Welcome To $SPARQ
Welcome to $SPARQ Official Documentation and Help Resource.
It All Started with an Idea to Help College Athletes...
Tony Dye Founder - President (UCLA, Cincinnati Bengals) and Sean Embree Founder - BD ('90 National Champion CU Buffs) understood more than most the dedication it takes to be a collegiate athlete. Recognizing this, they saw the opportunity to give back to future college athletes when Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules were adopted in 2022.
At the helm of this effort is founder and CEO, Jan Horsfall, a seasoned executive with a track record of turning vision into reality. Horsfall began his journey leading the consumer marketing unit at Valvoline and later played a critical role at Lycos, where they created the fastest IPO in NASDAQ history and a stock price surge of 3,000%, culminating in Lycos being sold for $4.5 billion. Horsfall’s expertise spans CEO roles at Gemini Voice, Gelazzi Inc., Universal Energy, and Maxletics Inc., and also included serving as CMO at Turbine Games (acquired by Warner Bros). He also serves on NorthWestern Energy's board (NASDAQ: NWE) and recently completed work at MIT Sloan’s CSAIL program studying AI's implications for business strategy.
Horsfall’s leadership transformed Turbine Games, the maker of Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons & Dragons Online, which was losing $16 million annually. He led the 380-person company through a bold pivot, introducing North America and Europe's first free-to-play (F2P) premium game model. This innovation skyrocketed Turbine’s net income to $55 million annually, ultimately enabling the company to be sold to Warner Bros. for $150 million, plus considerations (estimated at $250 million). Turbine is now WB Games Boston.
With a vision to empower thousands of athletes by featuring their names and images in video games, Sparq, Inc. was established. Five out of the six founding team members are former collegiate athletes, giving Sparq invaluable firsthand insights into the challenges and opportunities in this space.
Notice!
NOTE: Please remember that Sparq's documentation, including this GitBook, may be updated periodically to provide you with the most current information. Keep this in mind when referring to our documentation for the latest details. White Paper Disclaimer: This White Paper is provided solely for informational purposes and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or invitation to invest in securities or any other financial instruments. It is not intended as a public offering, nor should it be construed as legal, financial, tax, or other professional advice. Recipients are responsible for complying with any applicable laws or regulations, and should seek independent professional counsel before making any decisions or commitments. Neither the authors nor affiliated entities make any guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information presented, and reserve the right to modify or update the content without prior notice.
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