting landscape in Andalucia.

Kavita Patel
Venture Partner, New Enterprise Associates & Former Director of Policy for the White House under the Obama Administration, Former Deputy Staff Director to the late Senator Edward Kennedy
Kavita Patel, MD, MS is a physician based in Washington DC who advises healthcare companies as a Venture Partner at New Enterprise Associates. With extensive experience in public policy, Dr. Patel previously served as Director of Policy for the White House under President Obama and as Deputy Staff Director to the late Senator Edward Kennedy. During her tenure in these roles, she played a pivotal role in pandemic preparedness and healthcare reform efforts. Dr. Patel's research on healthcare quality and community-based interventions for mental illness has received national recognition, and she has authored numerous papers and book chapters on healthcare reform and health policy. She is also an NBC/CNBC contributor.

Keith D’Amelio
Director of Performance, Nike
A uniquely and highly qualified professional, Keith holds a PhD in applied sports science, a master’s degree in sports performance, and a bachelors degree in exercise science & sports medicine. For over the past two decades, Keith has worked in the trenches of elite sports at the team level, advising and consulting for teams across the globe in all areas of performance and science, and working hands on with some of the best athletes in the world across all sports, while also having worked at the highest levels outside of sports in corporate world. This multidimensional background places Keith firmly at the intersection of performance optimization, technology, and the emerging area of human performance innovation. Keith is able to bring his understanding of the day-to-day functioning of elite sport organizations and athletes and his insight into the world beyond sport to make meaningful and impactful connections. A native of Andover, MA, Keith now resides outside of Portland, OR with his wife Jaime, two boys Marcus and Christian as well as their horse, Nakai and goose, Walter (among their other animals).

Marilou McFarlane
Founder and CEO, Women in Sports Tech (WiST)
Marilou McFarlane is the Founder and CEO of Women in Sports Tech (WiST), the global non-profit organization offering game-changing strategies and initiatives for businesses in the 42B dollar sports tech industry to diversify talent pipelines and create more inclusive cultures. WiST provides tangible value for employers and women, from the classroom to the board room. WiST has provided over 100 summer internship experiences to college, grad and PhD students through their flagship WiST Fellowship program, and built an active community of over 100,000 executives and students in the exploding sports tech industry. WiST works with more than 30 corporate partners, including Nike, GameChanger, the NBA, IBM Sports, Stats Perform, Comcast NBCU, Hoka, Catapult and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). With 15+ years in the sports tech industry, she is an experienced, visionary startup leader and social entrepreneur, specializing in stoking expansive, international growth, building high performance teams and driving impact. She has led the work that is changing the sports tech industry, by working with iconic brands and businesses and startups alike. With the experience of leading numerous venture-backed startups to success, she is a passionate advocate, advisor and mentor to sports tech founders across all categories, across the globe. A former University of North Carolina Division 1 cross-country athlete and marathon runner, she is the proud mother of two daughters and lives with her husband in Mill Valley, California.

Mark Gorski
CEO, Sports Data Labs
Mark is Co-Founder and CEO of Sports Data Labs, Inc., a venture-backed, award-winning leader in collection, analysis and distribution of real-time Human Data from on-body sensors and other sensing systems. At Sports Data Labs, Mark has pioneered the commercialization of athlete data in professional sports, including the distribution of revenue directly to athletes for use of their in-game data, as well as the transformation of human health data into a monetizable asset. To date, the company has provided real-time, in-game physiological data across 150+ countries to broadcasters including CBS Sports, Fox Sports, and Eurosport, and has worked with leading global sports organizations including the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), PGA Tour, PSA World Tour, and ATP Tour. Mark’s published work includes the first peer-reviewed research on real-time capture, digital processing, and heart rate display from medical-grade wearable sensors in live professional sports competition, as well as articles under the Forbes umbrella on topics related to technology, sports betting, health data monetization, and the use of health data as a form of digital currency. Mark is also an inventor on multiple U.S. utility patents related to collection and distribution of sensorbased data, as well as multiple pending patents which span across a wide range of novel systems and methods related to sensor communication and configurations, data collection, synthetic data generation, signal processing and identification techniques, artificial intelligence-based predictions and simulations, remote communication networks, individual/group consent, and sensor data-based monetization for the sports and digital health ecosystems. Prior to Sports Data Labs, Mark served as SVP & Global Head of Partnerships for a leading London-based investment company specializing in the trading of sports media and data rights on behalf of the NFL, the Premier League, MLB, and 60+ other global rights holders. Mark has also held senior roles across Asia, Europe and the US with the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he served as department head for the League’s Asia Development group based in Hong Kong, and IMG, where he started off his career as a player agent. Mark has been previously recognized as one of the top 30 global sports executives under 40 years of age (Leaders Under 40), as well as one of the 100 most influential Hispanic leaders in technology (HITEC 100). Mark has also been a featured speaker at conferences hosted by the USC Center for Body Computing, IBM, and Wearable Technologies AG. A Detroit native, Mark is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

Matteo Zuretti
Chief of International Relations and Marketing, National Basketball Players Association (NBPA)
Matteo Zuretti is the Chief International Relations and Marketing for the NBPA, the union representing all 450 NBA Players. He provides strategic leadership and vision to develop the organization’s cross-functional strategy that drives the NBPA global expansion. In his role, he has designed scalable initiatives that respond to players’ needs, serve current partnerships, and create new business opportunities in strategic international markets. He started the NBPA international department, working to guarantee international players' representation and inclusion inside the organization while advocating for athletes' rights at the global level, nurturing strategic relationships with international sports and public sector organizations. Before joining the NBPA, he worked as an agent representing talent from twenty different countries in contract and marketing negotiations across global basketball markets. A committed listener, he leverages cultural agility to thrive in multicultural environments. He is often a guest speaker at sports business-related masters held in international universities and at global sports industry events.

Ndamukog Suh
Super Bowl Champion, NFL Pro-Bowler & VC Entrepreneur
Ndamukong Suh is an engineer, professional football player, entrepreneur, and investor. Suh is an all-pro defensive lineman and has played in 13 NFL seasons, earning a championship ring in Super Bowl LV. He was the second overall pick in the NFL in 2010 drafted by the Detroit Lions before later joining the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams prior to playing for the Buccaneers. Suh is the Managing Partner of House of Spears Management, LLC, an investment portfolio including Ember Technologies, BTN, Seven Peaks Ventures, General Atlantic and Andreessen Horowitz’s Cultural Leadership Fund. In the hospitality industry, Suh is the founder of Generals Restaurant Group, which owns restaurants in five U.S. cities. He is an investor in Pizzanna; has partnered with several high-profile groups and individuals in the ownership of four Blue Sushi locations, BAE’s Fried Chicken and Super Deluxe; and co-owns a Hyatt Hotel and Hilton DoubleTree Hotel. Also well known for his real estate investments, Suh is a Partner in both HMS Development, a company focused on mixed-use development projects, and Athletes in Real Estate (AiRE). Through the Suh Family Foundation, Suh has supported the Nebraska Athletics Strength and Conditioning Program, most notably establishing The Ndamukong Suh Scholarship benefitting the UNL College of Engineering. The Foundation works hand-in-hand with communities to supply resources across three pillars that were pivotal to the Ndamukong’s own success: education, health and wellness, and empowerment. Suh attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he became one of the most decorated Husker players in college football history and earned a degree in construction management from the UNL College of Engineering. He lives in Tampa, FL with his wife, Katya and twin boys.

Patrick Moodie
Founder, DARI Motion
Patrick is a thought leader in technological musculoskeletal health (MSK). With 18 years of experience working successfully with executive teams from Fortune 500 companies within medicine, athletics, and wellness he has obtained a unique perspective on motion health. Patrick has developed specialized knowledge in tracking technologies and data insights demonstrated through his design and build of DARI Motion. As a founder, Patrick presents as an award winning scientist that translates knowledge into best-in-class products. Daily, he is driven by that compass to be a powerful force in the workplace to promote these values at DARI Motion. He utilizes that vision to continually inspire and produce innovative solutions and expand the footprint of motion health awareness around the world.

Raúl Peláez
Founder &CEO, Ailite
Raúl Peláez is a renowned specialist in football analysis, technology, innovation, and knowledge management, with extensive experience in high-performance sports. Raúl was key in helping FC Barcelona become a leading force in football analysis research and knowledge. His unique understanding of the game, contextualizing data, and providing coaches with actionable insights revolutionized football analysis. With his multidisciplinary training and forward-thinking vision, Raúl is one of the most experienced professionals in the world of professional football. His passion for people and personalized solutions, combined with his expertise in knowledge, intelligence, and data, makes him an invaluable asset to the industry.

Robby Sikka
Chair, COVID Sports and Society Workgroup
Dr. Robby Sikka is an innovator in technology, healthcare, sports, and analytics. He is a board-certified anesthesiologist who has been in private practice for nearly a decade and has worked in sports medicine research for over 20 years. He is the founder and CEO of SMART, an AI-enabled, data-driven software company that personalizes care for patients and optimizes quality, access, and cost of care. Robby’s work on prediction of injuries and risk assessment, return to play and performance guidance, and optimization of rehabilitation strategies has been used by thousands of athletes ranging from youth populations to the pros. He previously served as the Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Wellness and Technology for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He also served as a consultant to the Minnesota Vikings for 5 seasons and the Washington Wizards for 6 seasons. He served on the NBA Sports Science Committee and presently serves as a team physician to the New York Yankees, Denver Broncos, consults with several NBA teams, and oversees a large public health task force comprised of all pro sports leagues, Apple, Amazon, United Health Group, the White House, WHO, and numerous other organizations. His work with teams has ranged from strategic decision making, roster acquisitions and trade decisions, hiring of coaches and executives, assistance with rehabilitation and return to play strategies, injury prevention methods, and player development. He has helped teams optimize analytics strategies, worked to integrate technology, including virtual reality and player tracking, and has worked as a consultant to the NFL league office on performance analytics, and the NBPA on player health. Outside of sports, Dr. Sikka served as the Senior Principal Consultant at Tonal, developing its healthcare product line, and served as a consultant to Oura Ring, Pacaso, and numerous other technology unicorns. From 2014-2019, Dr. Sikka was regional medical director for Anesthesia Management Solutions, serving the Midwest / Southwest U.S. region. He previously served as the associate director of data analytics for Mayo Clinic Sports and lead clinical research scientist for Tria Orthopaedic Center. Dr. Sikka has published more than 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts, many on return to play after injury, and his research has been presented at dozens of national and international sports analytics and sports medicine meetings, and his work has been featured on CNN, ESPN, CNBC, Forbes, and Sports Illustrated, among others. Dr. Sikka attended the University of Pennsylvania for his undergraduate studies and USC (University of Southern California) Keck School of Medicine for medical school. After graduating with honors at both schools, Dr. Sikka completed an anesthesiology residency at the University of Minnesota with a special interest in sports, physiology, and technology. He was named a Rising Star in Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine in 2016, 2017 and 2018 in anesthesiology, and was named to the 40 Under 40 list by Minneapolis/St Paul Business Journal in 2017. A native of Minnesota, Sikka resides in Orono, MN with his wife, Simran, and their daughters, Gia, and Liv.

Sebastian Lancestremere
Sports Industry Managing Director, Microsoft & President, Global Sport Innovation Center (GSIC
Sebastian Lancestremere is a Senior Executive with 25 years of international experience in the IT Industry at Microsoft and startups in developed and emerging markets in Latin America, Europe and Worldwide. Well-rounded Managing Director who has consistently delivered outstanding performance: setting up new business units, growing market share and developing talent, leading innovative and strategic projects for the company and expert in digital transformation. Business leader who focuses on how Information Technology can help organizations take advantage of the Digital Economy while contributing to a better society.

Sophie Gage
Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs, NFL Players Association
Sophie Gage is Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs for NFL Players Inc., the for-profit licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association. She manages a broad range of complex corporate transactions on behalf of the organization across licensing, venture, and media. She oversees the NFLPA’s strategic investment portfolio which places a focus on emerging companies and technology within the health and human performance industries. She’s played a key role in negotiating landmark deals with major partners, such as the NFL, OneTeam Partners, Electronic Arts, Fanatics, Dapper Labs, DraftKings and others. Sophie also oversees the NFLPA’s business development efforts and manages various strategic growth initiatives. She is a member of the NFLPA’s health and safety team which directs, among other things, the development and implementation of innovative medical research and protective measures designed to minimize occupational health risks. Sophie serves on the boards of Play Like a Girl! and Notable Live.

Steijn Spreij
Manager of Performance Analysis & Technology, KNVB
Steijn Spreij has been working as a Performance Analyst since 2011. Steijn began his career as a coach and Performance Analyst in field hockey. As a coach, he worked for various clubs in the Dutch league and with the national teams U16, U18, and the Youth Olympic Team. As an analyst, he worked with the coaching staff of the Dutch national men's and women's hockey teams, participating in two European Championships, a World Cup, and the Olympic Games. In 2013, Steijn also started working with the Football Association as an analyst during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Israel. After the European Championship, he joined the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) as a Performance Analyst for the Dutch national team, where he was part of the staff during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2021, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. As a Performance Analyst, Steijn utilizes video, data, and technology for match analysis, scouting, and player monitoring, among other tasks. Currently, Steijn serves as the Manager of the Performance Analysis and Technology department and is still the Performance Analyst for the Dutch national team.

Vin Gupta
Chief Medical Officer, Amazon Health; Medical Analyst, NBC News; Major, US Air Force Medical Corps
Dr. Gupta is a practicing pulmonologist who currently serves as Chief Medical Officer of Pharmacy and New Health Initiatives at Amazon. Prior to his role at Amazon, he supported the clinical team at Apple Health and has recently served as a senior medical advisor to Thermo Fisher Scientific, Mesa Biotech, and the National Football League. Outside of his health tech and clinical responsibilities, he is an affiliate professor at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and Evans School and Commissioned Officer (O-4, Major) in the United States Air Force Medical Reserve Corps. Finally, Dr. Gupta serves as a medical analyst for NBC News, has active board certifications in Internal Medicine, Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine and completed his clinical training at Brigham & Women’s Hospital.
Schedule & Topics
Rally & Rise: Morning Padel Sessions
Location: Hotel Padel Courts
Description: Elevate your fitness game with an invigorating Padel session designed to boost your strength, endurance, and overall fitness.
[Partner Invitational] Player Pick-Up Runs
Lunch - Networking
Breaking Boundaries: Innovating Athlete Performance and Beyond in the International Sports Groundbreakers Challenge
Description: Join us for a panel discussion on the International Sports Groundbreakers Challenge (ISGC), an unprecedented open innovation initiative in the sports industry. Organized by the Global Sports Innovation Center powered by Microsoft and Sport Singapore, and supported by 13 global sports entities, this challenge seeks to inspire sports entities, companies, and startups to push the boundaries of what's possible in sports innovation. Through problem statements, ISGC addresses key pillars such as fan engagement, smart venues, athlete performance, sustainability, and sport for good. During the presentation, we will specifically explore the challenges and cutting-edge solutions related to athlete performance, leveraging technology to optimize training and enhance overall performance.
Speakers: Iris Córdoba Mondéjar: General Manager, Global Sports Innovation Center (GSIC) powered by Microsoft
Similarities between Entrepreneurship and Professional Sports
Description: Explore the powerful parallels between entrepreneurship and professional sports in this captivating panel. Discover shared principles of goal-setting, risk-taking, resilience, and teamwork. Gain insights into strategies for success in both arenas.
Speakers: Didac Lee: Co-Funder, Galdana Ventures (VC)
The Current and Future Landscape of Sport Tech Investment
Description: Join us for an exclusive presentation by Alysse Soll as she unveils the groundbreaking impact of sport tech investment on high performance. Discover how strategic investments in innovative technologies are reshaping athlete training, performance analysis, and sports science and gain valuable insights into the latest trends, success stories, and future opportunities that will drive the future of high-performance sports.
Speakers: Alysse Soll: CEO Advisory, Underdog Venture Team
Talent to Co-Owners: The Synergy of Athlete-Investors
Description: Explore how athletes' firsthand knowledge of performance enhancement, market trends, and user needs enhances their investment decisions and amplifies their impact. Learn how athlete partnerships are driving innovation, propelling the growth of cutting-edge technologies, and creating winning scenarios off the court.
Moderators: Benny Bonsu: Global Sports Leader in Media and Business
Speakers:
-Marilou McFarlane: Founder & CEO, Women in Sports Tech (WiST)
-Alysse Soll: CEO Advisory, Underdog Venture Team
-Antonio Cacorino: CEO, APEX Capital
Break
Innovating The Way We Train with Virtual Reality Technologies
Description: Explore the Power of Immersive Technology in Athlete Development and delve into the transformative potential of virtual reality in sports training. Discover how athletes can enhance their skills, simulate realistic game scenarios, and push the boundaries of performance through immersive experiences.
Speakers: Andrew Hawkins: CEO, StatusPRO
Shaping The Future of High-Performance: Motion Capture
Description: How will advancements in motion capture technology shape the future of high-performance sports, and what new capabilities and features can we expect to see in the coming years?
Moderators: Dan O’Brien: Director of Sports Medicine and Research, NBPA
Panelists:
-Brian Moore: Co-Founder & CEO, Orreco
-Patrick Moodie: Founder, Dari Motion
Inside the Mind of a High Performer
Description: Discover the secrets behind achieving peak performance and gain valuable insights from these industry titans as they discuss their experiences and approaches to training, nutrition, mental conditioning, and more.
Moderators: Benny Bonsu: Global Sports Leader in Media and Business
Panelists:
-Keith D’Amelio: Director of Performance, Nike
-Ndamukong Suh: Super Bowl Champion, NFL Pro-Bowler & VC Entrepreneur
Break
Point Forward Pocast Live Session with Special Guest
Description: Get ready for an exhilarating second session of the Point Forward Live Podcast, featuring another extraordinary special guest who has achieved remarkable success in their field. Join Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner as they delve into the depths of high performance, uncovering the unique strategies, mindset, and habits that drive exceptional results. This exclusive conversation with our esteemed guest is a golden opportunity to gain invaluable insights and elevate your own pursuit of greatness.
Hosts:
-Andre Iguodala: 4x NBA Champion. GP Mastry Ventures. Co-Host of Point Forward Podcast. NYT Best Selling Author. Jumia Board Member.
-Evan Turner: Former National College Player of the Year & Consensus First Team All-American. Former Big-10 Player of the Year & Most Outstanding Player. 2nd Overall Pick in 2010 NBA Draft. Co-Founder of the Point Forward Podcast.
Closing Remarks & Thanks
LOCATION
Explore Andalucia, Spain and learn more about the rich culture and history of the region.
Stay at the 5-star Higueron Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton




Frequently Asked Questions
Transportation is not provided, but we have secured a preferred shuttle rate for conference attendees. Availability is first come, first serve. Please reach out to saktish.ganesh@nbpa.com for more information.
The deadline to register for this event is July 3rd, 2023.
This is a closed event and invite only. If you would like to invite a guest, please reach out to dan.obrien@nbpa.com.