The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FEBRUARY 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 61 ❱ WHERE ARE THEY NOW? After launching their company, four of the five founders of The Players Trunk — (left to right) Charles Matthews, Hunter Pomerantz, Austin Pomerantz and Jason Lansing — appeared together on the TV show "Shark Tank" where they ultimately walked away from an investment offer from Kevin Hart and Mark Cuban. PHOTO COURTESY OF AUSTIN POMERANTZ stuff out, then the other players [reach out]." Matthews and Simpson were part of the team that advanced to the national championship game in 2018, and the duo partnered with Lansing and the Pomer- antz brothers as they formed the com- pany. "We were close enough to form close relationships with multiple athletes on the team, but specifically with Charles and Zavier, who are also athlete found- ers for the company," Pomerantz said. "When they graduated, they pretty much turned to us and said, 'Hey, go through our lockers, take whatever you want. But after that help us sell it. We were pretty much using their Instagram and their Twitter accounts. "It was a lot of local meetups. But the problem was you didn't know if they were serious buyers when you posted it on Twitter or if they just wanted to interact with their favorite player. It did have some initial success, but that's when we realized there needed to be a platform dedicated to this sort of thing to help athletes make money off their gear that they've had over three or four years. "Whenever they go professional, it's a nice way for them to make some money. And that's always kind of been our motto. It's just helping the athletes monetize themselves." Most of the former players' roles with the company are there to leverage the re- lationships they have made throughout their basketball careers. "It's not really as much day to day," Lansing said. "It's more higher-level stuff. If there's an athlete that one of them is connected to that we want to get in touch with, they'll help facili- tate that and just sort of be the liaison there, but yeah, it's not as much like day to day. It's just them being a part of the company now because they are still going after their pro careers, which is good to see." In 2022, the group appeared together on the 13th season of ABC's "Shark Tank," ultimately failing to cut a deal with the potential investors on the show with Kevin Hart and Mark Cuban offer- ing to buy 30 percent of the company at a $650,000 price tag. The deal was turned down and the guys decided to walk away, but it was an experience they will never forget. "This is all one take, so if there is a mess up or anything like that, you just have to keep going," Pomerantz said. "As athletes growing up, you're kind of used to the pressure, you kind of welcome it. So, for me, the adrenaline kicks in, it's almost like you blackout and after the fact, you're just like, 'Did that really just happen?' "I think it was just a cool full-circle moment. I grew up watching the show every week with my family, even in high school. To be actually on it and to watch it and be somewhat of a local celebrity for a weekend was definitely just an awe- some experience. "It's a fun fact for life, and to be able to do it with some of my closest friends in the world — I wouldn't trade it for the world." Overall, their time in Ann Arbor pre- pared The Players Trunk team for what would come after it, based mostly on the connections that were made throughout their collegiate careers. "There were just a lot of resources and a lot of different things that we could do," Lansing said. "Our teachers were very supportive of it. A lot of hands-on experience in that program. It prepared us very well. Having that network … we both keep in touch with a lot of people. And I'd say the two main things for me were the hands-on experience and being able to actually contribute to something real. "And then also just the relationships that we built, obviously the one Austin and I have, but just with everyone in the program." ❑ ❱ The Jason Lansing And Austin Pomerantz File Favorite Spot On Campus Lansing: PDC/Crisler Center Pomerantz: Zingerman's Favorite Michigan Memory Lansing: Clinching the Big Ten regular season my senior year (COVID year) and cutting the nets. Pomerantz: Being from New York and getting to see Michigan basketball win the 2018 Big Ten cham- pionship at Madison Square Garden. Most Proud Of Lansing: "Our scrappiness. Whether it was our college apartment filled to the ceiling with gear or taking trips back and forth to the post office every day with Austin, I'll never forget starting a business while still in school and having other duties like being a manager. Also, the relationship between Austin, myself, and his brother. We talk every single day and love working together." Pomerantz: "I'm most proud of The Players Trunk's impact on athletes. We created a platform from scratch that allowed thousands of athletes to monetize their game-worn gear and personal memora- bilia. Appearing on 'Shark Tank' was a proud moment, but what stands out most is how we empowered athletes to connect with fans meaningfully and benefit directly from their hard work and dedication."