If you’re an aspiring pro or college athlete working to build your brand, you already know that Talent isn’t the only thing that matters.
Turning your dream into a career takes more than training and grit. It requires capital.
Travel costs, private coaching, recovery, brand strategy, content creation- it all adds up fairly quickly. Many athletes are forced to step back, not because they lack the talent, but more because they lack the funding to keep going.
The need for funding is real, immediate, and often overlooked.
While traditional funding options exist, they often fall short for those who need capital the most. That’s where Chisos steps in.
Whether you're a post-college player grinding to go pro or a college athlete-influencer looking to build a brand and monetize your NIL, you're likely running into the same wall: how do I afford to get going and keep going?
For too long, athletes on the cusp of greatness have been underserved by traditional finance.
Most traditional funding sources simply weren’t designed with you in mind.
Let's break down the most common paths athletes take to get funding and why they usually lead to dead ends.
When time is of the essence, many athletes turn to credit cards. They're easy to access at first, but they come with high interest rates, complex terms, and no flexibility. Most cards carry APRs north of 20%, turning even modest spending into long-term debt.
You miss a payment, and suddenly you're fighting penalties on top of everything else.
“As I chase my MLB goals, off-season training is everything. I considered credit cards and loans until my agent told me about Chisos. We built a flexible plan that works for me. Now I can train right and stay locked in.”
- JP Woodward, Pro Baseball Pitcher
JP’s story is all too familiar. Credit cards might seem like a quick fix, but they often come with hidden costs that hit hardest when athletes are most vulnerable.
Credit card companies aren’t interested in your training schedule or travel demands; they want their money, on time, every month.
Then there's venture capital or angel investors.
These funders are usually looking for fast-scaling businesses, not individual athletes chasing a dream. They have not caught up to the world of millionaire influencers, and frankly their liquidity outcome driven model just does not match the pro or NIL athlete business model. You would be lucky to even get a meeting.
Some athletes lean on friends and family. Others try for grants or leverage home equity loans. But these come with their unique barriers: limited access, personal risk, or strings attached.
Professional sports are brutal in one critical way: timing. The window to go pro is short, and most athletes only get one shot. Miss the training block, the showcase, or the travel window, and you might miss your shot altogether.
You don’t have time to wait on a months-long application process or jump through hoops for a loan. You need capital that matches your pace. Chisos understands that urgency. That’s why we’ve built a process that moves fast, just like you do.
Chisos was founded with one mission in mind: to fund the dreams of people overlooked by traditional finance. That includes individuals like you: post-college athletes training to go Pro or athlete-influencers growing their brands.
Chisos’s funding model is easy to grasp. We prioritize 3 crucial aspects:
Our funding model isn’t a credit card, a grant, or a sponsorship. It’s capital that’s aligned with your career trajectory, on and off the field.
If banks and traditional lenders worked for athletes, you wouldn’t be reading this.
You’d already have what you need. You’d be training full time, traveling for competition, and investing in your brand.
But the reality is different. Athletes leave the sport every day because the financial system isn’t built to support them. You shouldn’t need a big-name agent or flashy endorsement to access the resources you need to succeed. We think it’s time for a change.
Here’s a breakdown and a comparison of your funding options:
When you work with Chisos, you’re not only getting capital, you’re also signing up for a partnership that understands and respects your journey.
With Chisos’s support, you can:
Train harder: You have the capital to hire elite coaches and laser focus on joining the off-season program or investing in your recovery.
Travel further: You have the energy and confidence to make it to every showcase, tournament, and event that matters.
Grow your brand: You have access to the tools you need to grow your following, work with brands, and own your narrative.
But, most importantly, you can focus on training, performance, and growth without breaking a sweat over how you’re going to make rent.
“Playing pro golf at the developmental level means betting on yourself. Costs like travel, equipment, and entry fees can run $1,500 per event. That’s a tough ask when you’re grinding for your shot.
Chisos is a great potential partner for players looking for the early fuel required to take the journey. I strongly encourage players to think in terms of and plan for a marathon if your aim is to make professional golf a career.”
- Michael Rush, International Pro Golfer
Chisos believes every athlete has the potential to deserve a real shot, regardless of their background or bank balance.
No athlete should give up on their dream because of dollars. We exist to give you the fuel to go pro, the power to grow your brand, and the flexibility to take control of your career.
Don't wait for a big-name sponsor to discover you. Don't gamble your future on credit cards or loans. Choose a partner who believes in your potential and is built to support it.
If you’re serious about turning dreams into a career, we are here to help.
Apply for funding today at Chisos.io.
