Three reasons why a local financial firm plans to give $1 million to Gophers’ NIL collective

Twin Cities business man Mark Pearson is a big fan of football coach P.J. Fleck, the Gophers and proper financial management, which has led Pearson to make a significant pledge to help Dinkytown Athletes raise money.

Dinkytown Athletes — the Gophers’ name, image and likeness (NIL) collective — announced Thursday that Pearson’s Bloomington-based financial services firm Nepsis will become Dinkytown Athletes’ newest and biggest partner.

New or upgraded membership and donations to Dinkytown Athletes will be matched “one to one” by Pearson and Nepsis. Pearson, a 1987 graduate of the U, said he has so far committed to contribute up to $1 million.

“I’m a big P.J. Fleck fan because he’s unique to the extent that he is not just a coach, but he’s a life mentor,” said Pearson, the founder and CEO of Nepsis. “He’s a life coach and teaches these young guys, when they’re done with school, how to go out and be productive in society.”

Nepsis is entering into a new mentoring program to help Gopher student-athletes with financial education and planning.

“We believe, with the concept of mentoring with clarity, we can help bring greater clarity, understanding and guiding players and guiding our clients, in general,” Pearson said. “To help them make the best decisions to maximize their returns, minimize their taxes and take advantage of financial opportunities.”

Pearson, who started Nepsis 30 years ago, has formed a relationship with Fleck and said he was put in touch with Dinkytown Athletes via the Golden Gopher Fund, which connects investors with the university and players.

“Because I am such a fan of what coach is doing,” Pearson said, “one of the phrases, or one of the things, that I have focused on in my company, with my own team and clients, is the power behind multiplying the talents.”