Former NBAer Kobe Bryant today unveiled his "venture-capital fund," a $100M vehicle for "investing in technology, media and data companies," according to Dennis Berman of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. He is partnering with Jeff Stibel, a longtime entrepreneur and investor who was introduced to Bryant "by a mutual friend." They "have named their firm Bryant Stibel and will be based" in the L.A. area. The two men are contributing the $100M -- which they "expect to invest over the next few years -- and aren’t seeking outside investors yet." Current investments "include sports media website The Players Tribune, videogame designer Scopely, legal-services company LegalZoom, a telemarketing-software firm called RingDNA and a home-juicing company called Juicero." Bryant and Stibel said that their skills "complement each other." Stibel brings experience building companies, with Bryant "contributing a creative, if obsessive, flair for details around marketing, branding and storytelling." Bryant "designed the company’s new logo with inspiration from piano keys" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/22). Bryant said, "There’s no greater feeling than actually helping entrepreneurs be successful." Bryant said he wanted his legacy in 20 years to be about “investing” and not basketball. Bryant: "Championships come and go. It's going to be another team that wins another championship, another player that wins another MVP award. But if you really want to create something that lasts generations, you have to help inspire the next generation" ("Squawk on the Street," CNBC, 8/22).
