Drew Weatherford

Founding Partner at Weatherford Capital

Panellist

Drew Weatherford is a Founding Partner of Weatherford Capital, a private investment firm with over $1 billion in assets under management. Founded in 2015, the firm aspires to partner with visionary founders and leaders to build enduring companies critical to the long-term growth of the economy, spanning technology, financial services, business services, sports, and public-sector markets. Through a relationship-driven approach rooted in long-term stewardship of capital and deep experience in public-private partnerships, Weatherford Capital seeks to empower organizations to create lasting value in sectors where regulation, governance, and public engagement shape how businesses and consumers operate.

Drew established and now leads the firm's sports strategy, anchored on a long-term Sports Continuum spanning youth development, collegiate athletics, and professional sports ownership. He is also the co-founder of Collegiate Athletic Solutions, the first committed-capital platform purpose-built to invest in the collegiate athletics ecosystem.

Drew serves on Weatherford Capital's investment committee and is actively involved in sourcing, structuring, and supporting portfolio companies alongside management teams. He currently serves on the boards of Curve Sports, IMG Academy, Coterie Insurance, The Zebra, Arax Investment Partners, and Bishop Street Underwriters.

Weatherford Capital applies its partnership-driven, value-add approach across investments in the Sports Continuum, from broad-based youth participation to structured collegiate development and into professional competition and fan engagement. Currently, the firm partners with founders, institutions, and leagues through investments in IMG Academy, one of the world's most influential sports education brands; Curve Sports, a national platform consolidating elite youth travel sports organizations; and professional sports franchises and leagues, including the United Soccer League (USL), the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Together, these investments reflect a consistent thesis: sustainable value in sports is created by expanding participation at the base, strengthening institutional pathways, and aligning incentives at the professional level.

Drew is also a recognized thought leader and regular contributor to the conversation on the future of sports and collegiate athletics. He is a co-author of the white paper The Tipping Point for College Sports Is Here, which outlines a structural case for expanding student-athlete participation through institutionally governed Varsity Club programs. The paper has helped inform dialogue among university leaders, conference executives, and investors on scalable, mission-aligned growth models for college sports, and it anchors Drew's broader advocacy for Add More Athletes — the belief that expanding access and opportunity for youth athletes builds leadership, discipline, and academic success.

Beyond sports, Weatherford Capital owns and operates market-leading government technology and services businesses, including OpenGov, PayIt, BusPatrol, and Kalkomey. This experience navigating regulated environments and public-private partnerships directly informs the firm's approach to youth, collegiate, and professional sports, where governance, accountability, and long-term alignment matter as much as capital.

Before Weatherford Capital, Drew co-founded Strategos Group, advising senior executives and public leaders on complex transactions, government affairs, and reputation strategy. That experience continues to shape his work at the intersection of sports, policy, and institutional change.

A former Division I quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles under legendary coach Bobby Bowden, Drew brings a practitioner's mindset to sports investing. Following his playing career, he was appointed by the Governor of Florida to serve on the Florida State University Board of Trustees, where he served until January 2026. Today, his focus is on strengthening the Sports Continuum by expanding access, increasing participation, and ensuring sports remain a force for opportunity, development, and community for generations to come.