5 Questions with Bobby Atwal of The Fan Zoo
Meet Bobby Atwal, President of one of our partner companies: The Fan Zoo. How did he go from investor relations to working with professional athletes? It’s all explained in “5 Questions with Bobby Atwal”.
institute B: Before The Fan Zoo, where were you?
Bobby Atwal: Before working at TFZ I was working full time in investor relations with different junior mining companies that trade on the TSX V exchange, and running Ultimate Sports World part time. I came into this business having sold my franchised donut shop (Country Style). Neither experience was that great for me. The donut shop was run by people with very little integrity, and the junior mining industry is such a farce. Very few people end up making money and the people who run a lot of these companies are incredibly irresponsible with their investors’ money.
iB: How did The Fan Zoo come to fruition?
BA: I am good friends with Darcy Horidchuck who in turn was good friends with Darrell Kopke. Darcy first spoke to Darrell about the business, and Darrell did not like the business. Then Darcy arranged a meeting at Chill Winston’s for me to meet Darrell. I told Darrell that the model was the opportunity, in addition to the business. I will never forget that meeting!
iB: What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from working with institute B?
BA: The biggest lesson I have learned from my experience with institute B is the true meaning of the word integrity, and compassion.
iB: What is the biggest challenge about being a start up?
BA: Funding is obviously the biggest challenge in being part of a start up. It seems at times we are victims of our own success. The nice thing is we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and truly feel we are almost there.
iB: Describe what it’s like to work with pro athletes?
BA: Working with pro athletes can be both extremely challenging and extremely fun. At first I have to admit I was very awe struck, and probably cost myself contacts. In the end I realized they were just normal guys, and fortunately the majority of the athletes I have worked with have been very nice. There are some guys that are very popular that aren’t so nice, but they are few and far between. I am lucky in the sense that I have been able to establish some very good friendships with a few guys, that they vouch for me and it takes down a lot of the barriers. No one has been more helpful than Darcy, Mason Raymond, and Alex Burrows.
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