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BILT Founders go on the CBUZZ Podcast
Bilt Founders Appear on CBUZZ Podcast with Mikaela Hunt
Bilt Founders Appear on CBUZZ Podcast with Mikaela Hunt
Name, Image, and Likeness has transformed college athletics, but what if NIL could do more than endorsements and sponsorship deals? What if it could build businesses, create equity opportunities, and strengthen entire communities?
In this episode of cbuzz, host Mikaela Hunt sits down with Sam Storts and Chimdi Chekwa, co-founders of BILT Connections, to explore how they are redefining the NIL landscape. Their model moves beyond transactional payments toward equity-based partnerships that position student-athletes as business owners, venture partners, and community investors.
From licensing university technology to supporting small businesses and future real estate development, BILT is creating a new ecosystem where athletes, entrepreneurs, and communities grow together. Sam and Chimdi share their vision for the future of NIL, why Columbus is the ideal place to launch innovation like this, and how business leaders can get involved in this emerging opportunity.
Listen here!
Bilt subsidiary: legacyacres Awarded $200k TVSF Grant from Ohio Dept of Development
Bilt subsidiary: legacyacres Awarded $200k TVSF Grant from Ohio Dept of Development
The BILT Connections team successfully petitioned for and obtained a $200k Technology Validation Startup Fund (TVSF) Grant from the Ohio Department of Development Third Frontier program. Funds will be injected into the local economy as BigKitty Labs is contracted to write and develop the software.
Read more here.
Another BILT Shoutout on BLEAV in Buckeyes!
Another BILT Shoutout on BLEAV in Buckeyes!
BILT President, Chimdi Chekwa and VP Bryant Browning talked with Ohio State legend, Ted Ginn Jr. and former coach, current Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and our advisor, Jim Tressel on their podcast BLEAV in Buckeyes where they did a deep dive into the current state of our mission. Ted has been the top spokesperson for Lt. Governor Tressel's Fitness Challenge spanning elementary schools across Ohio! They are working to implement an active lifestyle into kids from a young age. All three BILT co-founders are actively engaged as ambassadors for the program.
Check out this episode of the pod here!
The Ohio state university writes about bilt subsidiary: legacyacres
The Ohio state university writes about bilt subsidiary: legacyacres
In April, 2025 BILT Connections explored a new avenue of bringing opportunity to former and current student-athletes while also boosting OSU tech commercialization by licensing a succession planning software and spinning off LegacyAcres.
Read the story here.
NBC4 Goes in Depth on the bilt model
NBC4 Goes in Depth on the bilt model
Co-Founders Sam Storts and Chimdi Chekwa sat down with NBC 4 anchor, Jerod Smalley, to give some insight to the new world of NIL and explain how the BILT model is looking to the future.
Read the story here.
BILT Announces First Athlete partners
BILT Announces First Athlete partners
OSU Women's Basketball star, Cotie McMahon and football star, Denzel Burke, announced as first student-athlete partners of BILT Connections.
See the story here.
BILT mentors boss athletes
BILT mentors boss athletes
BILT co-founders had the opportunity to mentor two groups of student-athlete entrepreneurs as part of the OSU Keenan Center Best of Student Startups (BOSS) and Bucksgopro programs.
The group of three outstanding businesswomen from the OSU Women's Soccer team made the top 6 and pitched to a panel in a competition for $10,000. Mirann Gacioch, Natalie Garcia, and Lily Danner were outstanding in their pitch and proved that Buckeyes are #BILTdifferent
Read more about the BucksGoPro program here.
BILT Feature on bleav network
BILT Feature on bleav network
Watch our President and Vice President discuss the BILT concept on their podcast "BLEAV in Buckeyes"
President and Co-Founder, Chimdi Chekwa, to seat a panel raising awareness of the value NIL can add to local businesses
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