The Weekly Drop 06.08.2023

The hottest news from sports, gaming, media, web3, and fitness.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen some major M&A in sports and related areas.  With the NFL and most of the NBA on summer break, athletes are making news with startup and sports team investments.  And make sure to check out Beyond The Game’s newest portfolio company – Seen.

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Top Stories

Several Mergers in Media, Sports, Fitness, and Gaming

🤝🏻 With the funding markets still messy, we are seeing an increase in M&A activity.  Aristocrat Leisure buys NeoGames for $1BN in igaming merger.  A tech founder buys Forbes Media for $800MM.  Fanatics gets PointsBet US for $150MM and also trading card leader PWCC.  PGA and LIV Golf come together.  BetterUp acquires sleep coach Crescent.  Betr snaps up Chameleon.  Super Leagues purchases Melon.  Rumble adds Callin.

Our Investment in Seen

🤳🏽 Beyond The Game is excited to announce our investment in Seen, a new asynchronous video messaging app targeting the teens and young adults.  Seen was founded by experienced tech leader Faheem Kajee and Marvel actress Karen Gillan.  Their app is coming soon to the Apple App Store.  Expect to hear more about this amazing company.

Beyond The Game Portfolio Companies In The News

👏🏼SportsIcon launches Future Icons program with MMA fighter John Mitchell.  Oura acquires Proxy to add new capabilities to their smart ring and partners with life insurer John Hancock.  Read about the founder of Eight Sleep.  Learn more about health coach Fount on this podcast.

Tech news, capital raises, and more

🕹️ Triumph adds $14MM real-money video gaming here

🩺 Health platform Lifeforce closes $12MM details

👟 Sneaker marketplace Laced gets $12MM more

📱 BebopBee nets $4MM for mobile games read

🏋️ 13 companies in the Techstars Sports Indy cohort here

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Athletes in the News

🏈 Aaron Rodgers’ RX3 VC fund adds $150MM more

📺 Peyton takes on investor to Omaha Productions here

🏀 CP3 and more join funding for Scout read

🥤 Jerry Rice’s GOAT Fuel drink raises $5MM more

⚽ Dirk joins SPORTTOTAL as investor and advisor read

📱 Andres Drummond and Reid team up with Hang details

🏇 Baron Davis, Thibodeaux and more back new horse racing league

🏋️ Harry Kane invests in OxeFit with many other athletes

👕 Brittney Griner releases clothing line with Round21

🍭 Giannis and family join Candy Funhouse

💰 Brady buys stake in Raiders.  Iguodala buys into NWSL’s Club Bay FC. 

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Portfolio Company Job Postings

Oura Ring (Health): Ops, Product, and Sales roles here

Eight Sleep (Fitness): Engineer, Design roles here

GreenPark Sports (Gaming): Design and Marketing roles here