Hawks Ventures is a mission-driven venture capital investment fund, focused on expanding upon the Atlanta Hawks core values of innovation and inclusivity. We focus on investing in early-stage startups, led by minority and underrepresented founders, that seek to impact the ways consumers experience a product or service. We look to invest in companies with high-growth potential that have big ideas, clear vision, and a plan for execution.
Latest News
Hawks Ventures Makes First Investment Into Arena
Hawks Ventures today announced its first investment into ARENA Innovation Corp. (“ARENA”), a fitness technology startup that develops portable robotic strength training and rehabilitation devices. The company's debut product, the ARENA Platform, is a strength training device that generates up to 200 pounds of isoinertial resistance designed to deliver the Optimal Training Dose.
About Hawks Ventures
We are committed to direct-to-consumer and B2B2C startups that will look to transform an experience for the end user. We expect to bring more than just capital; we are passionate about supporting founders and are committed to leveraging our expertise in customer experience, our vast network and resources to help founders achieve their goals.
Tapped to lead Hawks Ventures as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Innovation and Investments is David Garcia, former Hawks’ Senior Vice President of Experience and Innovation. Garcia joined the Hawks organization in 2018 and has played a pivotal role in transforming the guest experience at State Farm Arena, where the Hawks and State Farm Arena secured the top ranking in overall game experience in consecutive seasons (NBA league-wide survey measuring season-ticket member satisfaction 2019-20 and 2020-21).
“We are so excited by the endless possibilities stored in Hawks Ventures and its potential to not only impact our business but also to identify the underrepresented talent that can change communities. This is another significant step in our commitments to Black empowerment and enhancing the fan experience.”
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this initiative and to be able to meaningfully contribute to driving economic empowerment in underrepresented communities. With the experience economy being a driving force of so much business value and our focus on the underrepresented community, we believe there will be no shortage of great ideas and founders to invest in.”
“Inclusivity helps to fuel top teams. I am energized by the commitment to tap into overlooked talent pools to drive innovative solutions to customers’ needs. Alongside diverse founders and entrepreneurs, we are looking to create step changes in value for businesses and communities.”
Why Minority Entrepreneurs? The Facts
67%
. . . of venture capitalists said it was not a priority to invest in multicultural entrepreneurs, according to a survey of 200 venture capitalists published by Morgan Stanley in 2019.
2.6%
. . . of venture dollars went to Black and Latinx founders in 2020 (Crunchbase, Aug 31, 2020).
>2.5Million
. . . black businesses receive only 1.2% of all venture capital (Stanford University, Nov 2018).
34%
. . . growth rate of Latino entrepreneurs is the fastest-growing group in the United States, yet Latino founders have received only 1% of venture capital (Stanford University Nov 2018, Crunchbase Aug 31, 2020).
The information contained herein is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities and is qualified in its entirety by the more complete information, including risks of investment, provided by Hawks Ventures, in its sole discretion, to certain qualified investors who meet certain investor criteria. There is no assurance that we will achieve any of our investment objectives, and investment results may vary substantially over time.
Certain information contained herein is based on, or derived from, information provided by independent third-party sources. Hawks Ventures believes that such information is accurate and that the sources from which it has been obtained are reliable. Hawks Ventures cannot guarantee the accuracy of such information, however, and has not independently verified the assumptions on which such information is based. Hawks Ventures and its affiliates and employees do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information.