Kevin Durant continues to collect a diverse array of investments and equity partnerships, most recently in the audio world.
Durant’s Thirty Five Ventures recently announced it became an equity partner of Master & Dynamic, adding to a portfolio that includes Postmates, Acorns, Overtime, Coinbase and the ESPN+ show “The Boardroom.”
Durant, along with business partner Rich Kleiman, became attracted to the brand due to its technology and luxury design.
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“Master & Dynamic has been elevating the audio game since they launched in 2014 and I felt that they were a company I had to get involved with,” Durant said in a release. “Music is such a huge part of my life that their products have become an important part of my day-to-day and I’m looking forward to some amazing collaboration between our teams.”
The relationship started as Kleiman’s family friend introduced Durant to the brand and Durant saw the potential in the products. The company could not yet afford Durant as a brand spokesperson, but Kleiman and Durant saw the fit with what they are building at Thirty Five Ventures.
“They were open to partnering on a major level, creatively and building the overall business,” Kleiman says. “It’s one of the key investments we’ve made that works across all verticals.
“It’s something Kevin himself is very gung-ho to move the needle on and something you’ll see more of, it’s not just checking the box on an investment list.”
A special edition of “Studio 35” colorway of the company’s MW65 Active Noise-Cancelling Wireless Over-Ear Headphones will be launched and Durant and Thirty Five Ventures will continue to have the ability to help influence the company as it builds into the intersection of sport and music.
“The more time I spent with Kevin and the Thirty Five Ventures team, the more I realized how Kevin’s deep love of music and technology and approach to his craft – basketball – mirrors that of Master & Dynamic: Concentration, focus, and a tireless and dynamic pursuit of mastery,” says Jonathan Levine, founder and CEO, Master & Dynamic. “And he does this based on his own internal drive rather than a need to impress the world.”
Thirty Five Ventures stemmed from Durant’s desire to be more than a basketball brand persona. The business was started in 2017 and ranges from content production to investment portfolio to the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation.
“We didn’t set out to build a media business, studio, investment portfolio, but we knew wanted to create an enterprise, be entrepreneurs and do something that was ours, a myriad of everything,” Kleiman said. “Kevin is truly the force behind the business we’re building, not the face.”
Durant is one of many athletes now venturing further into equity partnerships, which Kleiman says is a result of athletes realizing they should utilize their larger-than-life brands with authenticity and building something they’re connected with. This formula is priceless and not solely about the money.
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The strategy behind Thirty Five Ventures’ business development depends on the project. For investments, there is a small team, including Kleiman and Durant, who analyze deals to determine if it is a worthwhile venture. Some deals the duo acts as passive investors, while on others, they look to dive all the way in as partners, as is the case with Master & Dynamic.
“We’re investing in early stage companies for the most part,” Kleiman says. “Some companies, like Postmates, you see obvious synergies. Some are CEOs we connect with on an incredible level personally and believe in what they’re building.”
Whether it’s turning “The Boardroom” into the preeminent cultural sports business show or building brands Durant can be proud of, he’s working both on and off the court to cement his legacy. Master & Dynamic is the latest piece of the puzzle.
