Hank Medina is a former investment banker and current racquet sports and club investor, he became “Insta-famous” when he shared comical memes about life in the financial world.

He will be speaking at RacquetX this March about the U.S. Padel expansion, his new club concept, and what investors need to know about racquet sports today.

We sat down with “Lit” (who we now know is Hank) for a sneak preview and his perspective on the racquet world.

When was your first exposure to racquet sports? What drove your passion?

“I started playing tennis at a young age and was introduced to the game by my father who grew up playing tennis. I played tennis from the age of six until I was in college. Tennis was always part of my lifestyle. When I was working in finance in New York, I noticed a lack of courts in the city. When Padel Haus opened in Williamsburg, I went to play with a friend, and fell in love with it.“

Investing in the space came about when I realized the sport is still nascent in the U.S. and that we need more courts in the U.S. That inspired me to create a meme, which got the attention of Padel club founders who are beginning to raise capital.“

How did you build an 800,000+ follower base on social media?

“My 800K followers on Instagram originally came from my meme posting about my experiences as an investment banker and private equity professional in NY. I never set out to invest in racquet sports. But when I quit my job in late 2020, I set out to build out the Litquidity platform as an actual business, investing in start-ups that my platform could add value to. I now have investments in about 30 businesses, including those related to Padel and other racquet sports.

My intention is to add to the lives of the community that follows me – career advancement, trends, and even just humor.”

What do you think the timeframe will be for Padel infiltrating the U.S.?

“I think it’ll take about five years for the sport to become mainstream. Capital is being invested into building more courts. Short-term, Padel will likely be mainly a country club or inspirational sport but, like other racquet sports, it’ll be fully democratized.”

We at RacquetX are doing a research study on who plays what types of racquet sports. What do you predict we’ll find?

“We’re already starting to see more “multi-sport” players. For example, this past weekend, I played Padel on Saturday with colleagues and I played tennis with my father and brother on Sunday. It’s a great opportunity for both business networking and connecting with friends and family.

I don’t necessarily see pickleball players adopting tennis, but I can definitely see them taking up Padel.

Like golf, Padel can be complimentary to other sports.”

We understand that you are investing in a new club in the Hamptons. What will the club of the future look like?

“I’m one of the co-founders of Bond, the conversation started out as coming on as a potential investor but I decided to take on a bigger role in the company given the team’s background, vision, and execution capabilities. It will be a gathering place for a new generation of Padel players as well as current players from around the world. It started as a pop-up concept, but we’re taking it to the next level as a gathering place and private members club that promotes community, health, socialization, and longevity.

Amenities like a gym, a restaurant, a bar, and wellness services like cold plunges, massage guns, and other longevity-related services will all be a part of the model. That will differentiate Bond from other clubs and make it their third “home away from home.” We are creating a social environment through sports that’s not just dependent on alcohol and food.”

Within the racquet sports arena, what are some words of wisdom for investors?

“In my session at at RacquetX I’ll be talking about investment principles that apply to any industry. Look at growth potential and what differentiates a club or product/service concept from others. Ask yourself if the revenue model that’s being created can support expenses like land and rent.”