SimWin Sports, the world's first virtual sports league that provides daily fantasy players and esports fans with the ability to watch, predict, collect, play, and earn, today announced the latest addition to its impressive lineup of celebrity ownership groups. Award-winning entrepreneurs & creators Emmanuel Acho, Sara “Lovestyle” Hood and Edward Madongorere have joined forces to form the Houston Hyenas team ownership group in the SimWin sports league, with the objective of delivering sports to the metaverse.
“Our new ownership group’s outstanding professional accolades in the tech and media industries and newfound commitment to our vision speak volumes about SimWin’s long-term vision in the metaverse. The addition of the Houston Hyenas also highlights our efforts to promote an inclusive, diverse, and equitable ownership base,” commented SimWin Founder and CEO, David J. Ortiz. “We are thrilled to welcome Emmanuel, Sara, Ed and of course, the Houston Hyenas to SimWin and look forward to seeing the Houston Hyenas’ debut, along with the remainder of star-studded teams.”
The trio, with various roots from the state of Texas, aim to represent a diverse fanbase that reflects each owner’s unique background. Acho, Hood and Madongorere are aligned with SimWin’s goal of furthering minority ownership in sports, as the virtual sports league proudly emboldens the growth and advancement of minority-owned business as part of its mission.
The son of Nigerian immigrant parents, Emmanuel Acho grew up in Dallas, TX, along with his three siblings. He is a two-time Emmy Award Winner, co-host of FS1’s American sports talk show “Speak for Yourself” and a television personality. Acho is a former NFL linebacker and holds a master’s degree in sports psychology from the University of Texas.
Acho’s groundbreaking online series, Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, intended to drive meaningful dialogue around racial insensitivity and ignorance, launched in June 2020 with more than 90 million views to date and birthed two New York Times’ bestselling books. Acho’s third book, Illogical: Saying Yes to a Life Without Limits, debuted March 22, 2022.
“As a Dallas native and University of Texas at Austin graduate, this is a very special investment opportunity to be a part of the acquisition of the Houston Hyenas and the SimWin Sports family,” commented Acho, Emmy-winning sports analyst and former NFL linebacker. “Most athletes consider making it to the NFL as the ultimate dream, but for me, the opportunity to own a franchise is next level.”
Sara “Lovestyle” Hood was born in a refugee camp in Sudan after her parents escaped a civil war. A self-made entrepreneur, Hood is the CEO of Sara Belay Inc., a holding company for the various business verticals she co-founded, and an investor in Broad Street Ventures. Hood holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is a 2022 AFROTECH Capital Connector honoree.
A venture capitalist and angel investor with a passion to involve more women in the tech space, some of Hood’s business endeavors include founding Belay & Bell; serving as Partner of Agency Lux, a social media agency for influencers and brands; and co-founding SaraMante with Ed Madongorere, an investment vehicle in Sports & Entertainment, CPG, FinTech, HealthTech and EdTech. Hood also serves on the advisory board for several of the 17 companies in which she has equitable investments. Her digital series, “Influence To Equity”, will debut in 2023.
“I’m a big fan of David Ortiz’s leadership and his team’s innovative approach to emerging technologies in gaming and sports betting. He has played a pivotal role in ensuring that ownership opportunities have been accessible to black and brown investors, which I’m deeply passionate about increasing representation for black women in sports,” commented Hood, CEO of Sara Belay Inc. “It’s especially meaningful to me to be a partner in the Houston Hyenas alongside Ed and Emmanuel, one of our first investments as a group.”
The Houston Hyenas ownership group is complemented by Zimbabwe-born and Queens, NY-raised Ed Madongorere. He is the CEO and co-founder of Austin, TX-based MOON Ultra and inventor of the MOON UltraLight, named one of TIME Magazine's Best Inventions of 2020 and featured in Forbes, GQ, and Esquire among several others. Madongorere built a career working for media and tech entities such as Comcast, Affectiva, and Cisco, where he effectively pioneered the company’s video email marketing process.
He also founded Edemanté Design & Film, a company that produced stunning visual content for medium businesses and Fortune 500 companies. His creative works have appeared in the likes of CNN, Fox, CBS, and MTV. Madongorere has been featured in the Boston Globe as a tech-style pioneer and named among ten innovative leaders leaving a mark in Austin, TX, by Soulciti /African American Leadership Institute. Through his entrepreneurial journey, equity and inclusion have become a pillar for him. He sits on the advisory boards of multiple tech companies and is a member of the board of directors of Houston, TX-based nonprofit CoolxDad.
“Sports gaming and betting have risen to new heights, as global trends show fans are eager to engage in new and exciting ways, including virtual gaming fueled by on-demand fantasy sports contests,” commented Madongorere, CEO and co-founder of Moon Ultra. “We are thrilled to be an inaugural partner in SimWin Sports, as they are the premier digital sports league to debut online sports franchising at an unprecedented level. As a Texas-based tech founder and investor, it’s an honor to join Emmanuel and Sara as owners of the Houston team.”