According to an article published by the Queen’s University Journal on February 17, 2023, BIPOC athletes have become cultural leaders.
On June 4, 1967, a ground-breaking event took place in Cleveland, Ohio (the Cleveland Summit), organized by NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown, and brought together a group of the most influential American athletes of all time. They were Muhammed Ali, Bill Russell, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The summit was a powerful display of athletes using their social currency to make a political statement and a significant moment in sports history. The Cleveland Summit showed the public how athletes could transcend their roles and use their platforms to demand change.
Today, many BIPOC athletes are investing in entrepreneurial endeavors. There's a whole new generation of enterprising athletes constantly seeking to partner with venture capitalists to bring their great ideas to successful business enterprises. Whether it’s on or off the court, it takes brains, brawn, and beauty to transform something from a side hustle into an enterprise.
The BIPOC Athletic Entrepreneurs & VCs Connect is a connecting channel that seeks to bridge the gaps between venture capitalists and their future great deals from a pool of successful athletes coming from underrepresented communities.
Methodology
LNB Accounting is thrilled to partner with the ProSpeak Sports Management Team to host a private dinner where selected current and former NBA and NFL BIPOC athletes will have an opportunity to pitch their great entrepreneurial ideas in front of a group of selected venture capitalists and later connect with them.
This exclusive event aims to create a platform for meaningful collaboration and innovation.
With this event, we will contribute to addressing the ongoing challenge of racial disparities in venture capital, where BIPOC founders still face significant barriers in securing funding. By connecting NBA and NFL athletes, and renowned investors, we aim to build a bridge that enables the growth of BIPOC-led startups and ventures. This collaboration will help empower underfunded communities by fostering new initiatives and outreach programs. We believe in the power of diverse perspectives, and through this event, we’re committed to creating opportunities that will reshape the future for BIPOC entrepreneurs and athletes.
This event is also part of the LNB Accounting community outreach program that is focused on empowering underfunded communities. By connecting athletes with VCs, we aim to open doors to innovative ventures that will make a lasting impact on underserved areas.
When
February 13, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Where
The Merchant Exchange in San Francisco, CA
Meet The BIPOC Athletic Entrepreneurs
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Jaylen Brown
League: NBA
Team: Boston Celtics | #7 | Guard-Forward
Key fact: NBA's highest-paid player deeply involved in initiatives bridging sports, technology, and business.
Company: The Xchange
Project to fund: Oakland Xchange
Area: Tech investors
Amount seeking: $5 Million
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Jason Kidd
League: NBA
Team: Dallas Mavericks | Head Coach
Key fact: Hall of Fame player, coach, and investor shaping the future of sports and innovation.
Company: The Xchange
Project to fund: Oakland Xchange
Area: Tech investors
Amount seeking: business partner with Jaylen Brown
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Jerome Williams
League: NBA
Teams: Detroit Pistons | Toronto Raptors | New York Knicks
Key fact: AKA “Junkyard Dog” |Former NBA player (1996 – 2005) and community activist.
Company: Shooting for Peace, LLC
Project to fund: Shooting for Peace - Mentorship Program
Area: Open
Amount seeking: $500,000
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Chris Broussard
League: NBA
Key fact: NBA Senior Analyst & Broadcaster. Formerly w/ESPN. Current FOX Sports Host.
Company: The K.I.N.G Movement
Project to fund: National Acts 8 Reading Initiative
Area: Education investors
Amount seeking: $500,000
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Jimmie Bell
League: NFL
Team: NY Giants
Key fact: Former NFL Player, expert in sports business development, with a strong focus on venture capital.
Company: All Together Ohio, LLC
Project to fund: Medical Facility & Social Services for Families with Disabilities.
Area: Open
Amount seeking: $1 Million
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George Lynch
League: NBA
Teams: LA Lakers | Vancouver Grizzlies | Philadelphia 76ers | New Orleans Hornets
Key fact: Two-time NBA champion using his sport and background to invest in media and athlete development ventures.
Company: HBCU Heroes
Project to fund: Secure the Bag Online Career Training & Financial Literacy.
Area: Education investors
Amount seeking: $500,000
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Reginald Grant
League: NFL
Team: NY Jets
Key fact: Former NFL Player and successful business advisor helping athletes and entrepreneurs develop game-changing strategies.
Company: Esports Instruction, LLC
Project to fund: Postseason App.
Area: Tech investors
Amount seeking: $250,000
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Scottie Pippen
League: NBA
Teams: Chicago Bulls | Houston Rockets | Portland Trail Blazers
Key fact: Six-time NBA champion who played 17 seasons. Greatest small forward of all time and an exceptional business entrepreneur interested in the legal cannabis industry. Brand ambassador for Nike.
Company: Liberator
Project to fund: Coming soon
Area: Legal cannabis investors
Amount seeking: Open
Meet The Selected Venture Capitalists
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Eric Moore
Company: Base Ventures
Key fact: 15 years in investment banking and 10 years as a successful angel investor. Invested in more than 100 startups, including 3 unicorns and 6 companies worth $500 million.
Investment areas: Tech, modern consumer, enterprise, and manufacturing.
Investment stage: seed and pre-seed.
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Ben Bartlett
Company: Tackett Bartlett LLP
Key fact: Recognized internationally as a leader in blockchain-powered finance. Ben works closely with institutional investors and policymakers and is currently appointed as a member of the State of California's blockchain working group.
Investment areas: FinTech, Crypto, AI
Investment stage: seed and pre-seed.
Other specialties: deal-making
Partners
CONTACT US TODAY IF YOU WISH TO PARTNER WITH US