NBA champion Kyle Kuzma looks to bring his team mentality to Scrum Ventures

Kyle Kuzma is loads of issues. He’s a ahead for the Washington Wizards NBA staff and a 2020 NBA champion. He’s additionally a method icon — relying on who you ask — and an angel investor. Now he’s an adviser at a enterprise fund too.

“I’m a part of a brand new technology of the NBA,” Kuzma instructed TechCrunch in a cellphone interview. “For me, I’ve at all times been a hustler and someone that could be very fascinated about enterprise and doing issues simply to arrange my household’s generational wealth. I feel moving into enterprise is simply going to take that to a distinct stratosphere.”

Kuzma, 28, joined early-stage-focused Scrum Ventures in March as an adviser to assist with the agency’s sports activities and leisure fund, which is focusing on $120 million. The partnership began in January when Kuzma’s agent, Austin Eastman, was linked to Scrum managing director and companion Michael Proman. Kuzma mentioned he was impressed with Scrum’s staff. Proman mentioned the constructive sentiment was mutual.

“The factor about Kyle is, I personally didn’t actually even perceive how in depth his pursuits have been within the enterprise house till after getting launched,” Proman, a former NBA worker on the enterprise improvement staff, mentioned. “Kyle is basically fascinated about understanding the enterprise playbook however extra so from the enterprise aspect.”

Proman mentioned Scrum’s sports activities fund, the place Kuzma will likely be serving to, is just a little totally different than different sports-focused VC funds, as a result of it focuses on tech that might be helpful to athletes or enterprise sports activities clients and can be relevant to different industries. Ozlo Sleepbuds is an effective instance. The corporate makes earbuds to assist folks sleep higher. Whereas sleeping properly is extremely necessary for athletes, it’s necessary far past skilled sports activities too. Scrum participated within the firm’s $6 million seed spherical earlier this yr.

Scrum’s broad method to sports activities tech makes Kuzma adviser, versus one other NBA participant, Proman mentioned, as a result of Kuzma has already invested throughout a number of sectors. Kuzma began angel investing in 2020 and has constructed up a portfolio that features soda various Lemon Good, which has gone on to lift an extra $67.8 million in enterprise capital; shopper information firm, Surf; and watch market, Bezel.

“His funding portfolio is fairly numerous; it’s not simply your traditional sports activities tech,” Proman mentioned. “There are loads of people on the market that wish to make investments into what they do 24/7, and whereas they might be nice at offering insights and evaluation of these applied sciences, in lots of instances these aren’t venture-backable applied sciences.”

Kuzma mentioned he plans to be a hands-on investor, and whereas he is aware of a reputation like his might be a advertising and marketing boon for the businesses he works with, he mentioned he doesn’t simply wish to relaxation there and would reasonably use his standing to assist corporations increase their community utilizing his connections. He additionally thinks his expertise enjoying basketball makes him match as a VC as a result of he’s used to working in a aggressive surroundings the place you don’t succeed until you’re employed as a staff.

“I convey a aggressive nature,” he mentioned. “Whenever you play sports activities on the highest stage just like the NBA, you might be enjoying chess and never checkers. We’re sensible; we’re not simply athletes. We’re not simply folks that play sports activities and never do the rest.”

Kuzma’s presence has already proved useful for the agency, Proman mentioned, as working with an athlete like Kuzma has led to an uptick in inbound curiosity within the agency. Good inbound curiosity — he clarified.

Kuzma isn’t the primary NBA participant to get entangled with enterprise capital. Kevin Durant’s household workplace, 35V, invests closely in startups. Steph Curry is the anchor LP of Penny Jar Capital. Former gamers like Andre Iguodala and Michael Redd have taken extra formal roles within the business, too, by launching corporations of their very own, Mosaic and 22 Ventures, respectively. Kuzma is the newest NBA participant to dive into enterprise, however he probably received’t be the newest for lengthy.

“Becoming a member of Scrum Ventures is basically thrilling for me,” Kuzma mentioned. “I wish to additional my portfolio and simply my attain within the VC world. As athletes, they at all times let you know to diversify your portfolio as a lot as you possibly can. That is the subsequent iteration of me as an entrepreneur.”