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Trying To Blend In: Joe Montana Invests In S.F.-Based Group Messaging Platform

Pro Football HOFer Joe Montana has made a $250,000 strategic investment in Blend, a S.F.-based group messaging platform. Blend has focused on developing its own branded chatbots it calls Genies that retrieve online content on a variety of topics and personalities. Blend has created several sports-related Genies, including ones devoted to the NFL, as well as ESPN and Yahoo fantasy football. Steelers investor and Baseball HOF Board member Thomas Tull last fall also became an investor in Blend, which competes against rival platforms such as Facebook Messenger, Kik and Telegram. Montana is not expected to conduct any marketing-related activities on behalf of Blend. “We sort of see ourselves as the dark horse in the race among the millennial-focused chatbot platforms,” said Blend CEO Akash Nigam. "Having Joe involved is another validation of what we’re building.” Montana’s investment in Blend extends a series of tech-related activities, including his partnership in S.F.-based venture capital outfit Liquid 2 Ventures.

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