Armando Ferreira has dedicated his career to MySportJobs, a platform designed to connect student-athletes and professionals in racquet sports with career opportunities. We chatted with Armando to discuss his startup journey, from international student-athlete to successful founder.

Where did you attend school and what degrees do you have?

I played tennis at the University of Mount Olive in North Carolina. I graduated with two degrees: Business Administration Accounting and Business Finance. I feared these two degrees during my first two years in college as I was far from proficient in English.

Were you involved with any business/entrepreneur groups in college?

Since my freshman year, I did everything I could to gain experience and worked every job I could to improve my English deficit. I was part of SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee), as well as part of the Tillman School of Business Investment Club. By my junior year, I became the President of the Investment Club and Vice-President of SAAC. In my senior year, I became President of both groups and the CEO of a non-profit organization.

Our class, sponsored by the Tillman School of Business, launched a non-profit called 'CupUp.' The project was part of a 12-student course, with each student representing a different major (e.g., Finance, Accounting, Marketing). CupUp was founded, operated, and completed within four months during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was designed to decrease the plastic intake caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by using CupUp's water bottle and shaker bottle made out of clean, recycled materials. 

What inspired you to create MySportJobs?

My story, as well as the impact it had on my life as an international student-athlete from Brazil playing college tennis in the US. Years before MSJ was created, I was already helping many student-athletes navigate the correct path regarding taxes, immigration for F1-Visas, and connecting them with the right employers. About six months after graduating college, I thought "why not make it a business and help more people?" MSJ became my first startup.

I was inspired by a class I took in college that was designed to select 12 students, one or two from each business program, to pitch a business idea, select a directory board, do a bank presentation for a business loan, operate the business in four months, and close it within that timeframe. The knowledge I gained from that class gave me the confidence I needed to go through the LLC filing process, secure funding, and risk to believe in myself and the good I could do within my skills. 

Are there any co-founders or other individuals you want to acknowledge for their help with MSJ?

About two years ago, I met my business partner, investor, and above all, great friend, Alex Rebeiz from Aspen, Colorado. Alex, who has been in business for 40+ years, was fundamental in the development of MySportJobs Tech, our platform. Alex, a Director of Racquets, business owner, and club operator, saw the impact the platform would have and decided to step in with me and bring MSJ to market.

A few months after Alex and I started developing the business plan, I had the pleasure of meeting our other co-founder and investor, Zach Hunter, on the pickleball court. Zach brought not only the best software we could have during the timeframe we needed the platform, but he brought the highest level of knowledge, an incredible team from Hyperspace, and guidance through his incredible career as of today. I am lucky to be part of Alex and Zach's partnership and friendship. 

What are one or two of your biggest wins as a company since launch?

Our company metrics are highly dependent on successful connections between employers and candidates. Over the past 4-5 years, we transitioned from manually running MSJ to the current platform, and as a result, our success connection rate has increased from 50% to 80%. There remains incredible upside as the platform is meant to not only connect, but mentor, guide, and prepare each candidate so that everyone finds the opportunity that is meant for them. The second metric we are proud of, is that we have reached and kept a 2:1 ratio in candidates to employers. For every two candidates on MSJ, there is one employer posting positions for these candidates. Our team's focus is solely based on increasing opportunities while preparing our candidates that do the vetting and on-boarding process within the platform. 

What advice do you have for new founders after all you have learned?

Focus daily on mastering what your company is about, from sales to technology, so that you can lead by example. Nothing is more important than sales, customer satisfaction, and business development. Do not give up. I did it many times throughout the process, but by never quitting, we have helped more than a thousand people change their lives as well as their families'. 

Are there any other career achievements/recognitions that you want to mention?

The biggest one - and what we hope to offer our candidates and members - is that I achieved financial independence from my parents at a very young age. At a difficult time in my family's lives, I was able to help by working with the sports that I love. MSJ is here to give others the same opportunity. I value family, piece of mind, hard-work, and meritocracy. College tennis is a gift for tennis players, and we can use that gift to improve ourselves and for the first time in our lives, represent something other than ourselves. Once college is done, we are all lost, with a great gift in hand, yet not much guidance on how to use it. At MSJ, someone can have a Computer Science degree but use tennis out of college to network with the most powerful people in the world, that will organically generate the right opportunity for that individual in the future. That is what I am the most proud of.