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Mikey Gendell

Background​

  • Connected to Gary Sheng's network, particularly within the sports world.
  • Family owns/is connected to the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks.
  • Extended family owns Marriott hotels.
  • Recently became a father.

Interactions​

  • No direct interaction mentioned in this specific transcript, but Gary is planning to bring him into the loop.
  • 2025-04-22: Attended Alpha High, toured facility with Gary Sheng, met Jack Oremus. Discussed sports microschools, his background, and motivation. Met Cruce Saunders and heard about his running app project. Joined Gary, Russ Ballard, and John E Walker for dinner at AMLI South Shore Asian Fusion.
  • Meeting & Strategy Session (2025-04-23): Had lunch (Terry Black's BBQ) with Gary Sheng and Justin Horwitz. Participated in discussions about Alpha Schools strategy, particularly the political aspects in Democratic cities. Confirmed by Gary as his first and primary recommendation for a role (presumably leading sports partnerships/micro-schools). Discussed potentially extending his stay in Austin, with Gary offering accommodation. Mentioned his wife, Erica, and her potential role. Invited Amir (former pro tennis player) to the dinner event.

Potential Role in Alpha Ecosystem​

  • Identified by Gary Sheng as a key potential collaborator for starting sports-focused micro-schools. Gary's #1 recommendation for a hire.
  • Has the connections and likely the interest (recently became a father) to align with Alpha's sports-centric scaling strategy.
  • Gary plans to introduce him to the Alpha Nano team / Strata School project leads.
  • Potential executive hire, leading sports initiatives.
  • Excited about concept of Chicago Bulls feeder school for middle and high school basketball players.
  • Could help monetize sports initiatives through family connections and sponsorships.

CCAT Status​

  • Scored 29/50 (58th percentile) on first CCAT attempt.
  • Has another attempt available.
  • Current minimum requirement is 35/50 (70th percentile) for core team positions.
  • May be better suited for project-based contract role given current score.

Next Steps​

  • Gary to sync with Mikey about potential role.
  • Consider project-based contract with specific goals.
  • Potential focus on Strata team needs.
  • Could be valuable for sports partnerships and monetization.

Transcripts​

Transcript IDDateSummary
2025-04-22_alpha-high-misc_gary-sheng_michael-gendell_others2025-04-22Visit to Alpha High discussing potential sports microschool initiatives and meeting various team members
2025-04-22_amli-asian-fusion_gary-sheng_john-e-walker_russ-ballard_michael-gendell2025-04-22Dinner discussion covering sports initiatives, partnership strategies, and Alpha School expansion plans