Daniel Ortiz

VP/GM
Bucketsquad

Daniel is currently serving as Vice President, General Manager at Bucketsquad, overseeing strategy and day-to-day operations for the basketball lifestyle brand started by Jesser, the world's most popular basketball creator with 30 million subscribers on YouTube and millions more across other platforms. Previous leadership roles include overseeing Premier Lacrosse League's merchandise business and launching Overtime's commerce business.

Industry Track

Beyond the Merch Drop: Paths to Product Success

Duration: 30 minutes

Location: Ballroom E

Thursday, June 19

4:15 pm - 4:45 pm

Featuring: Angel Merino, Daniel Ortiz (VP/GM at Bucketsquad), Lisa Berlin Wright (Head of Licensing at Bonkers Toys) and more

The product economy isn’t one-size-fits-all. For some creators, success means owning the entire DTC experience; for others, it’s about scaling through retail or licensing. This session opens with a mapping of two key models—direct-to-consumer and licensing—and then dives into real-world examples from creators at various stages of the product journey. Panelists will share how they developed their offerings, what metrics mattered most, and how they navigated decisions like production, pricing, and platform selection.

Participants