Ayden Owens is an Olympian, Author, and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of DapUp, an automated NIL and influencer-marketing platform that helps local businesses run campaigns, engage athletes, and manage compliance in one streamlined system. In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Ayden has served as an Assistant Coach for the University of Illinois men’s and women’s varsity track & field teams.
Ayden holds an MBA and Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship & Innovation from the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan. In 2024, he published his debut memoir, Race of My Own: An Olympian’s Quest for Self-Discovery, which became an Amazon #1 Best Seller.
As a professional decathlete, Ayden earned a silver medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, ranking #2 in the world, and competed at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, finishing in the top ten. He is a four-time NCAA Champion and was a finalist for the Bowerman Award, the highest honor in collegiate track & field. He is also the only athlete in NCAA history to win conference titles across the Pac-12, Big Ten, and SEC, competing for USC, the University of Michigan, and the University of Arkansas.
