Kaveh Akbari
Los Angeles
Summary
Business development and partnerships executive with 8+ years of experience driving revenue through sponsorships, brand activations, and athlete/creator representation. Proven success in prospecting, negotiating, and closing multi-platform deals across sports, entertainment, and digital media. Skilled in building pipelines, cultivating long-term client relationships, and aligning partner objectives with compelling storytelling.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of West Coast Office, NFL Certified Agent
Prolific Sports Group
01.2024 - Current
- Drive new business by prospecting and securing brand partnerships for NFL clients with Fortune 500 companies and media agencies.
- Generate revenue through sponsorship negotiations, branded content activations, and live event integrations.
- Manage sales pipeline for athlete and agency partnerships; report directly to CEO on revenue opportunities and deal flow.
- Recruit and onboard top collegiate athletes, positioning them for brand and business viability.
Founder & NFL Agent
Greyshot, LLC
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Represented five NFL athletes; secured guaranteed contracts and built sponsorship portfolios.
- Negotiated brand deals and oversaw partnership execution from outreach to activation.
- Increased client marketability through media strategy and revenue-driven opportunities.
- Remote
NFL Agent / NIL Strategy Lead
Beyond Athlete Management
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Founded and scaled NIL division; secured $100K+ in sponsorship revenue for NCAA athletes.
- Drove outbound sales and closed partnerships across podcast, social, and live events.
- Developed sales materials and pitches tailored to brand objectives.
Senior Manager, Sports Partnerships
Roc Nation Unified
01.2020 - 01.2020
- Supported new business development by creating cross-platform partnership campaigns with athlete talent.
- Built strategic client presentations and briefs to convert brand opportunities into long-term deals.
Vice President, Marketing & Partnerships
MBK Sport Management Group
01.2017 - 01.2020
- Delivered 100+ brand deals, including with Apple Music and Athletic Greens, generating multi-six-figure revenue.
Director of Operations
MBK Sport Management Group
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Oversaw operations for athlete partnerships, including sales outreach, travel, and content production.
- Expanded recruiting and business pipelines for agency growth.
Sports Business Development
Madison Square Garden Company
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Generated $1.6M in ticket and premium seating sales through client prospecting, cold outreach, and relationship management.
- Developed long-term partnerships by identifying and converting new revenue streams.
Education
B.S. - Sport Management, Business & International Studies
St. John’s University
01-2014
M.A. - Integrated Marketing & Communications
Marist College
01-2018
Skills
- Business Development & Sales Strategy
- Prospecting & Pipeline Growth
- Sponsorship & Partnership Negotiation
- Contract Development & Deal Closing
- Talent & Agent Relations
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Campaign Activation (Social, Content, Live Events)
- Revenue Tracking & Reporting
Timeline
Head of West Coast Office, NFL Certified Agent
Prolific Sports Group
01.2024 - Current
Founder & NFL Agent
Greyshot, LLC
01.2023 - 01.2024
NFL Agent / NIL Strategy Lead
Beyond Athlete Management
01.2021 - 01.2022
Senior Manager, Sports Partnerships
Roc Nation Unified
01.2020 - 01.2020
Vice President, Marketing & Partnerships
MBK Sport Management Group
01.2017 - 01.2020
Director of Operations
MBK Sport Management Group
01.2016 - 01.2017
Sports Business Development
Madison Square Garden Company
01.2014 - 01.2016
B.S. - Sport Management, Business & International Studies
St. John’s University
M.A. - Integrated Marketing & Communications
Marist College