In July 2026 Triumphant Sports, an Indian performance sock brand, brought Hestia in to run its social media. Three months in, the clearest lesson was simple: people did not engage with product shots. They engaged with athletes.
So we changed the plan. Instead of chasing reach with ads, we built Project Rise, an ambassador programme that puts working athletes at the centre of the brand.
The first signing: Shishira Gowda
Our first ambassador was Shishira Gowda. After an initial call in August 2026, she chose the longer term option over a one off collaboration, and joined Team Triumphant for six months with room to extend to a full year.
We then produced a full ad shoot with her, written, shot and edited by the Hestia team. It set the visual standard for everything the brand has posted since.
How the programme works
Most athlete deals at this level are a free product and a one time post. We wanted something that lasts longer and pays both sides properly. Every Project Rise athlete gets:
- Personalised kit: socks made with the athlete's own name, plus fresh product every quarter.
- A share of sales: a personal discount code, with commission paid every month and a simple sales report.
- Their story told properly: content built around the athlete's journey, not just the product, and a profile on the brand's website.
In return, athletes wear the kit on match days, post regularly, and clearly label partnership content. Clear rules on both sides keep it honest for fans and simple for everyone involved.
Why it matters
For a growing brand, a handful of committed athletes is worth more than one big name who posts once. For athletes outside the top tier, it is often their first real commercial deal, with income that grows as they grow.
That is the kind of partnership Hestia exists to build: one where the brand and the athlete both have a reason to want it to work.
Project Rise is now adding athletes from football and other sports. If you are a brand that wants to build something similar, talk to us.