What KB Partners does

KB Partners is a suburban Chicago-based venture capital firm founded in 1996 by Keith Bank that invests at the intersection of sports and technology. The firm deploys $1 million to $3 million as initial institutional capital into early-stage companies, typically reserving a similar amount for follow-on, and supports portfolio companies through board participation, hands-on operational guidance, and access to a network spanning NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, golf, and sports technology executives.

The firm's active portfolio spans a diverse sports technology stack including AI-supported live event platforms (VOW), smart sensor-enabled basketballs with AI coaching analytics (SportIQ), real-time video streaming with sub-300ms latency (Phenix), AR/VR training and gaming products (StatusPro), sports wagering infrastructure (Pro League Network, Compliable, GridRival, nVenue), connected coaching platforms (asensei), esports data (PandaScore), and social media analytics for sports and entertainment (MVPIndex). Notable exits include Buddy Media (acquired by Salesforce), Hammerhead (acquired by SRAM), Repeat.gg (acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment), Club Champion, Full Swing Golf, and MST Analytics (acquired by ATMI).

KB Partners' business model follows standard VC economics, generating revenue through management fees on committed capital under management and carried interest on profitable exits. The firm has completed investing out of its KB Partners Myriad Opportunity Funds I and II and is transitioning to a more selective model of funding individual opportunities through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). The investment team of five people combines operators, former professional athletes, military veterans, and alumni of J.P. Morgan, Citigroup, Boston Consulting Group, and Capital One.

Name

KB Partners

Legal name

KB Partners

Website

http://www.kbpartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KB Partners is a suburban Chicago venture capital firm founded in 1996 that invests $1-3 million initially in early-stage companies at the intersection of sports and technology, providing hands-on operational support and board participation to build sports tech market leaders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital

NAICS

Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)

Keywords

• Early stage venture capital
• Sports technology investing
• Venture fund management
• Seed and series A investing
• Portfolio company support

Headquarters

HQ city

Highland Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Fund Management Fees: VC firms typically charge management fees on committed capital under management, typically 2% annually on fund size.
2. Carried Interest (Carry): The primary value creation mechanism for VC firms is carried interest—typically 20% of profits above the hurdle rate returned to LPs. KB Partners has had successful exits including Club Champion Golf, Golf.com, Buddy Media (sold to Salesforce), Fusion Risk Management, and MST Analytics.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

KB Partners is a venture capital firm that invests $1 million to $3 million in early-stage companies at the intersection of sports and technology, typically as the first institutional capital into a company with reserved follow-on capital. The firm provides hands-on operational support, board participation, and access to its deep sports industry network in addition to capital, operating through its KB Partners Myriad Opportunity Funds I and II and selectively through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs).

Product overview

KB Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on investments at the intersection of sports and technology. The firm deploys $1 million to $3 million initially with reserved follow-on capital. KB Partners' portfolio spans a diverse range of sports technology companies including AI-powered platforms (VOW, nVenue, Flex), smart sports equipment (SportIQ/SIQ smart basketball), real-time streaming (Phenix), esports and betting (PandaScore, GridRival, Pro League Network), connected coaching (asensei), AR/VR training (StatusPro), golf simulators (Full Swing Golf), cycling technology (Hammerhead), compliance solutions (Compliable), social media analytics (MVPIndex), and sports analytics (ShotQuality). The portfolio represents both current investments and successful exits including Club Champion, Buddy Media (acquired by Salesforce), Fusion Risk Management, and Hammerhead (acquired by SRAM).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KB Partners Myriad Opportunity Fund I

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple successful exits including Buddy Media (acquired by Salesforce), Club Champion, Fusion Risk Management, MST Analytics, Hammerhead (acquired by SRAM), Repeat.gg (acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Courtside Ventures: Early-stage VC firm investing at the intersection of sports, technology, media, and entertainment. Closest direct peer to KB Partners given shared sports-tech vertical focus and comparable check sizes.
• Sapphire Sport: Sports-focused venture firm backed by Sapphire Ventures, investing across sports, fitness, and wellness technology. Direct competitor for sports-tech seed and Series A deals with deeper institutional backing.
• Elysian Park Ventures: Investment arm of the LA Dodgers ownership group focused on sports ventures. Recently co-invested with KB Partners in IDL; represents strategic sports capital competing for the same sports-tech deals.
• Drive by DraftKings: DraftKings' corporate venture arm investing in sports technology, gaming, and adjacent verticals. Direct peer in sports-tech with strategic corporate backing and overlap in betting-related portfolio companies like Pro League Network.
• Bruin Sports Capital: Sports-focused investment firm providing capital across sports business including technology, media, teams, and venues. Comparable sports-specialist mandate though typically with larger check sizes and later stages than KB Partners.

Broad incumbents

• RedBird Capital Partners: Growth-oriented investment firm with deep sports franchise, media, and technology exposure (AC Milan, Liverpool FC, Skydance). Larger incumbent operating across sports-adjacent sectors that overlaps with KB Partners' thesis at later stages.
• Comcast Ventures: Diversified corporate venture arm of Comcast/NBCUniversal with significant sports exposure through NBC Sports and regional sports networks. Competes for sports-tech deals where media distribution and broadcasting rights are key strategic assets.

Emerging players

• Techstars Sports Accelerator: Sports-focused accelerator program backed by Techstars' global accelerator network. Adjacent participant in early-stage sports-tech deal flow with an accelerator model rather than traditional fund structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KBPartnersVC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kb-partners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments75 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KB Partners