Michael Redd Continuing to Have Impact Off the Court

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- How do you top being the captain of The Ohio State University team, a successful professional career, and an Olympic Gold Medal? Michael Redd is preparing to have impact off the court as well. He is using his resources to expand The Wave, a ministry Michael founded in 2008, and to build entrepreneurship and economic development in the Midwest by joining NCT Ventures, where he will be a Venture Partner.

The Wave was formed to help minister to the Columbus community and beyond. They historically have been event-based activities and have reached thousands in the community through their outreach. They now are developing a central location, and developing ongoing programmatic offerings to build more leaders and expand their reach.

The former NBA player has pointed out that there is a strong correlation between the professional athletes' world and the entrepreneurship community that directly relates to competitiveness and drive. Michael has expressed that he "naturally loves helping people and truly wants to see those with passion succeed," which is where his passions and NCT's core mission align.

"NCT has a long history of success by supporting passionate people who know how to win," says Rich Langdale, managing partner of NCT Ventures.

As a Venture Partner, Michael will identify deal flow and help entrepreneurs successfully bring their business ideas to fruition. NCT is a very hands-on investor, and is often helping their portfolio companies draft talent and find new customers. Michael plans to use his expertise and extensive network to further support the company's growing portfolio of successful companies. He will start by buying his own company and engaging in NCT's extensive training program.

Michael also realized that he had to become a professional investor to avoid the pitfall that happens to many NBA players after retiring from the game. Currently approximately 60% of NBA players go bankrupt just five years after retirement. Through his outreach he believes he can help others avoid some of these financial problems.

Michael's priorities in life have always centered around his faith, family, ministry and his determination to help others to the best of his abilities. He is now returning to his roots in Columbus, Ohio to do just that – by leveraging entrepreneurs' talents and creativity to develop profitable business models.

About Michael Redd
Michael is a former professional American basketball player. The former Ohio State Buckeye player began his professional basketball career after being drafted 43rd overall in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks where he played for 11 years, followed by another year with the Phoenix Suns. His accomplishments expand equally across both his professional and personal goals, including status as an NBA All-Star to a Gold Medalist with Team USA at the 2008 Summer Olympics to his philanthropic endeavors in buying a church building for his father's ministry to help his hometown community in Columbus. Throughout his career, Michael has dedicated himself to striving for success in more ways than one and he continues to do so in his professional life as a businessman, post-NBA.
http://www.thewavecolumbus.com

About NCT Ventures
NCT Ventures is a venture capital firm dedicated to providing a platform for entrepreneurs to succeed in turning their ideas into profitable business models through hands-on operational support. Over the last 20 years, NCT has helped build many successful companies across a variety of industries by investing within their Midwest community and focusing on their core competencies of marketing, logistics and disruptive platform technologies to propel their portfolio companies to success. http://www.nctventures.com/

SOURCE NCT Ventures