Commercial Co-Founder – Sports Sponsorship & Partnerships

Commercial Co-Founder – Sports Sponsorship & Partnerships

Athlete Journey Partnerships (AJP)

Location: Israel / International — Fully Remote

Opportunity: Active Commercial Co-Founder

Equity: 10–20%, subject to agreement

Salary: No guaranteed salary at this stage

Athlete Journey Partnerships (AJP) is an emerging international sports commercial representation business founded in Israel.

Our mission is to help ambitious athletes secure meaningful sponsorships, brand partnerships and commercial opportunities that support their sporting careers.

AJP is already operating. We have established our brand, website, athlete representation programme, commercial infrastructure and international outreach activity.

We are developing relationships with athletes, sporting organisations and commercial partners across multiple sports, including snooker and motorsport.

We are also developing AJP Connect, a digital platform intended to connect athletes with opportunities, organisations and commercial partners.

The foundations are in place. Our next priority is generating consistent commercial revenue.

We are seeking an experienced, entrepreneurial commercial professional to join AJP as an active co-founder and help build the business alongside its founder.

This is not an advisory position, a freelance assignment or a conventional salaried job.

We need someone who can take genuine ownership of sponsorship sales, brand relationships, commercial negotiations and revenue generation.

You will help shape the business, develop its commercial strategy and personally convert opportunities into signed agreements.

We are not looking for someone simply to provide advice, introduce a few contacts or manage social media.

We are looking for a committed business partner who can help build AJP into a commercially successful international company.

• Lead sponsorship sales and commercial business development across AJP's athlete portfolio.
• Identify and approach brands, sponsors, marketing directors and commercial decision-makers.
• Use existing industry relationships to develop genuine sponsorship opportunities.
• Build, manage and convert a qualified commercial pipeline.
• Develop compelling sponsorship packages and commercial proposals.
• Personally pitch, negotiate and close sponsorship and brand partnership agreements.
• Help secure AJP's first significant commercial deals and establish recurring revenue.
• Develop strategic relationships with agencies, brands, sports organisations and commercial partners.
• Work directly with the founder on commercial priorities, business strategy and growth.
• Take accountability for agreed commercial targets, activity and results.

Essential:

• Proven experience in sponsorship sales, commercial partnerships, business development or relevant B2B commercial sales.
• A demonstrable record of personally negotiating and closing commercial agreements.
• Strong relationships with brands, marketing executives, commercial directors or sponsorship decision-makers.
• Confidence approaching senior decision-makers and converting conversations into revenue.
• Strong negotiation, relationship management and commercial strategy skills.
• An entrepreneurial mindset and willingness to take responsibility for outcomes.
• The ability to work independently and collaborate closely with the founder.
• Genuine interest in building an international business over the long term.

Particularly valuable:

• Experience in sports sponsorship, athlete representation, sports marketing or sports commercial rights.
• Existing relationships with brands investing in sport, athletes or sponsorship.
• Experience building or scaling an early-stage business.
• International commercial experience.
• Understanding of athlete marketing, content partnerships and brand activation.

We welcome applicants from outside the sports industry who have a strong record of securing commercial partnerships and can demonstrate how their experience and relationships would translate into athlete sponsorship.

This is a genuine opportunity to become a commercial co-founder of an operating early-stage business, rather than starting a company entirely from scratch.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to:

• Receive a proposed 10–20% equity stake, with the final percentage dependent on experience, commitment and agreed responsibilities.
• Help shape AJP's commercial strategy and long-term direction.
• Take a meaningful leadership role in developing the business.
• Work internationally and remotely.
• Build commercial relationships across multiple sports and markets.
• Contribute to the future development and commercial opportunities of AJP Connect.
• Discuss a performance-based revenue-sharing arrangement linked to commercial results.

Important compensation information

There is no guaranteed salary, monthly retainer or upfront payment available for this position at present.

The opportunity is equity-based, with potential performance-related revenue sharing to be negotiated.

Any equity allocation, vesting schedule, revenue-sharing arrangement, responsibilities and ownership rights will be subject to mutually agreed terms and formal legal documentation.

Equity is not guaranteed income and may have no financial value. Future salary or distributions would depend on the company's financial position and formal agreement.

We are therefore seeking someone who understands early-stage business risk and is financially able to commit to building a venture without immediate guaranteed remuneration.

The expected time commitment and commercial milestones will be agreed together before any formal appointment.

AJP was founded by Elliot Ward, who brings more than 15 years of sales and business development experience and a background competing internationally in snooker representing Israel.

Elliot has established the initial business foundations, athlete relationships, commercial materials, website, outreach systems and development of AJP Connect.

The objective is to bring in a complementary commercial leader with proven deal-closing experience and strong business relationships.

During the initial months, we want to establish a focused sponsorship pipeline, open meaningful discussions with relevant brands and begin converting opportunities into signed, revenue-generating partnerships.

Our longer-term ambition is to build AJP into a sustainable international sports commercial business serving athletes across multiple disciplines.

Please include a short introduction covering:

1. Examples of sponsorship or commercial partnership deals you have personally secured.
2. Your relevant industry relationships and commercial experience.
3. Why you are interested in becoming an active co-founder rather than taking a conventional salaried position.
4. Your availability and realistic time commitment.

Applications are welcome internationally. We are particularly interested in experienced commercial professionals based in Israel, the UK, Europe and other international markets.

Website: athletejourneypartnerships.com

Every athlete has a journey. The right partners can help take it further.