Founder Stories: Creating Your Own Path

Robert Griffith

A 13-year NFL All-Pro veteran with the Vikings, Browns, and Cardinals, Robert has always blended competition with community.
After retiring, he launched a 25-year scholarship foundation, giving over 35 full scholarships to underprivileged students, and currently serves as President of Armilla Tech.

His entrepreneurial path began in NFL leadership, negotiating five CBAs, building Players Inc (the NFLPA’s marketing arm), and leading NIL and Madden licensing deals. Beyond football, Robert built ventures in distribution, hospitality, and technology, including founding Xoox Brand and Armilla Tech.

John Bronson

A former NFL player and President of the NFLPA Arizona Chapter, John’s post-career journey reflects his passion for business building and community.

From real estate to founding a travel agency and later connecting athletes with business leaders, John has always created platforms for growth. He launched Finger Licking Dutch, importing European products like stroopwafels, which grew into TJ Maxx’s largest distributor before being acquired.

Now serving as Chief Growth Officer at Armilla Tech, John credits his success to the same principles that shaped him as a player; resilience, discipline, and accountability.

Jordan Thompson

A former Team USA water polo player and tech startup leader, Jordan’s career spans over a decade in aerospace, robotics, and AI. After a life-changing car accident, he reassessed his path, moving from Hollywood production into tech startups.

He joined a JPL spinoff as employee #7, helping build electric vertical takeoff aircrafts (battery-powered planes that fly like helicopters) before diving into AI. His current venture, rAIcruited, provides aspiring college athletes a platform to get recruited for college athletics.

Open Q&A Highlights: Leadership, Partnership, and Growth

Building Trust and Partnerships

When asked how to know who to trust and work with, Robert Griffith and John Bronson shared how their partnership at Armilla Tech was built on trust, alignment, and shared values. “You have to be in lockstep,” said Robert. “Athletes know how to follow a game plan, execute fast, and adjust under pressure. That’s how teams win.” Their message: strong partnerships come from clear communication and mutual commitment, just like great teams on the field.

Transferrable Skills from Sports to Business

The group discussed the traits that carry over most from athletics to entrepreneurship: accountability, resilience, and adaptability. John emphasized the importance of discipline and doing more than what’s required, while Jordan noted that performing under pressure in sports builds the confidence to handle high-stakes moments in business.

Innovating Through Technology

The founders highlighted how innovation drives their current ventures. Armilla Tech is reinventing communication in football with electronic wrist receivers that transmit plays directly from coach to player, no WiFi or Bluetooth needed. rAIcruited, founded by Jordan Thompson, uses AI to forecast athlete development and create more equitable opportunities in sports recruiting.

Each founder continues to make impact beyond business. Robert’s foundation has awarded 35 scholarships, John supports youth and single mothers, and Jordan helps lower-income athletes through water polo. Their shared belief: success means lifting others up along the way.

Final Takeaways

From book and podcast recommendations to hard-earned lessons, the panel left attendees with powerful advice:

• Robert: Know your risks and what you truly want before you start.

• John: Once you commit, go all in.

• Jordan: Don’t be afraid to fail fast, that’s where growth happens.

Catch the full conversation to hear how these founders are combining sports discipline, business strategy, and technology to lead in their industries.
🎥 Watch the full webinar replay here