Monarch Collective, a private equity firm focused on professional women’s sports, has raised $100 million. The company is branding itself as the first investment fund specifically created for supporting women’s sports.
The fund was launched last year by a group of prominent sports investors: Jasmine Robinson, former partner of Causeway Investors and the San Francisco 49ers, and Kara Nortman, co-founder of Angel City FC and former Upfront Ventures partner.
Billie Jean King is among the company’s initial investors.
The pair plan to focus on leagues like the WNBA and NWSL — while also expanding to global women’s sports leagues.
The company is following two major trends: an uptick in popularity for women’s sports across the board and an increase in investment funds looking to support ventures backed by women.
Serena Williams, for example, has quietly built up her own venture capital firm Serena Ventures — which raised $111 million last year. Williams plans to put the money toward companies run by “diverse” founders.