Tom Brady Partners with Future: Autograph Deal & Fitness Tech

Autograph and Future Announce Merger

Autograph, the NFT-focused company established with Tom Brady as a co-founder, is uniting with Future, a prominent digital fitness platform.

As a result of this consolidation, Tom Brady will assume a position on Future’s board of directors and will also serve as the company’s co-chair.

Autograph's Evolution

Brady initially launched Autograph in 2021 with the intention of fostering connections between athletes, artists, and their respective fan bases.

This led to the creation of an NFT marketplace, which successfully secured over $200 million in funding and achieved a valuation of $3.1 billion, as reported by PitchBook.

Late in the previous year, Autograph underwent a strategic shift, removing the NFT element and transforming into a platform designed to monitor fan interactions and provide corresponding rewards.

Notable figures such as Naomi Osaka and Tony Hawk served as advisors, and the company received backing from venture capital firms including Andreessen Horowitz and Lightspeed Venture Partners.

Future's Core Offering

Future specializes in linking individuals with qualified digital fitness coaches.

These coaches then develop customized workout plans tailored to each user’s specific needs and goals.

Challenges Faced by Autograph

Autograph encountered difficulties, particularly following the downturn in the cryptocurrency market and the subsequent cooling of the NFT sector.

In 2023, the company implemented workforce reductions and its staff size dwindled to approximately 30 employees, as detailed by Fast Company.

The Merger Details

Rishi Mandal, co-founder and CEO of Future, publicly announced the merger via LinkedIn.

In a statement to TechCrunch, Mandal explained that his initial discussions with Brady, facilitated by Autograph co-founder Richard Rosenblatt, centered around potential partnerships.

However, they ultimately determined that a full merger would be the most beneficial course of action.

While described as a merger by all involved, the combined entity will operate under the Future name.

Mandal indicated that it is premature to disclose specific new product plans, but emphasized Future’s intention to leverage Autograph’s celebrity network in conjunction with its existing athletic focus.

The overarching objective is to enable individuals to train alongside elite athletes and benefit from expert coaching.