Ryan Nece
InvestorManaging Partner at NEXT PLAY CAPITAL
San Francisco, California
Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M
About
Ryan Nece is a former NFL player who won Super Bowl XXXVII with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and served as an NFLPA representative during his playing career. He is managing partner at Next Legacy Partners and Next Play Capital, and maintains involvement in real estate, media, and technology ventures including StraightCast, a mobile video platform for athletes and content creators. Nece founded the Ryan Nece Foundation to support teen community service and volunteerism, and serves on multiple boards including the National Venture Capital Association, DocuSign, and various Tampa Bay civic organizations.
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
Education
- UCLABachelor's degree, Economics and Political Science1997 — 2001
- Harvard Business SchoolNFL Executive Business Course Program2004
- Stanford University Graduate School of BusinessNFL Entrepreneur Executive Program2006
- MIT xPROProfessional Certificate, Negotiations
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 · 1
NextPlayUBoard seat
via NEXT PLAY CAPITAL · filed Apr 2023
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Colleagues at NEXT PLAY CAPITAL
Network3
Caleagh Creech
Investor at NEXT PLAY CAPITAL
Daniel Loughney
Associate at NEXT PLAY CAPITAL
Eric Valle
General Partner at NEXT PLAY CAPITAL
Investors connected to Ryan in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Ryan Nece work?
- Ryan Nece is Managing Partner at NEXT PLAY CAPITAL.
- What check size does Ryan Nece write?
- Ryan Nece typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
Same school
Also attended UCLA471
Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen HorowitzRon ConwayFounder of SV AngelKirsten GreenFounder and Managing Partner at Forerunner VenturesPaul FieldingFinance & Operations at General CatalystMelody MaExecutive Assistant and Lead Receptionist at Trinity VenturesGizem CakilInvestor at OpenView Venture Partners
+ 465 more
Also attended Harvard Business School1,969
Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter Capital; architect of Invest America; BG2 co-hostAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesJim BreyerFounder & CEO of Breyer CapitalTim DraperFounder of Draper AssociatesMike Maples JrCo-founding Partner at FloodgateMamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner Perkins
+ 1,963 more
Also attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business1,291
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
+ 1,285 more
Also attended MIT xPRO7
Bradford WilkinsSenior Partner at BravenBertrand NepveuGeneral Partner at Triptyq CapitalAllen LawPrincipal at Seveno CapitalSimon David MillerPartner - Product Innovation at The CraftoryDarllan BotegaAssociate at FEA AngelsAlex FraserManager, Talent Acquisition at Klue
+ 1 more
Shared employers
Also worked at National Venture Capital Association68
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
+ 62 more
Also worked at The Aspen Institute76
Toby CoppelCo-founder and Partner at Mosaic VenturesChandar LalPartner at Mosaic VenturesDeena ShakirPartner at Lux CapitalDavid Rosenthal, MDVenture Partner at AlleyCorpGary LauderFounder at Lauder PartnersSamara Mejia HernandezFounding Partner at Chingona Ventures
+ 70 more
