Key Takeaways
- • BrknPar Venture Fund announced that former Major League Baseball players Jon Jay and Tyson Ross have joined the Atlanta-based firm as Athlete Venture Partners (AVPs), per a Business Wire release.
- • Both Jay and Tyson have invested capital alongside BrknPar and will source deals, perform diligence, evaluate management teams, and support portfolio companies.
- • The AVP model is positioned by founding GP Andy Katz as an active investment partnership rather than an advisory board, with partners committing capital across the investment lifecycle.
- • BrknPar invests in growth companies across sports, technology, and culture, and draws on a network that includes entrepreneurs, executives, family offices, institutions and athletes.
Summary
BrknPar Venture Fund, based in Atlanta, announced that former Major League Baseball players Jon Jay and Tyson Ross have joined the firm as Athlete Venture Partners (AVPs), according to a Business Wire release dated August 18, 2026. Both men have already invested alongside BrknPar and will take active roles in sourcing investment opportunities, evaluating prospective investments, supporting portfolio companies, and expanding the firm's strategic network across the sports technology ecosystem.
Founding GP Andy Katz said the program is designed around alignment rather than advisory titles. "BrknPar has never been about assembling an advisory board. Our Athlete Venture Partners invest alongside us because we believe alignment matters," Katz said. He added that AVPs "are not passive investors" and help source opportunities, perform diligence, evaluate management teams and markets, expand relationship capital, and create value for portfolio companies.
Jon Jay, a University of Miami graduate, played 11 seasons in the Major Leagues and helped the St. Louis Cardinals win the 2011 World Series. He currently serves on the Cardinals' management staff, focusing on player development. He also founded the Jay Family Foundation, a nonprofit supporting children and families through education, youth development, health, scholarships and community outreach. In his statement, Jay said he expects to help source opportunities, support diligence, make strategic introductions and help founders build enduring businesses.
Tyson Ross, a University of California, Berkeley graduate, played nine seasons in the Major Leagues and is now a Special Assistant with the Los Angeles Dodgers, contributing across player development, organizational strategy and high-performance initiatives. He is also involved in philanthropy through Loyal To My Soil, a Bay Area nonprofit that promotes baseball and softball access for underserved and inner-city youth. Ross said AVPs are expected to "create value, not simply lend their names," and that he plans to invest alongside the fund, participate in diligence and leverage his relationships.
BrknPar describes its AVPs as investors first who commit capital alongside the firm. The release does not disclose fund size, commitment amounts, or specific portfolio companies connected to the appointments. The fund states it invests in growth companies across sports, technology and culture and partners with founders, executives, family offices, institutions and athletes.
Founding GP Andy Katz said the program is designed around alignment rather than advisory titles. "BrknPar has never been about assembling an advisory board. Our Athlete Venture Partners invest alongside us because we believe alignment matters," Katz said. He added that AVPs "are not passive investors" and help source opportunities, perform diligence, evaluate management teams and markets, expand relationship capital, and create value for portfolio companies.
Jon Jay, a University of Miami graduate, played 11 seasons in the Major Leagues and helped the St. Louis Cardinals win the 2011 World Series. He currently serves on the Cardinals' management staff, focusing on player development. He also founded the Jay Family Foundation, a nonprofit supporting children and families through education, youth development, health, scholarships and community outreach. In his statement, Jay said he expects to help source opportunities, support diligence, make strategic introductions and help founders build enduring businesses.
Tyson Ross, a University of California, Berkeley graduate, played nine seasons in the Major Leagues and is now a Special Assistant with the Los Angeles Dodgers, contributing across player development, organizational strategy and high-performance initiatives. He is also involved in philanthropy through Loyal To My Soil, a Bay Area nonprofit that promotes baseball and softball access for underserved and inner-city youth. Ross said AVPs are expected to "create value, not simply lend their names," and that he plans to invest alongside the fund, participate in diligence and leverage his relationships.
BrknPar describes its AVPs as investors first who commit capital alongside the firm. The release does not disclose fund size, commitment amounts, or specific portfolio companies connected to the appointments. The fund states it invests in growth companies across sports, technology and culture and partners with founders, executives, family offices, institutions and athletes.
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