OneTeam Partners, a leader in athlete commercial rights, has joined forces with investment firm EnTrust Global to launch EnOne Ventures. This new joint venture is establishing a $250 million fund dedicated to investing in sports-related businesses at their early and growth stages. The partnership aims to leverage the increasing value of athlete intellectual property to drive returns and create new opportunities within the sports ecosystem.
A Strategic Partnership for Sports Investment
The collaboration strategically combines OneTeam's unique access to athlete IP and deep industry relationships with EnTrust Global's extensive investment expertise and institutional network. This venture formalizes OneTeam's previous investment activities, creating a more systematic and scalable platform for deploying capital. The goal is to unlock new value around the broader sports landscape by focusing on athlete-centric enterprises.
EnOne Ventures is structured as a 50-50 partnership, with both firms making decisions on a consensus basis. The fund is targeting a $250 million raise and has already secured approximately $77 million in commitments from investors like Fanatics and a sovereign wealth fund. Joe Brown, formerly of OneTeam, will lead the venture as its senior managing director under EnTrust Global.
Investment Focus and Initial Deployments
The fund will target investments in high-growth sectors such as sports technology, health and wellness, youth sports, and digital content. EnOne plans to write checks ranging from $2 million to $15 million, strategically avoiding direct investments in professional teams to prevent conflicts of interest. This focused approach allows the venture to capitalize on emerging trends where athlete influence is a key driver of success.
EnOne has already made its first two investments, backing Ari Emanuel’s events company, MARI, and memorabilia authenticator, The Realest. These initial deals demonstrate the fund's commitment to businesses centered on premium experiences and the growing collectibles market. With a pipeline of over 100 potential investments under review, the venture is actively seeking new opportunities to deploy its capital.
Empowering Athletes in a New Era
A core objective of EnOne Ventures is to provide athletes and their players' associations with greater participation in the industry's economic growth. While athletes will not invest directly, they are poised to benefit from the fund's success through OneTeam's majority ownership by player unions. This model marks a significant step in expanding how athletes can share in the value they help create.
For EnTrust Global, this partnership offers a strategic entry into the sports sector, guided by an industry leader. EnTrust President Sophia Mullen highlighted the shift in fandom towards individual athletes, creating opportunities in businesses where athlete IP is essential for value creation. The venture aligns with EnTrust's history, as some of its earliest capital came from labor union retirement plans.
The launch of EnOne Ventures marks a pivotal moment for sports investment, creating a powerful new entity at the intersection of finance and athletics. By combining OneTeam's access with EnTrust's financial acumen, the fund is well-positioned to capitalize on the commercial power of athletes. This initiative not only promises financial returns but also aims to redefine athlete participation in the business of sports.