PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- This week, SeventySix Capital, a sports tech venture capital fund led by former MLB superstar Ryan Howard, announced that NFL legend Brian Westbrook has joined the firm's Athlete Venture Group as an investor.
Westbrook joins a growing team of athlete investors at SeventySix Capital, including Howard, DeMarco Murray and Ralph Sampson, which is becoming the go-to platform for professional athletes looking to partner with an experienced venture capital investment team. SeventySix Capital's Athlete Venture Group allows players to invest, learn, and work directly with top sports tech startups and entrepreneurs.
"I'm excited to continue my efforts in the business world with SeventySix Capital and their Athlete Venture Group," said Westbrook, "As a dedicated host, philanthropist and businessperson, the SeventySix Capital team and their portfolio of startup companies is the perfect fit for me."
Westbrook, a Walter Payton Award winner, was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2002 and went on to become a 2-time Pro Bowler. Over the span of his nine-year NFL career, he reached over 6,000 rushing yards and nearly 4,000 receiving yards. In 2015 and 2018 respectively, he was inducted into the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. He is currently a broadcaster on DIRECTV's Fantasy Zone and radio host on 97.5 The Fanatic.
SeventySix Capital, led by Wayne Kimmel, Jon Powell and Howard, invests in passionate, smart and nice entrepreneurs who are launching game-changing sports tech companies. Founded in 1999, the firm's investments have been acquired by several Fortune 500 companies including Aramark, Intel, IBM, Walgreens, and Yahoo.
Together, Westbrook and SeventySix Capital's Athlete Venture Group aims to bridge the gap between athletes, entrepreneurs, and investors. The team is creating opportunities for athletes to become tech investors and for entrepreneurs to access the financial and social capital that professional athletes have to offer.
"I'm happy to welcome Brian on our team at SeventySix Capital," Howard said, "Having another NFL legend on the team is huge for the momentum of our Athlete Venture Group. He's another person who fits our philosophy of bringing together passionate, smart and nice people with a passion to make a difference in the world."
As an Athlete Venture Group member, Westbrook will work hands-on with the company's current sports tech fund, enabling more athletes to work with exciting startups in esports, sports betting, data collection, data analytics, media and more. SeventySix Capital's active portfolio includes Whistle Sports, ShotTracker, N3rd Street Gamers, VSiN, Swish Analytics and Play by Play Sports Broadcasting.
"Together, SeventySix Capital and our sports marketing partners at Rubicon Talent have created the platform for athletes to leverage their financial and social capital," Kimmel said, "We're introducing opportunities to athletes and entrepreneurs that are mutually beneficial. Athletes can use and grow their network while providing an unfair advantage to help startups differentiate themselves. We're looking forward to adding more top talent like Brian to our championship team."
ABOUT SEVENTYSIX CAPITAL
SeventySix Capital is a sports tech venture capital company led by Wayne Kimmel, Jon Powell and MLB superstar, Ryan Howard. The fund invests in passionate, smart and nice entrepreneurs who are launching game-changing tech startups in the sports, health and retail industries. SeventySix Capital was nominated as an Outstanding Investor by SportTechie.
SeventySix Capital is building the go-to venture capital platform for executives, influencers, and professional athletes, offering unique opportunities for them to invest in sports tech startups, and for entrepreneurs to access the financial and social capital that they have to offer.
Additionally, SeventySix Capital has a strategic partnership with Rubicon Talent, a sports marketing and talent agency based in New York City with a wide range of clients including NFL and NBA stars, Hall of Famers, MVPs, Heisman Trophy winners, Olympic icons, media personalities, and celebrity chefs.
Kimmel founded the firm in 1999 with top exits to Fortune 500 companies including Aramark, Intel, IBM, Walgreens, and Yahoo. Powell is also the CEO of Kravco Company LLC, a leading real estate company that developed over 30 million square feet of commercial space including the King of Prussia Mall. Howard, a World Series Champion and 2006 NL MVP, is known as one of the all-time great home run hitters.
SOURCE SeventySix Capital
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