Hochberg Sports Marketing is a sports marking agency committed to assisting underserved athletes and companies without Nike-esque budgets in their growth through brand partnerships. HSM athletes compete in niche but expanding sports like the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), AVP Beach Volleyball, and others.
HSM has a faithful emphasis on supporting smaller-budget brands break into sports marketing. Brand partners range from 1-10 person startups taking their initial jump working with athletes to prominent companies like Athleta, who recognize the unique value in niche athletes.
A prime example of the type of partnerships HSM facilitates includes three of its NWSL athletes and Penny Finance – a female-founded financial mentor app for women. The deal aids athletes in generating long-term wealth, and Penny Finance increases their awareness and acquires users through social media content posted by the athletes.
The NWSL athletes currently under HSM marketing representation include Danny Colaprico (2015 Rookie of the Year), Nikki Stanton, Vanessa DiBernardo, Brianna Alger, Arin Wright, and Erika Tymrak (former USWNT player and 2013 Rookie of the Year).
“HSM has done a great job of helping me build my brand over the last few years, which has allowed me to increase my earnings off the field,” said Danny Colaprico of the Chicago Red Stars. “I’ve really enjoyed working with them and am looking forward to what’s to come.”
Pertaining to the state of the NWSL, Colaprico added: “It’s been great to see the growth of the league. There is definitely still a long way to go to get where we need to be, but compared to when I first entered the league in 2015, there has been a lot of progress.”
Matt Hochberg, the founder of HSM, says, “NWSL athletes deserve dedicated marketing representation. Full stop. These are some of the best soccer players on the planet, and in addition to what they’re capable of on the field, they have tremendous potential off the field. For too long, large percentages of athlete marketing dollars have been allocated to a tiny sliver of the overall athlete pool, and we are on a mission to change that.”
Matt and HSM have clearly invested in an overlooked yet profitable segment of athlete marketing; HSM revenue was up 100% in 2021 compared to 2020. Instead of focusing on the mainstream top 1% of athletes, HSM has seen remarkable success in directing its attention to lesser-known athletes who compete in sports with small but incredibly dedicated fanbases. Barely over two years old in a competitive industry, look for HSM to continue its impressive growth and success in representing niche sports in marketing and partnerships.