The Kickoff: Larry Fitzgerald on Backing Founders

He joins Nabin Banskota, Co-Founder at Niural AI, for a candid conversation about the parts of leadership that don't make the highlight reel: how he evaluates a founding team, what convinced LPs to oversubscribe a first-time fund in this market, and what 17 seasons with one franchise taught him about building something that lasts longer than a hiring cycle. Most athlete-investors talk about discipline. Fitzgerald sits on public company boards, co-founded a venture fund, and started learning finance as an intern during the peak of his playing career. Come with real questions. This room is capped. Attendance is by approval, and we're keeping it small on purpose — close enough to the conversation to ask a follow-up, small enough that the networking actually works. Schedule 5PM - Arrival Drinks & Networking 5:45PM - Fireside Chat with Larry Fitzgerald 6:45PM - Networking Reception and the Kickoff Giveaway 🏈 The Kickoff Giveaway Win a limited-edition Niural football signed by Larry Fitzgerald or a pair of Meta smart glasses. Every attendee who checks in will be automatically entered. Winners will be announced live during the networking reception. Must be present to win. About Larry Fitzgerald Jr. Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August 2026, capping a seventeen-season career in which he finished second all-time in receptions and receiving yards and made eleven Pro Bowls — all with one franchise. His second career started before the first one ended. Today he's co-founder of Trenches Capital, an early-stage fund focused on technology and enterprise software; a board member at DICK'S Sporting Goods and Qualtrics; a minority owner of the Phoenix Suns; and part of Fenway Sports Group. He's backed more than 160 companies across technology, sports, hospitality, travel, and real estate. Harvard Business School published a case study on the transition in 2025. About Nabin Banskota Nabin Banskota is the Co-Founder and President of Niural AI, the AI-native platform for global payroll and payments across 150+ countries. A former Wall Street CFO turned repeat founder, he brings two decades of financial leadership to the work of rebuilding how companies pay and manage teams worldwide.