Some ideas hit you slow, over time. Others hit you like a lightning bolt—so strong that you can’t ignore them.
For me, Nasty Nelson started with that kind of moment.
It was 2022, and I was at VeeCon, a conference hosted by Gary Vaynerchuk, packed with some of the sharpest minds in business, branding, and culture. The lineup was stacked—founders, celebrities, entrepreneurs—people who had built things that mattered. I sat there listening to Kevin Plank (Under Armour), Neil Patrick Harris, Jessica Alba, and countless others break down what it takes to turn an idea into reality.
It wasn’t just about motivation—it was a wake-up call. I wasn’t just inspired. I was sitting there thinking, “This is it. This is what I need to do.”
And that feeling was so strong, so undeniable, that I didn’t even finish the day.
Leaving VeeCon to Start a Brand
Most people go to conferences to soak it all in—to fill notebooks, network, and walk away with a game plan. But for me, the conference was over at noon.
I couldn’t sit there listening to people build great things. I had to get out and start building one myself.
I walked out of VeeCon mid-day and immediately started making calls. Manufacturers, trademark lawyers, designers—anyone who could help me turn the idea in my head into something real.
I knew Nasty Nelson had a place in the world. I just had to make it happen.
Two Years of Learning Everything
What followed wasn’t instant success. It was two years of learning absolutely everything from scratch.
✅ Trademarking – Protecting the name, locking down the brand.
✅ Manufacturing – Finding the right materials, the right partners, the right process.
✅ Brand Positioning – Not just making another pickleball brand, but something that actually mattered.
✅ Product Testing – Designing paddles that felt right, clothes that people actually wanted to wear.
I knew that Nasty Nelson wasn’t just going to be a brand—it was going to be a movement. Pickleball wasn’t ready for what we were bringing, and that was exactly the point.
It was about shaking up the game.
The Best Learning Experience of My Life
When we finally launched, it was surreal. Two years of work, trial and error, wins and setbacks, all leading to that moment. And now, the learning hasn’t stopped.
Building Nasty Nelson has been one of the best crash courses in business, branding, and resilience I could ever ask for. Every day, I’m figuring out new things—how to scale, how to market, how to create something that actually lasts.
But the biggest lesson?
💡 Sometimes, when you know, you just know.
I could’ve stayed at that conference, listened to every panel, taken perfect notes, and spent months “planning.” But that wasn’t the move. The move was taking action.
That’s what started Nasty Nelson. And that’s what’s going to keep it growing.
What’s Next?
We’re just getting started. The goal? Define pickleball fashion for the next generation. Keep pushing, keep innovating, and keep bringing real culture to the sport.
And if there’s one thing I know from all of this—when you feel it in your gut, don’t wait. Get up, walk out, and start building.