Howard Schultz Joins Ryan Clark’s Pivot25 Productions as Strategic Partner and Investor

Former Starbucks chairman and CEO Howard Schultz is bringing his growth experience to Ryan Clark’s expanding media company. In a Sept. 22 announcement, Pivot25 Productions said Schultz had joined as a strategic partner and investor, with the goal of helping Clark build an “enduring media enterprise.”

The move matters because Clark is not starting from zero. The 46-year-old Emmy-winning broadcaster and Super Bowl champion already has a substantial audience, a show produced with NFL Films and a Netflix video deal. Schultz’s involvement adds a prominent business partner to a media venture operating in a market where trusted personalities increasingly compete with traditional institutions.

What Schultz Will Bring to Pivot25 Productions

According to the company, Schultz will contribute lessons from his Starbucks career, along with “strategic counsel, commercial relationships, networking expertise and access to capital resources.” His role is framed around helping Pivot25 scale into a durable media business.

The announcement did not disclose the amount of Schultz’s investment or other financial terms. It also did not describe a day-to-day editorial role.

How Ryan Clark and Howard Schultz Connected

Clark told Craig Melvin on an episode of Glass Half Full that Schultz reached out after Clark left ESPN in July, ending 11 years as a sports personality with the network.

Clark said Schultz’s first message was a long text in which Schultz described a deep dive into what had happened and said he wanted to be part of Clark’s comeback. Clark also said Schultz believed he was a brand and believed in the values he represents—an affirmation Clark said he had not often heard from someone with Schultz’s stature who did not look like him.

“I told him that I wanted to do a show, and from there he was like, ‘Wait, why would we just talk about doing one show? … I believe that in you being a brand, we can build an entire network.’”

— Ryan Clark

From one show to a possible network

Clark initially pitched Schultz on a single program. Schultz encouraged him to think bigger, treating Clark’s name, perspective and audience as the foundation for a broader network. That shift from show to company is the central challenge for Pivot25 Productions.

Ryan Clark’s Existing Pivot25 Platform Gives the Company a Strong Starting Point

Before Schultz’s involvement, Pivot25 had already built a recognizable sports-media product. The Pivot Sports with Ryan Clark is produced in partnership with NFL Films and co-hosted by former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor and former Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder.

The show has more than one million YouTube subscribers and recently entered a deal with Netflix to stream video of the podcast. Those assets give the company an audience, sports credibility and a path beyond audio-only distribution.

Why Howard Schultz’s Starbucks Experience Matters

Schultz is known for helping turn Starbucks from a regional coffee chain into a global brand. For Pivot25, that experience is relevant beyond capital: brand positioning, commercial partnerships, distribution relationships and the discipline required to grow without alienating an existing audience.

That last lesson is especially important in digital media. Audiences often follow a host’s personality, judgment and authenticity as much as a legacy network’s name. Schultz’s comments reflect that reality, noting that people increasingly choose the people and platforms they trust over traditional institutions.

Strategic value beyond an investment check

Although Schultz is joining as an investor, the announcement emphasizes a broader package of support. His experience could help Pivot25 evaluate expansion opportunities, develop commercial relationships and build the infrastructure needed for a multi-platform business. Those are potential contributions, not a detailed launch plan.

What Comes Next for Pivot25 Productions

Clark has spoken about the possibility of a network, while Schultz has identified the transformation of media as the context for the partnership. As of the Sept. 22 announcement, Pivot25 had not provided a network launch date, a detailed content slate or additional financial terms.

For now, the confirmed direction is clear: expand the Pivot25 brand, draw on Schultz’s business experience and build on the show’s existing reach. The Netflix agreement already indicates that the company is thinking beyond YouTube, although the terms of that distribution arrangement were not provided.

Why the Partnership Matters in Today’s Media Market

The announcement reflects a broader shift in which sports, business, culture and entertainment are increasingly intertwined. A former athlete and broadcaster can build a media brand around conversation and point of view, while a seasoned executive can help convert that attention into commercial relationships and longer-term infrastructure.

“Audiences are increasingly choosing people and platforms they trust over traditional institutions, and the barriers between sports, business, culture and entertainment are disappearing.”

— Howard Schultz

Schultz also praised Clark, Zubikowski and the team for earning an audience through “honesty, curiosity and humanity,” language that reinforces how personal connection is being treated as a competitive advantage in the new media landscape.

Conclusion: A Credibility-Backed Expansion for Ryan Clark’s Media Company

The Schultz partnership pairs Clark’s established sports-media platform with the experience of a former global business leader. Pivot25’s starting advantages are visible: a large YouTube audience, an NFL Films production relationship, Netflix distribution and a host-driven format built around direct conversation.

Its next test is whether it can turn that attention into a sustainable, multi-platform company while preserving the personal style that helped it succeed. The announcement is best understood as both a vote of confidence in Clark’s brand and a practical effort to give Pivot25 Productions the support needed for its next stage of growth.

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