A New Era of Athlete‑Driven Investing
BrknPar Venture Capital announced the addition of former MLB players Jon Jay and Tyson Ross as Athlete Venture Partners, positioning them as active investors who will help source deals, conduct diligence and support portfolio companies.
Jay, a 2011 World Series champion with the St. Louis Cardinals and a University of Miami alumnus, now serves on the Cardinals’ management staff and leads the Jay Family Foundation, which focuses on youth development and education.
Ross, a former All‑Star and University of California, Berkeley graduate, works as a Special Assistant for the Los Angeles Dodgers and champions the nonprofit Loyal To My Soil, which expands youth access to baseball in underserved communities.
The Athlete Venture Partner model requires more than capital; partners must be hands‑on, from identifying opportunities to guiding founders through growth challenges, a philosophy emphasized by Andy Katz, BrknPar’s founding general partner.
BrknPar’s investment focus spans sports, technology and culture, seeking growth companies that can leverage the firm’s network and operational expertise to scale quickly.
By bringing championship pedigree and community‑focused leadership, the new partners are expected to deepen the fund’s connections across the baseball ecosystem and reinforce its commitment to value‑creating collaborations.