Kyle Kuzma expected to draw trade interest heading into NBA Draft

Scrum’s broad approach to sports tech makes Kuzma a good adviser, as opposed to another NBA player, Proman said, because Kuzma has already invested across several sectors. Kuzma started angel investing in 2020 and has built up a portfolio that includes soda alternative Lemon Perfect, which has gone on to raise an additional $67.8 million in venture capital; consumer data company, Surf; and watch marketplace, Bezel. -via TechCrunch.com / May 8, 2024

Kuzma, 28, joined early-stage-focused Scrum Ventures in March as an adviser to help with the firm’s sports and entertainment fund, which is targeting $120 million. The partnership started in January when Kuzma’s agent, Austin Eastman, was connected to Scrum managing director and partner Michael Proman. Kuzma said he was impressed with Scrum’s team. Proman said the positive sentiment was mutual. “The thing about Kyle is, I personally didn’t really even understand how extensive his interests were in the venture space until after getting introduced,” Proman, a former NBA employee on the business development team, said. “Kyle is really interested in understanding the venture playbook but more so from the venture side.” -via TechCrunch.com / May 8, 2024

It was a rough season for the Washington Wizards, who finished with the NBA’s second-worst record as owner Ted Leonsis attempted (and failed) to move the team to Virginia. But Leonsis kept the team in DC, and now, their star player is opening up a business in the District. Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma launched a coffee shop, Childhood Cafe, off U Street today in the space previously occupied by ThreeFifty Bakery and Coffee Bar. The cafe, which riffs its name off of Kuzma’s lifestyle brand, Childhood Dreams, offers pastries and classic coffee drinks, as well as lemonades, non-alcoholic spritzes, and more specialized creations, like a strawberry Pop-Tart latte. -via Washingtonian / April 20, 2024