Tom Zheng

Yo, so let me tell you about Tom Zheng. This guy’s the real deal, straight up. He’s a YC alum from batch X25, and he’s been crushing it across a bunch of different worlds.

First off, Tom’s background is wild. He used to be a sports scientist with the San Francisco 49ers – yeah, NFL level, bro. That’s no small feat. He knows his way around high-performance, high-stakes environments. Then, he jumped into the startup game with his own thing, co-founding Clado – which is all about health tech, I think. But that’s just the small visible part of a larger problem.

He’s also the CEO and co-founder of The Players Company. Basically, he’s all about athlete investment and helping pro sports guys build wealth – teaching them how to think like investors, not just athletes. That shows he’s got a huge passion for financial literacy, especially for folks who often get played or don’t know how to handle their money after the game.

Oh, and get this – he’s more than just about startups. He co-founded Vite Kitchens with his twin brother Tim (no cap, twin bros). They jumped into the food scene, used Kickstarter for some flavor drops, and clearly know how to hustle. Plus, he’s got his hands in private equity, real estate, and even sports ownership through his firm Tomco Holdings. Dude’s diversified as hell.

What really sticks out? His vibe is all about lifting others – whether it’s athletes, founders, or companies. He sits on boards, gives advice, and pushes for financial literacy, especially for pros who often get the short end of the stick. It’s like he’s on a mission to make sure people don’t get screwed over just ’cause they don’t know better.

So, what’s the story here? Tom’s process shows he’s not just about making money – he’s about making a difference. He’s been in the trenches, from NFL science labs to startup chaos, to investing and educating. He’s seen what works, what doesn’t, and now he’s using all that experience to build stuff that’s meaningful. The guy’s all about taking what he’s learned, jumping into new stuff, and helping others level up. No bullshit, just pure hustle and heart.

Bottom line? Tom Zheng is the guy you wanna watch if you care about startups, sports, or just people actually getting smarter with their money. He’s a connector, a builder, and a total inspiration for anyone who’s tired of the bullshit and ready to make real moves.