/Investor DB

JDS Sports

Private equity

New York · Seed–Series A · 5 people tracked

Find your way into JDS Sports

Each arrow is one introduction. Sign up to fill in the first one.

254 people can intro you to Karl

Ask Arun Iyer to introduce you to Karl Blum

You →Arun · together at Quantic School of Business and Technology →Karl

175 people can intro you to Joseph

Ask Jamie Chen to introduce you to Joseph D. Samberg

You →Jamie · together at Cornell →Joseph

32 people can intro you to Jasmine

Ask Sam Okafor to introduce you to Jasmine Hill

You →Sam · together at Anomaly →Jasmine

Sign up to find every way you can get introduced to JDS Sports

  • Your email: who you already know at JDS Sports, and who your contacts know
  • 2nd- and 3rd-degree connections: people you know who worked, studied or invested with the JDS Sports team
  • Your LinkedIn: the connections who can make the intro for you

We rank every route by how warm it is, so you raise on warm intros instead of cold emails.

✨ Fox Verdict
Sign up to see your fit

Investment thesis

JDS Sports positions itself as a purpose-driven private equity firm focused on fueling the future of sports and entertainment. It invests across a portfolio spanning sports media, sports technology, consumer brands, gaming, and related entertainment ventures. Alongside its investment activity, the firm emphasizes 'giving back to the game' through its Play with Purpose Donor-Advised Fund, which supports non-profits that use sports for positive social impact. The firm reports refurbishing courts across 15 states and 10 countries and granting millions of dollars to over 50 sports non-profits.

Source: firm website, verified Sep 26, 2026.

Stage
Seed–Series A
HQ
New York
Instruments
Equity
Founded
2018
Tracked investments
31

Team · 5 people

from the firm's website

What they invest in

from 23 of 31 portfolio companies

Consumer ×9Sports Tech ×8Media & Entertainment ×6AI & Machine Learning ×5Crypto & Web3 ×4AdTech ×3Creator Economy ×3Direct to Consumer ×3

HQs:United States×9Canada×1

Who they back

founder profiles across 11 portfolio companies
55%
solo founders
6 of 11 mapped founding teams
62%
repeat founders
of 13 founders with career history

Founding team size:solo founder×62 founders×44+ founders×1

Where their founders studiedfrom 13 founders with education data

Cornell ×2Northeastern University ×2University of Southern California ×2

What their founders studiedfrom 10 founders with field-of-study data

Business & Management ×2Finance & Accounting ×2Social Sciences ×2

Where their founders worked beforefrom 13 founders with career history

Framework Labs ×2Netflix ×2

Investments · 31 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

By year:2024 · 12021 · 34 dated

Athletesathletes.orgin𝕏

Athletes.org is a players association for college athletes that educates, organizes, and represents members by negotiating the terms of their collegiate athletic experience.

Sports Tech

Jim Cavale(Founder)in

Co-investorsPhoenix Capital Ventures

Athletesthreadathletesthread.comin𝕏

Athletes Thread operates a platform for officially licensed merchandise that serves athletes across high school, college, professional, and alumni stages.

B2B MarketplacesConsumerCreator EconomyDirect to ConsumerE-commerceMarketplacesSports Tech

Luke McGurrin(Founder)in

Bastiondibbs.ioin𝕏

Dibbs provides infrastructure for issuing USD-backed stablecoins with compliance and security features, serving institutions that want to issue their own digital currency.

Crypto & Web3Fintech

Co-investorsNat Turner

by Teamworksinflcr.comin𝕏

Teamworks is an operating system for sports teams that provides communication, scheduling, file sharing, and AI-driven workflows to help athletes and staff coordinate operations and competition.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaSSports Tech

Endaomentendaoment.orgin𝕏

Endaoment provides blockchain-based philanthropic services that enable donors and nonprofits to manage charitable giving with lower fees and greater transparency through smart contracts.

Crypto & Web3FintechImpact & Social GoodNew York, US

Robbie Heeger(President & CEO)inCarter Wilkinson(Treasurer & Secretary)in

Co-investorsChapter OneCircle VenturesCoinbase VenturesHigher Ground LabsShine CapitalAdam Nash+4 more

Fivestarbasketballfivestarbasketball.com

Five-Star Basketball runs high-intensity basketball camps, clinics, showcases, and development leagues for boys and girls, offering instruction from former NBA/WNBA and college coaches along with skill stations, evaluations, and life-skills training.

EdTechSports TechNew York City, US

Framework Venturesframework.ventures

Framework Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in crypto, blockchain, and digital asset companies, publishing a list of its current and historical portfolio investments.

AI & Machine LearningCrypto & Web3FintechSan Francisco, US

Michael Anderson(Co-founder)inVance Spencer(Co-founder)in

Co-investorsAnzu PartnersNxGenPathbreaker VenturesSpark Capital

Futurefuture.co𝕏

Future provides personalized coaching services powered by technology to help people build strength, improve movement, and support long-term health outcomes.

ConsumerHealthtechWellness & Fitness

Ali Jafari(CEO)Meredith Harris(CPTO)Kathleen Tampoya(VP, People)Jeff Lynn(VP, Finance)

Co-investorsKleiner PerkinsAndreessen HorowitzAbstract VenturesAlumni VenturesCourtside VenturesEvolution VC Partners+2 more

Gistgist.aiin𝕏Apr 2021 · $1M

Gist provides brand visibility and advertising solutions for the generative AI marketplace, offering custom AI search, engagement tools, and data-powered insights to help brands and marketers maintain visibility and performance in AI-driven digital environments.

AdTechAI & Machine LearningMarketing TechPasadena, US

Bill Gross(CEO of ProRata & Gist)

Co-investorsFelicis VenturesMayfield FundBettor CapitalBold Capital PartnersCalibrate VenturesMVP Ventures+2 more

Gistgetgist.comin𝕏Apr 2021 · $1M

Gist provides a no-code platform for creating guided product tours and interactive onboarding experiences that help companies drive customer adoption.

Developer ToolsMarketing TechSaaSSales Tech

Co-investorsBetter CapitalBettor CapitalTouring Capital

Ideocolabideocolab.comin𝕏

IDEO CoLab is a design studio and early-stage investor that combines funding, an embedded design team, and a creative residency to help founders build and reach product-market fit for emerging-technology startups.

ConsumerCrypto & Web3Deep TechDeveloper ToolsFuture of Work

Ali Sheppard(Head of Operations)in

Lemon Perfectlemonperfect.comin𝕏

Lemon Perfect produces organic lemon-based hydration beverages with zero sugar and added vitamin C, marketed as a natural alternative to sugary drinks.

ConsumerFoodTechWellness & FitnessAtlanta, US

Yann-Alfred Jeffrey Hufnagel(Executive Officer, Director)Yanni Hufnagel(Founder)inAlec Hufnagel(Director)Barak Bar-Cohen(Director)Rita Patel(Director)

BoardPhillip Sarofim(Director)in

Co-investorsEvolution VC PartnersGoat Rodeo CapitalGreen Meadow VenturesMelitas Ventures LlcRaptor GroupRCV Frontline+1 more

Merged With SpringHillfulwell.comin𝕏

Fulwell 73 is an entertainment production company that creates and elevates storytelling across multiple formats, focusing on narratives with broad cultural resonance and audience engagement.

Creator EconomyMedia & Entertainment

Ben WinstoninLeo PearlmaninBen TurnerGabe TurnerinJames Corden

Co-investorsRedBird Capital Partners

round21round21.comin𝕏

Round21 is an ecommerce retailer that sells licensed sports apparel and merchandise, including a collaboration with the Mexican Football Federation that features branded clothing for fans.

B2B MarketplacesConsumerCreator EconomyDirect to ConsumerE-commerceSports Tech

Jasmine Maietta(Founder)in

Co-investorsRed Beard Ventures

Rtgfeaturesrtgfeatures.comin𝕏

RTG is a film and TV production and financing studio focused on basketball storytelling, creating scripted and unscripted multimedia content including feature films, television series, documentaries, and podcasts.

Media & Entertainment

Saunahousesaunahouse.com

Sauna House operates a Nordic spa offering sauna, cold plunge, and massage therapy services for wellness and relaxation.

ConsumerWellness & Fitness

Slamslamonline.com

The definition of basketball culture.

Slate Milkslatemilk.comin

Slate makes lactose-free, high-protein milk-based drinks — including chocolate milk shakes and iced coffees — sold in aluminum cans with 0g added sugar and 20g protein, produced using ultrafiltration.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech

Manny Lubin(Founder)inJosh Belinsky(Founder)in

Co-investorsBantam GroupOvereasy VenturesRiverPark VenturesFoundership VenturesGolden Gate Ventures

status prostatus.pro

StatusPRO creates immersive virtual reality sports gaming experiences, primarily for the NFL, that let players and gamers practice athletic skills and compete in authentic game scenarios.

GamingHardwareMedia & EntertainmentSports Tech

Andrew Hawkins(Co-founder)Troy Jones(Co-founder & CEO)

Co-investorsAlumni VenturesGV (Google Ventures)Limited VenturesDigerati InvestmentsDisney AcceleratorTitletownTech

The GISTthegistnews.cain𝕏May 2021 · $1M

The GIST is a sports media brand that produces newsletters, podcasts, and social content with emphasis on equal coverage of women's and men's sports.

GamingMedia & EntertainmentSports TechToronto, CA

Jacie deHoopinEllen HyslopinRoslyn McLartyin

Co-investorsTechstars359 CapitalBettor CapitalBezos ExpeditionsBlackstoneStageOne Ventures+1 more

The GISTthegistsports.comin𝕏

The GIST is a sports media brand providing news, podcasts, and social content focused on equal coverage of women's and men's sports.

ConsumerMedia & EntertainmentSports Tech

Jacie deHoopEllen HyslopRoslyn McLarty

Co-investorsR/GA Ventures

Tradeblocktradeblock.us

Sneaker marketplace app where collectors trade, buy and sell authenticated shoes rather than paying resale prices.

Austin, US

Mbiyimoh Ghogomu(Founder)inDarren Smith(Founder)in

Co-investorsCourtside VenturesTrinityWestbound Equity Partners

Transmittransmit.livein

Transmit provides an AI-powered platform that analyzes live media streams to identify high-impact moments and optimize ad placement, serving content owners, advertisers, and FAST channels.

AdTechAI & Machine LearningMedia & Entertainment

Scott Young(Founder)in

Co-investorsComcast VenturesCyberstartsFeenix Venture Partners LLCGeneral AtlanticInsight Partners

Vidmobvidmob.comin

Vidmob provides software to help brand marketing teams discover top-performing creative requirements, maintain consistent brand guidelines across advertising platforms, and manage creative data at scale.

AdTechAI & Machine LearningMarketing TechNew York, US

Alex Collmer(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)inStephanie Bohn(Executive Officer)inGreg Lieber(Executive Officer)inJason Donnell(Executive Officer, Director)George Rose(Director)Craig Coblenz(Executive Officer)

Co-investors3Spoke CapitalBuildGroupDentsu VenturesDrive by DraftKingseGateway CapitalInterlock Partners+4 more

Wheelhousewheelhouse360.com

Wheelhouse360 partners with consumer brands to support their growth into category leaders.

Consumer

Brent Montgomery(General Partner and CEO)

Other

Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.

1091 Picturesby SLAMMomentSlingshotStatusProStreamwise

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

Frequently asked questions

How many investments has JDS Sports made?
JDS Sports has 31 tracked investments.
What stage does JDS Sports invest at?
JDS Sports invests at the Seed, Series A stages.
What sectors does JDS Sports focus on?
JDS Sports focuses on Consumer, Gaming, Media & Entertainment, Sports Tech.
Where is JDS Sports located?
JDS Sports is headquartered in New York.
Who does JDS Sports co-invest with?
JDS Sports most often shares deals with Evolution VC Partners, Comcast Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, among 39 tracked co-investors.

Media · Podcasts & interviews

featuring the team

#12: Purpose-Driven Sports & Entertainment Fund with Peter Robert Casey, CEO of JDS Sports

Vetted Sports · Peter Robert Casey

Similar investors

Featured in lists