<p>On this episode of Funded, Alex Bazzell, co-founder of Unrivaled, shares how he went from training NBA players to building one of the most talked-about new sports leagues in the country — and convincing investors to bet on it before a single game was played. He talks about getting passed on by VCs who invested in women&#39;s sports, what it felt like to fundraise without a prior exit or operator background, and how being completely not in fundraising mode turned out to be his biggest advantage. Then, mid-season, Bessemer Venture Partners — backers of LinkedIn, Shopify, and Twilio — came knocking unsolicited and delivered a term sheet the very next morning. It&#39;s a real look at what happens when deep belief, hard work, and the right timing collide.</p>