At XP League, it’s essential that our esports franchise owners share our mission and values while feeling passionate about creating wealth for their families. Finding the right fit is integral to the success of our company. Our owners come from all different backgrounds, and this diversity makes our brand stronger. We love finding new owners who have unique experiences and viewpoints, yet we also seek candidates with key traits that make successful business owners. One such example is Jennifer Vilela, who owns an XP League franchise in Palm Beach County, Florida. Below, in her own words, Vilela shares her experiences and explains the “why” behind her decision to franchise with XP League.
Background
“I’ve spent the past 20 years as a residential realtor with Keller-Williams, and I still maintain my license and my practice. I’m a single mom raising four sons and I just love working with kids. Through the years, I’ve been very involved in foster care here in Palm Beach County. My children have been into video gaming for quite some time, so I guess you could say I’m a self-described ‘professional gamer mom.’”
On Choosing an Entrepreneurial Future
“My adult son Jake, now 20, got into gaming after getting injured playing soccer in the ninth grade. His years of competitive gameplay have made him a professional in Fortnite and it became a part of our lives. I’m a member of the Coalition of Parents in Esports (COPE), which encourages gameplay as a means to empower kids to leverage their experience to build confidence, sportsmanship, and other commendable values. During a conference call with COPE last year, I first heard about XP League. I became fascinated with the opportunity – especially in the ways the brand is helping to overcome negative stereotypes about gamers in general. Having an understanding that gaming skills advance with age, and the lessons and life skills kids can pick up with esports, I decided to bring XP League to my community.”
What Attracted You to the XP League Opportunity?
“Not only was it a chance to do something entrepreneurial that involved children, but I truly love the values and character-building aspect of XP League. It’s inclusive for all and gives me a chance to impact many lives. I’m a strong believer in sportsmanship, and XP League gives these kids the tools and resources they need to develop a strong character. Social media can be a negative force for kids, but XP League is about building face-to-face relationships, collaboration, and teamwork. In a way, it reminded me of my experience starting out as a realtor. There’s just a big ‘Wow Factor’ with XP League and it was something I wanted to bring to my community. Esports is really taking off and now high schoolers even have a chance to compete for college scholarships, just like traditional sports. Heck, it’s even become an Olympic sport! There’s so much opportunity involved that I just wanted to be a part of it all.”
Tell Us About Getting Started With XP League
“I signed my franchise agreement with XP League on August 1 of last year and had my grand opening in late November. These first few months, I’ve been focused on recruiting players for our team with a goal of signing up as many kids as possible. It’s going well and I’m excited to see what the response rate will look like over the summer break. So far, the feedback from all the parents has been over-the-top positive.”
Why Do You Think You Were a Fit for XP League?
“Well, I think it speaks to my entrepreneurial spirit. Right now, XP League is still an emerging brand – but it’s reminiscent of when I first began working with Keller-Williams. Nobody knew much about them a few decades back, either. At its heart, this is a ground floor opportunity for XP League owners to grow with the brand. And I’m proud to say that I’m the first female XP League owner in the state of Florida.”
What Has This Business Opportunity Afforded You That You Might Not Have Otherwise?
“I’m proud to say that this opportunity has allowed me to bring the first ever youth esports league to Palm Beach County, I have raised my four sons here in this county since 2001 and to be able to provide this opportunity to so many gamers is a true blessing for me personally.”
What Does the Future Hold for You?
“Right now, I’m really focused on the recruiting element. My initial goal is to have a minimum of 100 kids enrolled in my XP League franchise. That’s a number that I’d like to increase fivefold – to have a base of 500 players at any given time. As the participants will tell you – the more gamers you have, the more fun it is for everyone. And the more players you recruit, the more profitability you can achieve as an owner. I want to be careful about scaling up in my territory, but there’s still plenty of room for growth and expansion. It’s really an exciting time to be involved with XP League!”