BELLEFONTE — The young entrepreneurs behind “Gen Z’s ESPN,” TDAY Sports, visited Centre County government leaders to share how Penn State and local startup resources helped propel their social media company to more than a billion views in just three years.

TDAY founder Justin Leusner and teammates Austin Groft, Kyle Hutchingson and Robert Prince, III, presented their story during a recent public meeting, crediting the county, Penn State, Happy Valley LaunchBox, Invent Penn State and Ben Franklin Technology Partners with giving them a launchpad for success.

TDAY Sports is an unconventional sports media company that prioritizes building connections with its audience through content styled after YouTube creators and social media influencers. With a focus on Gen Z, the team produces experiential, behind-the-scenes and challenge-style videos that blend entertainment with real-time sports moments.

Today, the company regularly collaborates with sports icons like Penn State Football Coach James Franklin, Jason Kelce and Saquon Barkley, with videos averaging an impressive 300,000 views on TikTok and 100,000 on YouTube Shorts. TDAY Sports has also partnered with big-name brands like Happy Valley United, Gatorade, Disney+, ESPN, Lululemon, EA Sports, Prime Video and the Pittsburgh Pirates, creating content that’s independently generated millions of views.

Founder Justin Leusner began building his digital media skills at just 10 years old, when he launched his first YouTube channel, YF aka “You’re Fired,” in 2013.

“The idea was, I wanted to grow up and be a YouTube creator,” said Leusner. “Youtube was still new to the mainstream, but I saved up my money and bought a GoPro, my friend and I downloaded Final Cut Pro… and we started creating YouTube videos about sports.”

For seven years, spanning from elementary through high school, Leusner posted daily content and grew his channel to more than 50,000 subscribers. In 2020, he pivoted to launching a YouTube agency, which has since helped businesses like Philly Pretzel Factory and Limitless NIL — founded by former Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford — expand their reach online, along with other athletes and creators.

When he arrived at Penn State in 2021, Leusner entered the Happy Valley LaunchBox’s pitch competition, which he called “an absolutely tremendous resource.”

The team went on to participate in Penn State’s Summer Founders Program, receiving $15,000 in funding, and took second place in the Inc.U Pitch Competition, earning another $10,000. Leusner graduated from Penn State in December, but thanks to the community and startup ecosystem in Centre County, he decided to stay and keep growing the business locally.

“I chose to stick around,” said Leusner. “I never thought I would. I wanted to leave this place and go back to New Jersey, then move out to Los Angeles as soon as possible. But because of Invent Penn State, because of Ben Franklin, because of the LaunchBox — I am choosing to stay.”

All of the commissioners expressed excitement that the company and its leadership are choosing to stay local. TDAY Sports is currently based in State College, with its headquarters in Innovation Park and operations housed at the Innovation Hub downtown, within the Happy Valley LaunchBox.

“It is really great to see all the support that you’ve had from Penn State… everything we’ve done locally to try and invest in entrepreneurship here, that you’ve decided to stay and keep this your home base, (that) is exactly the kind of thing we hope to see,” said Commissioner Amber Concepcion. “We are always hoping students will decide to stay here after they graduate, and starting your own business is even better. So, congratulations.”

Now that TDAY Sports is profitable, Leusner explained that the team can make their work a full-time job, which he called a “dream come true.”

“None of this would have been possible without Centre County, Penn State University, Invent Penn State, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, so thank you guys for the great work you’re doing supporting student entrepreneurs,” said Leusner. “We wouldn’t have a job without you and the funding to help us get started.”