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United States Antonio Depina is a multifaceted entrepreneur and former professional basketball player known for his contributions to sports technology and ride-hailing services in Africa.
Antonio Depina started his first company, Overseas Basketball Connection (OBC), in April 2020. This mobile app aims to connect talented professional basketball players with pro-basketball teams worldwide, especially in Africa, without needing an agent. The app was later rebranded to Scoutz App. Depina used over $100,000 of the proceeds from the app to establish the Praia League (Cabo Verde Basketball League). He developed the idea for OBC while filming for Netflix's The Circle in August 2019.
Zoomly is a ride-hailing app launched by Antonio Depina. The app was created out of a personal need for accessible transport and to challenge stereotypes about Africa's digital realm. It was launched in Cape Verde on December 18, 2021, with plans for expansion across Africa, targeting regions where transport is not heavily prioritized.
Antonio Depina was a contestant on Netflix's reality show, 'The Circle,' in August 2019. His participation on the show, which aired in January 2020, significantly increased his public visibility and social media following, providing a platform to promote his initial entrepreneurial venture, Overseas Basketball Connection.
Antonio Depina partnered with the Osceola Magic, an NBA G League team, ahead of their tryouts. This partnership aims to support aspiring athletes by providing opportunities. The details of the partnership mean every athlete going through tryouts benefits.
Antonio Depina established the Cabo Verde Basketball League (initially referred to as the Praia League in some sources) using over $100,000 of the proceeds from his Overseas Basketball Connection app. The league held its first season in 2021, with the Plateau Warriors winning the title. Depina aims to expand this model to other African countries, starting with Liberia.
Antonio Depina was born in Wilmington, Delaware, a city known as the corporate capital of America. His heritage includes a Cape Verdean father and a Liberian mother, cultivating an early connection to West Africa. Initially, Depina pursued a career in professional basketball. After graduating from Lincoln University, a Division II school in Pennsylvania, he proactively sought opportunities in European basketball. In August 2017, he signed a contract to play for Electrico FC in Portugal after independently contacting over 500 coaches, managers, and owners across Europe.
Following his professional basketball career in Europe, where he primarily played in Spain and Portugal, Depina returned to the United States in 2019. This return marked a turning point towards entrepreneurship. In April 2020, Depina launched Overseas Basketball Connection (OBC), a mobile application designed to connect professional basketball players with teams globally. His entrepreneurial journey gained significant visibility when he appeared as a contestant on Netflix’s reality show, ‘The Circle,’ in August 2019. The show’s broadcast in January 2020 contributed to a substantial increase in his social media following, which provided a platform for promoting OBC. Depina personally learned to code and developed the app after experiencing setbacks with external developers.
In June 2021, Antonio Depina was recognized on the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list. Building on the success of OBC, he initiated the Cabo Verde Basketball League, leveraging over $100,000 from app proceeds to fund the league’s first season in 2021. He also expanded his reach into the tech sector with the launch of Zoomly, a ride-hailing app, which commenced operations in Cape Verde on December 18, 2021. Depina’s work focuses on fostering development and creating solutions within the African continent, with plans to expand the basketball league to Liberia and other African countries.
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