The new Rubicon Talent agency has two interesting alignments as it opens its doors: one with a venture capital firm in Philadelphia, and the other with Sandy Montag’s stable of broadcasters. Peter Raskin, David Maryles, Brandon Swibel and Jonathan Salant left the The Legacy Agency late last year to form the N.Y.-based Rubicon. Now along with talent representation, Rubicon has what Raskin termed a “partnership’’ with SeventySix Capital, although he acknowledged there is no investment in Rubicon by the venture capital firm. The plan is for Philadelphia-based SeventySix Capital to advise Rubicon’s athlete clients on business opportunities, including possible equity investments. SeventySix Capital, founded in '99 by Wayne Kimmel, was an early-round investor in Whistle Sports. Outside of sports and entertainment, the firm focuses on retail, technology and health care. “They are looking at a lot of different sports investments and we can help them there," said Raskin. “We also have a lot of athletes looking at equity/ownership positions, so it’s a differentiator for Rubicon." Meanwhile, a joint venture with longtime broadcast talent agent Sandy Montag’s new Montag Group/IF Management amalgamation sees Rubicon seeking marketing deals for those broadcasters, which include Bob Costas, Mike Tirico and Jeremy Schaap, among others. Montag’s group will assist Rubicon with content plays and help its athletes develop broadcasting opportunities. Rubicon’s roster of athletes includes three-time Olympic Gold Medal-winning beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings, Patriots TE Martellus Bennett, Panthers TE Greg Olsen, Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders and Titans RB DeMarco Murray. The agency also represents several celebrity chefs.
