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Billie Jean King Enterprises, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Elysian Park Ventures, and R/GA Ventures are launching a women and sports-focused venture studio called Trailblazer Venture Studio.
Partnering with entrepreneurs and companies that prioritize women leaders, athletes, and fans, the Trailblazer Venture Studio will support selected startups with services, connections, and three kinds of funding: relationship, creative, and/or investment.
King’s company will help with relationships, R/GA will add brand expertise, and Elysium will provide a majority of the funds — which will range from $200,000 to $2 million per company, according to The New York Times.
“There is a huge growth opportunity for women and sports as traditionally they have been under-resourced and underfinanced,” Billie Jean King said.
A 2021 Deloitte report found that TV and sponsorship revenue for women’s sports are soon expected to pass $1 billion global.
The three-month program starts in August and will help six to eight companies in sectors including (but not limited to) media, culture, and storytelling, and health, fitness and well-being.
The Dodgers, Elysian Park Ventures, and R/GA Ventures have worked together before, launching LA Dodgers Accelerator in 2015 and Global Sports Venture Studio in 2018. The former focuses on technology and the latter, which includes MLB, MLS, the NHL, and Adidas as founding partners, focuses on sports leaders driving innovation.
