The DNA of Things with Dr. Jeremy Koenig

Episode 76: Beyond the Peak: How Athletes Transition Into Entrepreneurship with Jaco Burger

Dr. Jeremy Koenig Episode 76

In this episode of The DNA of Things, Dr. Jeremy Koenig sits down with Jaco Burger—entrepreneur, elite performance coach, and Chief Innovation Officer at Volta Innovation Hub—to explore how the mindset of an athlete mirrors that of an entrepreneur. From his early dream of becoming a professional cricket player to coaching ATP tennis pros, and now guiding founders and athletes through Beyond the Peak, Jaco shares his journey of resilience, transition, and human-centered innovation. Together, they dive into the parallels between high-performance sport and entrepreneurship, the challenges of identity beyond the game, and how athletes can channel their discipline, focus, and resilience into building impactful ventures.

Key Takeaways:

✨ The athlete’s mindset—discipline, resilience, and adaptability—is the DNA of entrepreneurship.
 🔄 Transitioning from sport to business requires an identity reset and skills reframe.
 🌍 Building community and cultivating human connection are vital for founders’ success.
 💡 Entrepreneurship is about solving problems with creativity, not just chasing opportunity.
 🚀 Beyond the Peak empowers athletes to harness their performance mindset for life after sport.

LINKS:

https://www.drjeremykoenig.com/
https://www.instagram.com/drjeremykoenig/
https://www.youtube.com/@drjeremykoenig


Here's the link for this week's episode: https://drjeremykoenig.substack.com/.