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Hey Padel enthusiasts welcome to Padel Smash Academy, I am Cesc and I am here with Julian and we're all about Padel! Whether you're new to the sport or an experienced player, you've come to the right place. Our goal is to provide you with the best tips & tricks, news, and weekly lessons to help you improve your game and take your Padel to the next level. So grab your Padel Racket and let's get started with all things Padel on Padel Smash Academy.
Hey, Cesar here and we're
at the USTA National Tennis
Center right here in Orlando.
And today we're going to talk to, about
somebody who's done so much for Padel,
none other than Marcos Del Pilar.
We're going to get his whole story, his
ups and downs through the journey of
getting Padel here in this country.
Fidel is taking the world by storm.
We're going to make history together.
Hey
guys, I'm here with Marcos Del Pilar.
Welcome Marcos.
Hello.
Thank you, Cesar.
Now I just did the whole, uh,
The certificate for a Padel MBA.
It was it was amazing.
Can you talk to us a little bit?
How you're involved with Padel MBA?
Well, thank you very much.
We just finished.
As you said, we just finished.
You know, the two days in person
experience, um, is very intense.
As you can see, you know, it's more than
15 hours, you know, of, uh, a lot of
knowledge, you know, but, um, we are,
you know, the team are, are really,
really happy, you know, about bringing
people together, you know, sharing that
experience, you know, and part of our
mission is getting more and growing
the community, you know, of coaches
developed all over the world, right?
So, cool.
Getting people inspired, you know, setting
the knowledge, providing this umbrella of
an instructor on how to be lessons, you
know, how to provide the right approach
on how to teach and try to raise the
standards is kind of a must for us.
That is, uh, we've been
telling you for for two days.
You know, that is not a business for us.
You know, it's kind of a mission in life.
We are very committed.
We are fully invested on
that and we continue to grow.
We are very, very happy about the
job that we are putting together.
We know that it's intense.
It's also very intense for us.
But you know, this is something
that we all love, you know, and
we we continue to do for sure.
Yeah, I got to tell
you, it's a lot of work.
It's a lot of work, the videos,
but they're very thorough.
I really enjoyed it.
Um, and in the two days were great.
Again, very thorough.
You gave a lot of input, not just
into battle, but into business.
Um, who is this class for?
I would say that it's, it's for everybody.
Obviously, you know, getting a
certification into racquet sports is, is,
let's say, for teaching professionals.
The first step for this is obviously for
teaching professionals, but, uh, something
that I usually say is that, uh, education
and knowledge should be Democratic, right?
So we made a great effort.
You know, part of NBA, you
know, in partnership with the U.
S.
P.
D.
A.
Because the U.
S.
P.
D.
A.
United States Professional Tennis
Association is our partner on this.
We are endorsed and recognized by the U.
S.
P.
D.
A.
As well.
And, uh, you know, obviously this is
more focused, you know, for teaching
professionals that are willing to build a
career, you know, and made a business out
of that, let's say, but knowledge should
be democratic and we are receiving, you
know, a lot of people not connected with
racket sports, you know, like fitness
people, you know, that when I get into
the sport, we are receiving a lot of
Parents, you know, the way I want to
learn, you know, a little bit more about
what their kids are doing and so on.
This is part of the strategy that
we also encourage you guys to
do to start looking for what we
usually call the blue ocean, right?
Look for customers when
nobody else is looking.
So we are applying that, you know,
in our business as well, right?
So we are yeah.
Very proud to start attracting
people that are not connected with
the, with the racket sport industry.
Obviously, the crossover from
tennis coaches into Padel coaches
is, is, is obvious, but we are
doing an effort on bringing people
that is not connected with it.
Amazing.
Now, what's the future
with you and Padel NBA?
What's your, what's your ultimate goal?
Well, I want to change the world.
Change the world.
Wow.
Well, you know, you know what,
you're already doing that, I'm
going to be honest with you.
Thank you.
You know, so let's talk
a little bit about.
Your beginnings.
Okay.
So, uh, did you ever play
any other record sports?
Yeah, I, I started playing tennis.
I tried to play professional tennis.
I played some tournaments,
you know, ATP and so on.
But, uh, I, I realized really
soon that I was not good enough.
So I ended up, you know, moving
in a different direction.
So you started playing Padel?
No, no, I ended up coaching.
I'm just teasing.
Tennis, tennis professional players,
you know, and I'm from there, you know,
the rest is history, you know, I just
moved I was managing tennis facilities
obviously and in one day we decided to
include some Padel courts, you know,
and look where we are You know, so
how did you get introduced to Padel?
It was kind of by accident to be honest
with you because I was fully fully
invested in tennis, you know I was
coaching I was a touring Coach for tennis
with professional players and I was owning
my own facilities in Spain Fully invested
in tennis, with academy, like several
places with more than six hundred students
and so on and And I was approached by
a couple of members and they told me,
hey Marcos, we're gonna play Padel.
I said, well, you know what?
I'm a tennis player, man.
I'm not gonna play that.
Now, have you ever seen Padel before?
Yeah, in, in Spain at that point, you
know, that was pretty, I would say
that that was exploding, you know.
Like maybe 15 or 20 years ago,
that was exploding in Spain.
A lot of people talking about it, but
it was not as massive as now, right?
So it was always around you, but you just
always gravitated to tennis, correct?
Yeah.
So at what point did you say,
hey, I'm playing Padel now?
Well, That's what I was saying, you
know, after being approached by some of
our members, uh, they told me, Marcos,
we want to play padel, you know, why
don't you build some courts in here?
I said, no, I'm not going to build
this, you know, we play tennis.
I was so proud of being
a tennis player, right?
So that's why, you know, I understand,
you know, the feeling of other people
coming from tennis and at the very
beginning, you know, a little bit
hesitant and so on because I was living
the same experience, but, you know, I
ended up saying, Hey, you know what?
Uh, I'll build two courts in here.
Let's see how it goes.
And in the first month, I realized
that I needed to order six
more because I, I, I was here.
No, no, in Spain.
Yeah.
Okay.
I'm talking about, uh, I
don't know, 15, 20 years ago.
I'm too old.
So, yeah.
I'm talking about a long time ago.
Uh, but I, I, I realized really
quick that, uh, by using these
cross selling strategies, I could
monetize, you know, the facilities
way better than I was doing.
Even when we were very, very successful
in tennis, I discovered something that
I said, Oh my God, this is unbelievable.
It's unbelievable.
Because.
Not only the power of attracting this
blue ocean, you know, these people
that I have never been connected with
tennis or whatever, but also, uh, uh,
provoking some recurrency, you know, in
on average, you know, the average visit
for tennis players is one twice per week.
You know, they are not coming more
often unless you are jumping into an
academy model or something like that.
But, uh, for Padel, you know, I could.
Bring these guys, you know, coming two
days for tennis and then two or three
more days coming for parallel And also
we were bringing their wives, you know
their kids whatever so I said like
oh my goodness This is unbelievable
and I was just able to double my
income in six months So now I hear you
always talk about monetizing, right?
So can you can we explore that a
little bit and talk to us a little
bit in details what you mean?
When it comes to, uh, you know, the clubs.
So that, that means that is kind
of the ultimate goal of everybody.
Obviously, you know, we are very
focused on providing an experience, you
know, and getting our community happy.
You know, we are super
member centric and so on.
But at the end of the day, you know,
when some investors are putting
money behind a project, obviously
they want to get this break even
point as soon as possible and getting
some return of investment and so on.
So, At the end of the
day, this is what it is.
So we need to learn not only how to
start attracting people, but also
how to retain them and how to make
our activities and our, you know,
facilities more profitable, right?
That is what I mean by monetizing.
So, so retention?
And creating more values to increase,
uh, um, how much you charge.
Yes, creating different revenue streams.
Different revenue streams, okay.
Exactly, that's important.
You also gotta work, you know, with
the right margins for every single
revenue stream that you are creating.
You gotta be able to attract
and retain customers.
Because at the end of the day,
everything is about sales.
You know, every single
company is about sales.
That's a lot of analytics.
So, uh, you have to get all those
analytics and figure those things out.
And you have to Put the efforts into the
right areas, is that what you're saying?
Well, that's That part of it.
Yeah, that's what we've been
doing for so many years.
That's why, that's our
expertise, I would say.
You know, the business of So typically,
so typically a business does do that.
Are you seeing a lot of
clubs just not doing that?
And leaving a lot of Well, I would
say that, uh, we, we can help
people to, to monetize better
and to become more profitable.
I don't blame anybody
about what they are doing.
I'm very respectful and I'm nobody to
judge, you know, what they are doing.
But, uh, let's say that our main
expertise is obviously helping investors
and helping, you know, entrepreneurs,
you know, to make more money.
Because, not because we are
the smartest guys in the room.
It's because maybe we've
been wrong longer than that.
You know, we've been failing and
failing and failing for so many years.
Experience.
Exactly.
It's a matter of experience.
Okay, so how did you
get over here to the U.
S., to North America?
You talked about having,
uh, some clubs there.
Uh, how did you finalize that and how
did you get here to the, to the USA?
And why?
Why is because when, when I was, you know,
managing my own facilities in Spain, I
was traveling to different countries in
Europe, you know, and getting the sport
started, you know, and working with some
coaching, you know, and, and interest
to battle and showcasing the game.
So I was doing.
You know, more or less what I've
been doing here for, for, for
the last six or seven years.
And I was having more fun than
just running my own businesses.
I could say that we were very, very
successful doing what we were doing,
but I was like, okay, well, what
is the next challenge in my life?
Right?
So I was about to buy two more big
facilities in Madrid, in my city in
Spain, and then I always thought like,
hey, if this is becoming successful
in Italy, in France, in the UK, in all
the countries that I was visiting by
that time, I thought like, you know
what, I only have one thing in my mind.
I want to make this part of Padel
massive in the United States.
The U.
S., the U.
S.
market.
Exactly.
And at the very beginning, people
were calling me crazy all the time.
Marco's Padel is not
going to succeed in the U.
S.
This is not going to work.
You are crazy, blah, blah, blah.
I said, well, you know what?
I've been called crazy for so many
years that I don't care if I, I get
called crazy again, you know, let me
try, you know, because we were very
successful putting, you know, these
programs together in different countries
in Europe, so why not to try in the U.
S.?
Look what we are, you know, a couple
of years later, you know, the crazy
guy is not that crazy, you know,
and those opportunities that I was
talking, you know, for for everybody.
Now they are becoming,
you know, a reality.
Everybody's having a better life, which
is part of the mission that I have.
We've been talking about it,
you know, for the last two days.
I think now I'm more focused, you
know, on changing lives, you know, and
bringing, you know, that, uh, that new,
new approach, you know, and, and making,
you know, life better for everybody
through parallel if possible, you know,
but look where we are, you know, so long
story short, you know, I always thought
about, Hey, I want to make it massive
in the U S I want to make it massive.
They call me crazy, blah, blah, blah.
But have you ever Uh, heard that when
you decide someone deep inside something
deep inside and you want to do it and
whatever these things happen, right?
So one day I receive a call and say,
hey, Marcos, we are looking for the
best person to build something in the U.
S.
The project is doing this, blah,
blah, blah, and it's spreading
the word out and growing parallel.
Are you in?
I said, I mean, so and I sold my,
my facilities, you know, right
away, I, I move really fast because
that's exactly what I wanted to do.
So, and then, right, right, right.
Oh, that's a great story.
Um, okay.
So let's talk about the PPL.
I mean, uh, when I heard about it,
I was like, wow, this is something
that was needed, uh, in this country.
So let's, how did that come to be?
I mean, did you always want to, I
mean, you're a co founder, of course.
So is that, was that what
you always had in mind?
Uh, how did it start?
Um, I'm going to give the credit to my
partner in that case, you know, because
we, I was very lucky, you know, to meet
Keith Stein, which is my, my partner.
I'm the co founder of the Property League.
Um, we get to know each other
and we started, you know, to
talk about different businesses.
He wanted to get involved in Parallel.
He told me one day, uh, Marcos.
I have one idea, but I don't think
I can make this happen without you.
I, I, I'm going to listen to you.
Blah, blah, blah.
He's claiming, you know, I, I got this
project of putting a leak together
in between franchises and I start
laughing like for five minutes,
nonstop laughing, laughing, laughing.
And he was telling me Marcos, but
they said, no, if you don't think it's
a good idea, we, we don't put that
together because I need you blah, blah.
And when I.
Finally, you know, could talk, uh,
he told me, why do you laugh so much?
And I said, bro, you cannot
imagine that I put together this
in Europe like six or seven years
ago and I have everything planned.
You know, I have every single step planned
because I tried to put that together
in Europe and nobody listened to me.
And he told me, no way.
So you think it's a good idea?
I said, well, I thought already
that it was a good idea and
I have everything planned.
So if you are in, I'm in.
And he told me, I'm in.
I say, I'm in too.
And, and you know, everything
was, was so, you know, an
incredible setup, I would say.
So why do you think it
didn't work in Europe?
Is it timing or?
I think so, man.
I think every single business has a
trend, has a timing, uh, and has a moment.
I think that was too early.
In Europe, the sport was mature in
Spain at that moment, you know, but
maybe the vision was not so evolved.
Or maybe, you know, my approach,
maybe it's part of myself as well.
I was not ready, you know,
to pitch that properly.
Maybe the way that I
tried was not good enough.
I'm always looking intrinsically, you
know, how to do, how can I do it better?
How can I improve myself?
So I'm not going to blame the market.
I prefer to blame myself like,
Hey, I needed to be more mature.
I needed to have a different
approach and a different asset.
To be able to pitch it properly because
what happens to me in, in, in this, you
know, country, it was just the opposite.
When I started to talk to a couple of
friends, you know, about this, some
people were telling me like, no, no,
no, no, I don't need to listen anymore.
I know this model better than you.
And I said, well, you are totally
right, because this franchise
model is coming from the U.
S., right?
So that's why you guys understand that.
And I was trying to be too
evolved, probably, in Europe,
like, six or seven years ago.
Now, do you think the timing is right now?
Because they do have the Hexagon
Cup, uh, going to start next year.
No, it's, it's starting
in, now, in January.
March, oh, sorry, this
year, sorry, this year.
Uh, so do you think the
timing is right now?
A hundred percent.
Yeah.
I'm a very good friend of, of the
founders of Exagon as well, Exagon Cup.
They are being very successful.
I'm happy for that too.
But PPL, we put that together first.
And, uh And I think that, uh, this
is the right time in this, the, the
league, the PPL has such momentum now,
you know, we are, you know, getting
more teams, more interest, the quality
of the players, you know, that we
are receiving 2024 is unbelievable.
We'll be working with some of
the best players in the world.
We'll also have, you know, uh, some of
the best players in the United States,
the one and only Luis Estrada right there,
Nico Agritelli and some others for sure.
But, uh, you know, the quality of
players, you know, coming from Europe
this year is going to be outstanding, so.
So let's talk about the difference of
2023 and 2024 and PPL and the changes.
Um, I saw some of the games, I
thought it was, it was a great start.
I think it's a great, you know,
franchise, great organizations.
How many franchises did
you have at the beginning?
Who was the first one to buy a franchise?
Uh, that was a good friend of
mine, Chris Siso from LAPD,
his good friend from Sweden.
Um, he's very involved, you
know, in, in, in parallel, you
know, with different ventures.
And he was the one that
backed me up from day one.
He told me, Marcos, I'm in.
I don't need to listen anymore.
If you are putting this together,
I mean, and he accomplished, man.
He promised and he accomplished.
He was the very, the first, the very
first thing that we sold Los Angeles beat.
After that, I think it was San
Diego, probably with Tactica.
Uh, San Diego, and I
don't remember the order.
Then, you know, some
others, you know, jumped.
Because, believe it or not, you
cannot imagine the number of
people that I pitched this idea.
You know, like, you cannot imagine.
That was the next question, yeah.
How difficult or how,
you know, easy was it?
You know, they can feel your
passion, but it's trying to convince
somebody to invest in a franchise
that you hope is going to make it.
You know what I'm saying?
Even though with all the
experience that you have.
You know what, like, I think
everybody understood the model,
but like every, every other single
startup, you know, everybody think
it's a good idea, but nobody's ready
to put the money, Take the risk.
Exactly, to take the risk.
Everybody's like kind of backing up a
little bit until they realize like, no,
this is a reality, so now I'm ready.
Right.
So having these people that is backing
you up, I can be grateful enough for
the people that back me up with this
project, you know, and I'll always be
happy because not only because of us,
you know, for putting together this
project, it's also because of the big
step that I think we did for panel in
the United States because we build.
Properly leak to become the catalyst of
the growth of Padel in North America.
So don't forget about that So I
understand that it's a business
obviously for everybody is a business.
We have a lot of people, you know Fully
invested on this and and now we are
raising the standards, you know And the
prices are going up and we are overwhelmed
because of the interest and so on but
at the end of the day The main goal
was to boost and become the catalyst of
the growth of parallel North America.
And we wanted to build this new ecosystem
for players, broadcasters, sponsors, uh,
people like you, you know, like, like,
uh, influencers or, you know, players
and everybody to have a new pathway, a
new ecosystem to interact and to have
interest in growing parallel in the U.
S.
So we wanted to put together a win
and win situation for everybody.
That was what Pro Parallel
League is, was and is.
And will be, hopefully,
you know, for forever.
So how many franchises
did you have in 2023?
Uh, we played with
seven teams in 20 23, 7.
How about now?
2024.
We have 10 franchises committed.
We are in conversations with potentially
two more that will be joining us for 2024.
Wow.
We have interest and obviously open
discussions with, with a couple of more
groups, uh, that if they don't join for
2024, they will be joining for 2025.
But the interest is out there.
The momentum of PPL is out there.
Right, right.
It's amazing.
Yeah.
So, so, okay, so let's
talk about the changes.
Um, the rules, um, where they're
going to play, uh, uh, can you
talk about the changes this year?
Um, we'll be playing two
different conferences.
Last year we kind of created a, a beta.
I would say a better, you know, project
where all the teams were coming.
It was kind of a bubble concept where all
the teams were coming to the same place.
And this year we wanted
to elevate the product.
You know, we are working with inside
out, which is an incredible company,
and they are helping us out, you know,
to manage, you know, all these steps.
And we'll be working in two different, uh,
two different, um, Uh, conferences, right?
Eastern West.
We are promoting like conference matches,
then conference championship and the
ones that will be winning in conference
championship after the conference
matches will be playing the PPL cup.
So, you know, Let's say that we are
bringing PPL to the audience because
instead of playing only one place We'll
be playing two different coasts and then
for the conferences different places
as well and the PPL Cup in a to be
determined place So how many conferences?
There's a West and East?
West and East.
And where would they
be playing in the West?
Multiple places or one?
Multiple places.
Okay.
I potentially LA, potentially
Los Angeles and Vegas.
Okay Um, and then in the East Coast
is potentially Orlando and, and,
uh, Miami, Miami beach, Miami beach.
Yeah.
Let's see something out there.
We'll have fun together in there.
I can tell you we'll have fun.
Yeah.
Okay.
So let's talk about
the changes in players.
Right.
So I hear you have some
really great players coming,
uh, you know, here to play.
Um, so are you allowing more, um,
Outside the players, you know, play
and for the teams or how, how does
that work from last year to this year?
Yeah, last year we were, uh, We are
still very focused, you know, on the
on the North American audience, right?
For players creating that opportunity
for North American players.
But this year we ended up making
some changes because some of the
owners, you know, were, were,
you know, putting extra money.
You know, so we decided to increase the
salary cap or the the range that we have,
you know, for bringing more players in and
they were, you know, smart enough to start
looking for some of the best players in
the world and they were very successful.
So they started to search, you know.
Profiles, very, very high
profiles, and they got a yes.
So we detected that there's a
huge interest of these top guys,
you know, players, top players
in the world to be playing PPL.
And then, you know, we started to
receive signatures and signings So
we ended up changing a little bit.
So we are now allowing, you know, to bring
more international players, even when
our priority keeps going, you know, on
making a space for North American players.
So in the following years, we'll be
probably inverting, you know, the
percentage, so we'll be increasing
the importance of North American
players and reducing a little
bit the international presence.
Can you tell the audience
who, who's coming to the PPL?
Oh, a lot of names, a lot of names.
Give us a few.
Chingoto, which is top, uh, team three,
which I think he's, he's ranking is seven
now, Juan Martín Díaz, Maxi Sánchez,
Miguel Lamperti, Las Gemelas Sarayeto.
I mean, I mean, I don't want to forget
anybody, but I can tell you that big,
big names, you know, historical names,
you know, and, um, very, very, uh, you
know, good players, former top one,
top two, top three in the world will be
playing this year in the, in the big game.
So that level is really,
is really giving up.
No, no.
What is that, you know, where does
that leave the American players, you
know, that are not at that level yet?
You know, they're not going
to get drafted, obviously, you
know, so they will get drafted.
Well, they'll be taken over by
some of these players, right?
And then how about when they
play against each other?
You know, you may have one team
that is really offset, has some
great, how do you control that?
Let's say that, uh, obviously we
have some internal rules, you know,
for, for how to create, you know,
the draws and, and the lineup, I
would say, you know, for the teams.
But, uh, we have, you know, incredible,
um, incredible response from last year,
you know, having Luis, as we were saying,
Luis Estrada, Nico Agritelli, you know,
and some others, you know, some of the
girls that also played, you know, uh,
on different teams, um, Riva played,
you know, and, and, And, uh, I mean,
a lot of them, you know, that we're
playing and I was thinking like we, we
could see, you know, the evolution of
these players, you know, after having
the experience to play with some of the
best players in the world, they, they
increase their level big time, right?
Yeah.
So we ended up saying maybe some of
these guys, they don't have, you know,
as many opportunities as last year to be
in front of the cameras this year, but
they will be part of the teams as well.
So they will be able to live the
experience to get, you know, some
practice, you know, to be there as well.
And you can also improve yourself by
getting inspired and to breathe the same
air that some of these superstars, right?
You don't need to actually
play in front of the cameras.
And we also wanted them to get
inspired and to get challenged, right?
It's like, Hey, we are
building this for you guys.
So now see what is happening.
You got to go fight for it.
We are making the 50%, but you also
need to make your 50 percent back.
Right?
So it's not a, it's not a matter of, Hey.
Uh, Give it to me and that's it.
You're gonna earned it because in
life you put more value on the things
that you think that you earned, right?
Of course something that
you were given, right?
Of course, of course, definitely
Okay, so can we talk a little bit
about a value the franchise value?
Can we talk about that?
Compared to 2023 compared to 2024.
Somebody wanted to
invest into a franchise.
What are they looking at?
I can tell you that, um We are like
6, 7x, if not more, maybe more now,
in fact, from the very beginning.
Which is Which is Come on, Marcus!
You know, you got investors, you know,
you know, just give them a ballpark view.
Let's say I wanted to invest, or
somebody wanted to invest, or I
wanted to put something together.
We know, okay, this is what it is.
And I know the value is going up.
I know the value is going up.
I mean, there's more teams
coming in, more people coming.
I mean, I could see this thing
really reaching a certain amount.
But, uh, if you don't want
to talk about it, it's okay.
You said six, seven times, right?
Six, seven times.
From 2023.
From the very beginning.
Wow.
Yeah, it's growing a lot.
It also, because we are putting together
a better product, we are improving not
only the quality of the production.
You were part of that.
And I'm happy that we We could have you
there, you know, being part of everything
that we are doing, you know, you saw
the setup, you know, with the lids,
you know, the production is incredible.
We are increasing also, um, the
quality, you know, the hospitality,
you know, for our sponsors and so on.
We are also increasing the number
of games, um, the Quality on
television, the presence on television,
everything is going up, right?
So obviously it's more
than understandable that.
Yeah, let's talk about the media.
Are there gonna be any changes for
2024 when it comes to media production?
I mean, our standards are to keep
looking for excellence, I would say that.
Um, there are two things that
I don't think will change.
One is that we usually say that
our priority are the players.
The PPL was created by and
for the players, you know,
to create this new ecosystem.
We, I, I really think that they
are our biggest asset, you know,
and I want to respect them.
I want to treat them well, you know,
I want them to feel the PPL as, as
part of their, you know, career.
Also, obviously the owners, you know,
it's important and then the fans, right?
I don't think that is going to change
Hopefully never will change that
will be you know stack, you know in
our vision forever And and obviously
we are aspired into excellent.
This is part of my dna as well You
know every single thing that i'm doing
i'm trying to get the the best or
at least the best that I can right?
I'm lucky enough to have an incredible
team You know that they are doing the job.
In fact, they are the ones
that are doing the job.
And I'm I'm super proud
and happy about them.
But we keep aspiring to excellence.
So our commitment is to produce, you
know, media, better, um, quality,
better, everything better, right?
Aspiring to excellence all the time.
So I can commit to do things better
than last year, or at least to try.
Sometimes we are not good enough
to do great things, but Well, like
in everything, you're constantly
changing, adjusting, you know, like
pivoting, and, you know, based on
what the needs are in any business.
That's how it is.
But it's amazing what you've You co
founded and helped them and produce.
I mean, I think PPL is such
a great idea and I love it.
Thank you, man.
Thank you.
It's kind of lean startup.
I usually, are you familiar with
lean startup mentality or, which is
like, it's basically what you said.
You know, it's like all these startups,
you know, need to pivot really quick,
you know, make tiny changes and listen
to their audience and become better,
you know, in the things that we become
more specialized, you know, but we gotta
be light enough to move fast, right?
So.
This is kind of the mentality of basically
everything that I'm doing, you know, and
we are also trying to apply that to PPL.
Okay, so let's talk a
little bit about RacketX.
Are you gonna be speaking there?
Can you talk a little bit what
you're gonna talk about in RacketX?
It's kind of this, this thing
we're talking about now.
Monetizing facilities, you know, the
future of PPL is more or less this.
So you can probably take this
video and then put it there.
You don't need to go.
No, but I really want to go, man.
I really want to support the initiative.
I think they are doing an incredible job.
You know, RacketX is going to
change, you know, the idea of
the trade shows and this kind of.
Moment, you know, in,
in the United States.
I think they are doing an incredible job.
And I'm happy, you know,
and honored to be invited.
You know, I, I was, I think after
Katrina Adams, you know, from the
USDA, I was the second, you know, guest
and the speaker that they invited.
So I'm, I feel like a superstar man.
I feel like superstar.
You are superstar, Marcus.
No, no, I'm not.
I'm not.
But I really feel like, like
humble, you know, to me there.
I'm excited.
I'll be bringing, you know, my Pellet MBA
USA team, we'll be doing some exhibitions
in addition to the presentation that
I'll be doing, we'll be doing some
activations on the court as well.
So I think it's going to be fun.
Marcus, thank you so much
for coming on the show.
I want to wish you all the luck in 2024.
Man, keep in touch and keep
the great job that you're doing
and happy to have you here.
We'll see you in level two.
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