Pro Athlete turned venture capitalist!

Athlete turned VC Kobe Bryant makes in the news once again after his announcement of retiring post 2015-16 NBA season. Former American professional basketball player is all set to launch a $100mn investment fund along with investor Jeff Stibel. According to the Wall Street Journal, the partnership is not new as the two have previously invested informally in 15 companies since 2013.

Areas of Focus

Venture capitalist firm ‘Bryant Stibel’ has a primary focus on investing in startups in technology, media and data domains with its base in Kobe Bryant’s career home, Los Angeles.

As per a press release, Bryant and Stibel are funding the startups all by themselves and aren’t seeking finance from any outside investors yet.

The Game Plan

Social media has always been Bryant’s next greatest talent after his phenomenal skills at shooting hoops. In a recent interview, he told the Journal that social media will help him connect with fans directly along with his belief of having a flair for identifying promising entrepreneurs.

“It’s the inner belief that a person has that he will endure no matter what the obstacle may be. It’s that persistence, the entrepreneur doing what he or she truly believes in and truly loves to do,” says Bryant.

The Bryant Stibel partnership is the highest profile example of an athlete going into the VC world till date. Who’s gonna be next? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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