International sports strategy & U.S. market access

Where international sports ambition meets the American market.

108 Ventures advises federations, clubs, leagues, events, and sports bodies on U.S. partnerships, institutional pathways, market entry, and long-term cross-border growth.

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EuropeAsiaUnited States

Built for international organizations pursuing a defined U.S. objective.

FederationsClubs & LeaguesEventsMinistries & Sports Bodies

The focus

International strategy built from both sides of the Atlantic.

Cross-border sports work fails when it is treated as a list of introductions. 108 begins with the institution’s objective, builds the market thesis, and creates a path that people on both sides can actually implement.

U.S. Market Entry

Translate an international sports objective into a credible American market thesis, buyer map, and execution plan.

Institutional Pathways

Design responsible university, education, and exchange pathways at the organization level, without athlete-outcome promises.

Partnerships & Tours

Structure cross-border partnerships, college tours, club exchanges, and event concepts around a defined institutional objective.

Sports Diplomacy

Help federations, ministries, and sports bodies align government relations, community impact, and long-term market development.

The journey behind the advisory

Built across the field, the world, and the sports-business table.

108’s perspective is not theoretical. It comes from playing abroad, representing American baseball in China, operating inside college sports, and advising leaders on national industry stages.

Tate Gillespie pitching professionally in Europe — Europe · The playerProfessional baseball in the Czech Republic and France

Tate Gillespie with coaches and young athletes at an MLB China program — China · The bridgeCommunity and government relations for MLB China

Tate Gillespie on the ESPN College GameDay set — United States · The operatorAmerican sports-business access and institutional fluency

Tate Gillespie moderating a national sports-industry panel — Industry · The executiveStrategy, partnerships, and leadership on the national stage

How we engage

Clear scopes for consequential international work.

Every engagement begins with a defined institutional outcome, an executive sponsor, and a realistic decision window. Retainers follow only when the problem and internal capacity are clear.

Featured engagement

International Baseball Offseason Strategy Sprint

A focused planning engagement for federations, clubs, leagues, and events that need a practical U.S. strategy before the next season begins.

Leadership intake and U.S. market assessment
10–15 organization partner map
Partnership narrative and outreach sequence
12-month action plan and executive readout

Institution-led pathway design

U.S. University Pathway Design

Institutional pathway strategy for organizations building responsible, repeatable connections between international athletes and the American university system.

Institutional and compliance landscape
Program and partner architecture
Education and cultural readiness plan
Pilot roadmap with operating roles

Embedded advisory

International Growth & U.S. Market Entry Mandate

Embedded senior-level support for organizations pursuing a defined U.S. partnership, market-entry, event, or cross-border growth objective.

Market-entry and stakeholder strategy
Executive positioning and partner materials
Meeting preparation and decision support
Ongoing opportunity and implementation counsel

All engagements are custom tailored to your organization, scope, and needs.

The operating model

Listen first. Define the objective. Build what can be executed.

Qualify

Identify the objective, executive owner, decision window, and capacity to act.

Map

Translate the objective into a market thesis, stakeholder map, and partnership narrative.

Build

Create the operating plan, materials, and outreach sequence required to move.

Support

Prepare leaders for decisions and remain involved through implementation when useful.

Founder & PrincipalTate Gillespie

The operator

International perspective. American sports-business fluency.

Tate Gillespie founded 108 Ventures after building a career across professional baseball, college athletics, global sports business, and institutional partnerships. He has worked inside the American system international organizations want to access and lived the international baseball experience those organizations are trying to advance.

Tate currently serves as Vice President of Collegiate & NIL Strategy at Players Health. 108 Ventures is his independently operated international advisory platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Players Health, MLB, WBSC, or any current or former partner.

Led community and government relations across multiple cities and regions for MLB China
Played professional baseball in the Czech Republic and France
Built strategy and business programs across 120+ NCAA institutions
Developed a collegiate sports vertical reaching 40+ university partners across 8+ conferences

Working principles

Institution-led. Transparent. Built for the long term.

No admission, eligibility, scholarship, placement, or athlete-outcome guarantees.
Introductions follow validated relevance and consent, never vague access promises.
Insurance and capital work, when relevant, is advisory and fixed-fee only.
Paid work begins only after scope, agreement, and any required legal review.

Start a conversation

What international objective are you preparing to pursue?

Tell us what your organization is building, why the U.S. market matters, and when a decision needs to be made. Every inquiry is reviewed directly by Tate.

108 Ventures LLCInternational advisory engagementsUnited States · Europe · Global