it Didn’t exist, so we built it.
The opportunity was obvious.
Latina influence has always been embedded in sports, from participation to fandom to culture, yet no platform has been built to reflect that reality at scale. In 2023, DRAFTED launched to fill that gap as a culture-driven sports platform shaped by how Latinas actually live the game.
Founded by Karina Martinez and Jennifer Yepez Blundell, DRAFTED was built by two founders who recognized that Latina culture was not underrepresented; it was undervalued. With complementary backgrounds and a shared vision, they set out to build a generational brand that treats Latina culture as a defining force in sports.
DRAFTED operates as a full ecosystem across content, experiences, products, and owned IP, creating new ways for brands, athletes, and communities to participate in sports culture.
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Karina Martinez
CO-FOUNDER & CEO
Karina was born in Asuncion, Paraguay, adopted by Cuban immigrants and raised in SoCal, so the hyphen has always been her home. Since the beginning of her career she has been working at the intersection of culture and storytelling having previously founded a cultural communications agency. Growing up as a young queer kid, sports played a pivotal role in her upbringing and with DRAFTED she hopes more people feel seen and heard in the world of sports.
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Jennifer Yepez-Blundell
CO-FOUNDER & COO
As a second-generation Mexican-American, former DII Softball player, and Cultural Strategist, Jennifer's unique journey shaped her philosophy and approach to diversity-of thought and inclusion. Her competitive spirit led her to enter the startup world to build representation in Sports and address the systemic issues she experienced first-hand in being an athlete + fan. Her passion for change runs deep as a Mom to two-young daughters.
