Our Story
Trevor Paladino founded Lakeside Capital and serves as the firm’s Chief Investment Officer. A serial entrepreneur turned investor, he began his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 12. Over nearly two decades, he founded and scaled a national wholesale sports memorabilia distributor that grew into a multi-million-dollar enterprise. Since then, Trevor has invested in more than 30 companies across the venture capital and private equity landscape, spanning industries including sports, technology, entertainment, consumer goods, and professional sports teams. As an active investor, his deep operational background, sharp market instincts, and expansive network provide a distinctive advantage when supporting the growth of emerging companies.
In 2007, at just 12 years old, Trevor launched his first venture, Dino’s Authentics, transforming a personal passion for collecting sports memorabilia into a thriving enterprise. He hosted public and private autograph events with Baltimore Ravens and Orioles players, rapidly attracting significant fan engagement and establishing himself as an emerging figure in the memorabilia industry. This early success not only fueled his reputation in the memorabilia space but also laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey.
In 2014, he rebranded the company as The Players Locker and scaled it into a full-service wholesale distributor of autographed sports memorabilia, serving wholesale clients, retail partners, and industry dealers nationwide. The business specialized in hosting and participating in hundreds of private signings each year to supply autographed memorabilia sourced directly from athletes. Over the next nine years, Trevor grew the company into a national operation, generating millions of dollars in annual revenue and securing exclusive memorabilia partnerships with hundreds of professional athletes and Hall of Famers. Under his leadership, the company introduced innovative distribution models that redefined how memorabilia was sourced and sold at scale, setting new industry standards that were later adopted across the space.
Following the acquisition of The Players Locker, he launched Lakeside Capital (originally founded as Redwave Venture Partners), drawing from nearly two decades of business-building experience. More than a source of capital, Lakeside offers hands-on operational support, strategic guidance, and access to a trusted network cultivated through Trevor’s extensive involvement over the years in the sports and business ecosystem. His relationships span top athletes, agents, media figures, and senior executives across leagues, teams, and leading consumer brands shaping the future of sports. These connections continue to enhance Lakeside’s ability to source opportunities, support portfolio companies, and drive meaningful outcomes.
Trevor brings a founder-first mindset to every investment. He understands the highs and lows of building from the ground up and takes pride in helping companies navigate inflection points, scale efficiently, and create enduring value. Lakeside Capital was created with a clear mission: to invest in high-potential businesses, accelerate their growth, and serve as a trusted partner to visionary founders.
Based in Tampa, Florida, Trevor serves as an advisor to several portfolio companies. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship from the University of Tampa and holds a Master of Legal Studies with a focus in Sports Law and Business from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
