About
Ryan Nece is Managing Partner at Next Legacy, having founded Next Play Capital in 2015 before it combined with Legacy Venture. A former NFL player who won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he began his investing career as a Principal at DeBartolo Development and co-founded StraightCast Media, a mobile app for athlete content that was acquired by FOX Sports in 2014. He holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from UCLA and is a member of the Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow Program.
Experience
- National Venture Capital AssociationBoard Membercurrent2024 — presentWashington DC-Baltimore Area
- Next Legacy PartnersManaging Partnercurrent2023 — presentPalo Alto, California, United States
- The Aspen InstituteHenry Crown Fellowcurrent2018 — present
- DocuSignAdvisory Boardcurrent2018 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Ryan Nece FoundationFounder & Chairmancurrent2005 — presentGreater Tampa Bay Area
- Tampa Bay Sports CommissionMember Board Of Directorscurrent2008 — presentGreater Tampa Bay Area
- Next Play CapitalManaging Partner2015 — 2023San Francisco Bay Area
- Orangetheory FitnessFranchise Owner2014 — 2019Brandon, FL
- Provident Investment AdvisorPartner2012 — 2015Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
- FOX SportsFootball analyst2013 — 2015Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
- Gridiron Ventures, LLC (DBA Straightcast Media Acquired by FOX SportsCo-founder2010 — 2015
- Arenda Capital ManagementPrincipal2009 — 2013Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
- Pac-12 ConferenceFootball Analyst2012 — 2013San Francisco Bay Area
- Tampa's Lowry Park ZooMember Board Of Directors2009 — 2013
- 640 WADE TampaRadio host2011 — 2012Tampa
- Bright House Sports NetworkColor Commintary2011 — 2012Tampa
- VersusSideline reporter2010 — 2012
- WEDUMember Board Of Directors2010 — 2012
- 1040 ESPN RadioRadio Host2010 — 2011
- Detroit LionsAthlete2008 — 2009
- Tampa Bay BuccaneersAthlete2002 — 2008
Skills & more
Public Speaking99Leadership77Management37Strategic Planning6Sports Marketing44Entrepreneurship99Sports90Public Relations99Promotions4Sports Management17Event Management38Advertising11
+12 more
Social NetworkingNew Business DevelopmentSocial MediaDigital MediaMarketing StrategySponsorshipRadioMarketingSocial Media MarketingDigital MarketingEmail MarketingBroadcastFrom Ryan's professional profile.
Deals · 5
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Per the firm's website.
Colleagues at Next Legacy Partners
Alan Marty
Investor at Next Legacy Partners
Amber Puebla
Sr. Experience Manager at Next Legacy Partners
Ben Choi
Managing Partner at Next Legacy Partners
Brendon Ayanbadejo
Investor at Next Legacy Partners
Caleagh Creech
Principal at Next Legacy Partners
Chris Doppman
Head of Investor Relations at Next Legacy Partners
Chris Eyre
Investor at Next Legacy Partners
Don Rhoda
VP of Finance at Next Legacy Partners
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Ryan Nece?
- Ryan Nece is Managing Partner at Next Legacy, having founded Next Play Capital in 2015 before it combined with Legacy Venture. A former NFL player who won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he began his investing career as a Principal at DeBartolo Development and co-founded StraightCast Media, a mobile app for athlete content that was acquired by FOX Sports in 2014. He holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from UCLA and is a member of the Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow Program.
- Where does Ryan Nece work?
- Ryan Nece is Managing Partner at Next Legacy Partners.
- What boards does Ryan Nece sit on?
- Ryan Nece holds tracked board seats at Docusign, Most Days, Tonal.
- What companies has Ryan Nece invested in?
- Investments tracked here include ByteDance, Flexport, Hims, Impossible Foods, Peloton, Rubrik, ONEHOPE wines, Pure Storage, StemCentrix.
- Where did Ryan Nece go to school?
- Ryan Nece studied at UCLA (Bachelor's degree, Economics and Political Science); Harvard Business School (NFL Executive Business Course Program); Stanford University Graduate School of Business (NFL Entrepreneur Executive Program).
- Does Ryan Nece lead rounds?
- Yes — Ryan Nece has led 6 tracked investments.
Same school
Also attended UCLA499
Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen HorowitzRon ConwayFounder of SV AngelKirsten GreenFounder and Managing Partner at Forerunner VenturesVlad TenevCo-founder & CEO of RobinhoodRyan KingCo-founder of ChimePaul FieldingFinance & Operations at General Catalyst
+ 493 more
Also attended Harvard Business School2,000
Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesTim DraperFounder of Draper AssociatesMamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner PerkinsNeeraj AgrawalGeneral Partner at Battery VenturesHristo BorisovCo-founder & CEO of Payhawk
+ 1,994 more
Also attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business1,384
Roelof BothaAdvisor & former Steward at Sequoia Capital; SpaceX board memberPeter FentonGeneral Partner at BenchmarkSteve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesDavid SzeAdvisory Partner at GreylockKatherine BoyleGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (American Dynamism)Hunter WalkCo-founder & Partner at Homebrew
+ 1,378 more
Also attended MIT xPRO8
Bradford WilkinsSenior Partner at BravenBertrand NepveuGeneral Partner at Triptyq CapitalAllen LawPrincipal at Seveno CapitalSimon David MillerPartner - Product Innovation at The CraftoryDarllan BotegaAssociate at FEA AngelsRyan NeceManaging Partner at NEXT PLAY CAPITAL
+ 2 more
Shared employers
Also worked at National Venture Capital Association71
Jeremy LiewPartner at Lightspeed Venture PartnersByron DeeterPartner at Bessemer Venture PartnersNick WashburnSenior Managing Director, Intel Capital (North America)Tiffany SpencerHead of Marketing at Menlo VenturesKate MitchellFounder at Scale Venture PartnersAdam D'AugelliInvestor at True Ventures
+ 65 more
Also worked at The Aspen Institute83
Toby CoppelCo-founder and Partner at Mosaic VenturesChandar LalPartner at Mosaic VenturesDeena ShakirPartner at Lux CapitalDavid Rosenthal, MDVenture Partner at AlleyCorpGary LauderFounder at Lauder PartnersJoshua BaerFounder & CEO at Capital Factory
+ 77 more
