According to Bleacher Report, Milwaukee Bucks player Giannis Antetokounmpo has launched a venture capital firm, Build Your Legacy Ventures, that will focus on investing in sports and entertainment. Antetokounmpo will serve as general partner. The fund is “not just about capital. It's about building partnerships and opening up my network to accelerate the growth trajectory of companies,” he said in a press release. “I want to help other entrepreneurs grow and succeed, especially those who face barriers.”
Antetokounmpo became the latest athlete to enter the venture capital world. Specifically, Serena Williams has Serena Ventures, Kevin Durant has Thirty-Five Ventures, Stephen Curry has Penny Jar Capital, and even the Atlanta Hawks have their own VC funds focused on consumer startups. .
These celebrities don't all include everyone who has gone into venture capital, such as director Olivia Wilde. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, Sarah and Erin Foster discussed how celebrity venture funds can offer founders and investors the benefits of having celebrities and big companies backing them. It's clear that for many celebrities, being seen as an investor is now the next big thing.