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Former Seattle Seahawks star Bobby Wagner is looking forward to the opportunity away from football to learn more about business, financial literacy and technology. And now he’s helping young people experience those same opportunities.
In partnership with Silicon Valley venture capitalism’s Next Play Capital, Wagner gave 21 students a tour of venture-backed companies and organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area on Monday.
Wagner saw it as an opportunity to take kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity and give them a behind-the-scenes look at creative ecosystems where they hear about entrepreneurship, finance and early stage investing.
“The idea is just to expose them,” Wagner told GeekWire. Last week, the Boys & Girls Club of King County was in Seattle to host the 2022 Field Day at Husky Stadium.
The Seahawks legend played in Seattle for 10 years, winning a Super Bowl and leading the team’s defense as captain, establishing himself as a fan favorite. Wagner tapped into the city’s tech scene, learned about venture capital and angel investing, and eventually joined Fuss as a general partner in 2020.
“We’re excited to continue building with Bobby,” Fuse general partner Cameron Borumand told GeekWire in March after the Seahawks traded the All-Pro linebacker to the Los Angeles Rams.
On Monday, Wagner and his students visited VC firm Bessemer Venture Partners; Level, a financial services company; X, Google’s research and development arm; and Skydio, a drone manufacturer.
GeekWire caught up with Wagner to find out about helping kids, the tech scene in LA, and what he misses most about Seattle. The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
GeekWire: This event remembers how you got started and were exposed to technology and business. Do you find yourself still learning about these companies and the tech scene?
Wagner: I definitely find myself still learning. So many companies are doing amazing things. And I’m still trying to learn each one. This is an important experience for me as a child.
What is one lesson or experience today that you hope these children take home with them?
I hope they realize that the biggest thing is that there is more to business than just starting a company. There are different ways to create companies. You can invest in companies, you can buy companies, you can buy shares in some companies that you use every day. Exposing them to that and pushing the idea of financial literacy early. I couldn’t even figure out how to write a check or any of that until I got to the league. I hope this gives them the confidence to dive into this stuff earlier than I did.
How are things at Fuse? Have you thought about doing a program like that with the people in Seattle?
I was trying to emulate the same thing I did years ago, so that’s why I wanted to do it in Silicon Valley. But there’s nothing stopping me from expanding that to Fuse or even moving some kids to Seattle. I really feel like this could be the start of something big. With the connections I have in Silicon Valley, the connections I have in Seattle, the connections I have now in LA, I think there are definitely a lot of groups that we can touch. Maybe we are the group that starts exposing kids to the things they should be learning in school.
You basically own the West Coast. You have Seattle, LA and the Bay Area.
And that’s the plan. And that’s the plan.
They are hosting a Football camp This week at your old high school. Talk a little bit about turning kids into soccer while still doing this business literacy.
Today we’re doing financial literacy for the big crowd and then on Wednesday we’re going to run around and play my favorite game with the kids. Soccer is an amazing sport where you can be exposed to many different cultures. And there are many levels of leadership and teamwork and sportsmanship. That’s what will help me in life after football…in the business world. I look forward to bringing that to everyone.
Can you compare the Seattle and LA tech scenes for us yet?
One difference between the Seattle scene and the LA scene is that there’s probably a little more nightlife in LA, so a lot of conventions go out and do things like that. I think Seattle’s kind of tech is tough, but it’s a little bit more different in LA because it’s so big. You have people who are interested in tech, you have people who make music who are interested in technology, you have guys and girls who are interested in consumer technology. Who doesn’t love LA because there are so many different elements here?
Is there anything new or interesting in technology that you’ve just come across?
A lot of what we do at Fuse is something I’m really excited about. I’m glad I’m still connected because I feel like the tech scene is looking for a modern, young, hungry team, and we’re the team that gives the city what they need.
What do you miss about Seattle?
I still bounce back so I don’t think it really hits me until I get into the season. One thing I miss the most is being surrounded by trees and all the water and how the moon hits the water at night. That’s what I remember. And of course people.
Well, we wish you the best of luck with the Rams, kind of… you know how that goes. It must be strange to look down and see. Look at your number on the back of your jersey.
Yes, a little. I am excited for the new journey. … i feel. [Seattle] Love. Most people think I’m gone for good. I just don’t play there anymore.
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