From Teammates to Entrepreneurs: The Story of PIVOT Intelligence
What started as a shared connection on the baseball field has grown into an ambitious business venture for three young entrepreneurs with ties to Texarkana.
Will Erickson, Worth McMillen, and Evan Jackson met while playing college baseball in Texarkana. Today, they’re the founders of PIVOT Intelligence, an artificial intelligence (AI) sports technology company working to change how coaches and sports organizations make decisions.
Founded in Texarkana in January 2026, PIVOT Intelligence is a sports technology startup created by three college baseball players with a shared vision for smarter decision-making in sports.
Their story is proof that you don’t have to wait until you’ve graduated, landed your dream job, or gained years of experience to pursue a big idea.
Meet the Three Founders of PIVOT Intelligence
Each founder brings a different background and set of skills to PIVOT Intelligence.
Will Erickson, Co-Founder and CEO, is a 19-year-old from Portland, Oregon. A baseball player at Texas A&M University–Texarkana, he’s studying business with a focus on finance and banking and is a member of the Honors College.
Before PIVOT, Will operated WorkbyWill, a creative and marketing business serving athletes, teams, and organizations. He originally envisioned a career in sports marketing or finance, but starting PIVOT changed his plans.
Worth McMillen, Co-Founder and COO, is a Texarkana native who played baseball at Texas A&M University–Texarkana before transferring to East Texas Baptist University to study accounting and finance.
Originally planning a career in finance, Worth now manages PIVOT’s operations, financial strategy, business development, and organizational structure.
Evan Jackson, Co-Founder and CMO, is from Newnan, Georgia. He played baseball at Seminole State College of Florida before transferring to Texas A&M University–Texarkana, where he’s studying communications and marketing.
Although he initially considered a career in marketing or coaching, Evan now leads PIVOT’s brand development, marketing efforts, and relationships within the sports industry.
Together, the three have combined their experience as athletes with their interests in business, technology, and sports.
How PIVOT Intelligence Is Bringing AI to Sports
The idea behind PIVOT Intelligence came from recognizing a challenge in the sports industry.
Teams have access to enormous amounts of information, from player statistics to game footage. But having all that data doesn’t necessarily make it easier to decide what to do next.
That’s where PIVOT comes in.
The company’s AI-powered platform is being developed to help coaches, analysts, and sports executives turn information into actionable decisions. From evaluating potential recruits and analyzing opponents to optimizing lineups, the goal is to make advanced sports analysis more accessible and efficient.
The founders officially launched PIVOT Intelligence in January 2026, developing their initial core technology using basketball data while continuing to manage college classes and athletic commitments.
What began with three baseball players recognizing an opportunity has become a company with ambitions extending far beyond the field where they first met.
The Challenges of Starting a Business in College
Starting a company is challenging at any age. Doing it while attending college full-time and competing in athletics adds another level of responsibility.
For the PIVOT founders, one of the biggest obstacles has been earning credibility.
At just 19, Will has found that approaching industry executives and potential investors requires more than enthusiasm. The team must demonstrate that its technology can deliver meaningful results.
Their age may create challenges, but their athletic backgrounds have also given them an advantage.
Years of baseball have taught them discipline, accountability, teamwork, and resilience. Those same qualities now help them navigate the demands of building a business.
And just as athletes learn from tough losses, the founders understand that setbacks and feedback are part of improving.
Advice for Young Entrepreneurs: Don’t Wait to Start
For students who have dreamed of starting a business but aren’t sure where to begin, the founders shared a simple piece of advice in an interview with Texarkana Parent:
“Do not wait until you feel fully qualified.”
It’s easy to believe that starting a company requires a college degree, a large amount of money, or connections with the right people.
But the PIVOT founders didn’t have an established reputation in the sports technology industry when they started. Instead, they relied on determination, discipline, and a willingness to learn.
They also emphasize the importance of surrounding yourself with people who bring different strengths to the table.
Will, Worth, and Evan each contribute something different to PIVOT. By combining their skills in finance, operations, marketing, and sports, they’ve built a team capable of tackling challenges together.
Their advice is simple: Start with what you know, find people who complement your strengths, listen to feedback, and don’t let the fear of being inexperienced keep you from trying.
What’s Next for PIVOT Intelligence?
The PIVOT founders aren’t thinking small.
Within five years, they hope their technology will be widely used by professional and collegiate basketball organizations, helping coaches, analysts, and front offices make smarter decisions.
Looking ten years ahead, they envision expanding PIVOT Intelligence across all major sports, becoming a trusted resource for teams seeking a competitive advantage through data.
Their ultimate goal is to help shape the future of sports technology by turning information into meaningful action.
It’s an ambitious vision for a company founded by three young college athletes. But they’ve already taken one of the most important steps toward achieving it: getting started.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Texarkana Entrepreneurs
For young people in Texarkana who have an idea for a business, an invention, or a project they believe could make a difference, the story of PIVOT Intelligence offers an important reminder.
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin.
You don’t have to know every answer, have the perfect business plan, or wait until someone tells you that you’re ready.
Sometimes, the first step is simply recognizing a problem, believing you can help solve it, and finding the courage to try.
Will, Worth, and Evan are still writing their story. And while there’s no guarantee where their company will be in five or ten years, they’re gaining experience, building relationships, and creating opportunities along the way.
For the next generation of young entrepreneurs, that may be the most valuable lesson of all: Big ideas don’t have an age requirement.
Making Their Mark is a Texarkana Parent series highlighting young people with connections to our community who are pursuing their passions, making a difference, and inspiring others to dream big.
