# Brian Verne

> Brian Verne is the Los Angeles-based co-founder and CEO of Wave Sports & Entertainment. A former Oberlin baseball captain, he worked on the CnXn apparel business and co-founded Phenom before launching Wave with Ishaan Sutaria in 2017. His work connects athletes and other personalities with audiences through digital programming and social distribution.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Wave Sports & Entertainment
- **Organizations:** Wave Sports & Entertainment, Phenom, CnXn, Trident Coffee, Oberlin College
- **Education:** Oberlin College, Shaker Heights High School
- **Known for:** Co-founded Wave in 2017 and led its development from social sports communities into original programming., Led Phenom, which reported more than 75,000 users in early Q2 2016 and participated in 500 Startups Batch 16., Organized a college baseball tutoring program serving fifth-grade classrooms.

## Career timeline

- **2005-2009** — Four-year starting outfielder at Oberlin College; served as team co-captain.
- **2008** — Interned at IMG in Cleveland.
- **2008-2009** — Organized a Prospect Elementary tutoring program involving nine Oberlin baseball players.
- **2010** — CnXn apparel venture profiled for its area-code branding and local team customers.
- **2014** — Co-founder of Phenom; helped stage a rooftop mural and equity offer inviting LeBron James to Cleveland.
- **2016** — Announced Phenom’s participation in 500 Startups Batch 16.
- **2017** — Co-founded Wave with Ishaan Sutaria.
- **2021** — Wave.tv rebranded as Wave Sports + Entertainment; Verne became a Trident Coffee investor and ambassador.
- **2022** — Wave launched New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce.
- **2025** — Wave named to TIME100 Most Influential Companies.
- **2026** — Wave expanded comedy relationships with Whiskey Ginger and Bad Friends.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Wave in 2017 and led its development from social sports communities into original programming.
- Led Phenom, which reported more than 75,000 users in early Q2 2016 and participated in 500 Startups Batch 16.
- Organized a college baseball tutoring program serving fifth-grade classrooms.
- Wave was included in TIME100 Most Influential Companies in 2025 and Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Wave announced an ad sales and distribution agreement for Bad Friends on October 5.
- **2026-03** — Wave publicly announced its inclusion in Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2026.
- **2026-02** — Wave partnered with Andrew Santino’s Whiskey Ginger on distribution, marketing and advertising sales.
- **2025-06** — Wave included in TIME100 Most Influential Companies.

## Links

- Website: https://www.wavesportsandentertainment.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianverne
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brianverne
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brian_verne/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/brian-verne
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23