⚽️ LA-Based Venture Capitalist Turned Pro Soccer Player
Christian Hetrick is dot.LA's Entertainment Tech Reporter. He was formerly a business reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and reported on New Jersey politics for the Observer and the Press of Atlantic City.
![⚽️ LA-Based Venture Capitalist Turned Pro Soccer Player](https://dot.la/media-library/image.jpg?id=52514381&width=1245&height=700&quality=85&coordinates=40%2C0%2C40%2C0)
🔦 Spotlight
Courtney Reum boasts quite the assortment of descriptors: 45-year-old American venture capitalist, Paris Hilton’s brother- in-law, entrepreneur, best-selling author, former Goldman Sachs investment banker, and now, professional soccer player. The former D1 soccer player at Columbia University, embarked on an unlikely journey to join a soccer team, Länk FC Vilaverdense, in Portugal's second division. With the help of Corey Woolfolk, a biotech executive and ex-pro player, Reum pursued his dream of playing professional soccer, targeting clubs in Turkey, Scandinavia, and Portugal. Vilaverdense took a chance on Reum, enticed not only by his sports skills but also by a substantial loan he offered to ease the club's financial strain, along with potential future investments and access to his business network.
To prepare for his debut, Reum invested heavily in a 10-week crash course involving intensive training, coaching, and medical care. Despite already being in good shape, he underwent specialized soccer-oriented strength and conditioning, overcoming injuries and utilizing services like cold plunges and body vibration therapy. Training was rigorous, with former pros guiding him as he balanced his venture capital duties, scaling back some hours at his LA-based firm, M13. On Sunday, May 5th, Reum was brought onto the field at minute 86 for his pro debut during the match against Torreense. Though his future involvement with the team remains uncertain, he will stay in Portugal until the end of the season.
🤝 Venture Deals
LA Companies
- Kino, a digital movie platform provider, raised a $2.35M Pre-Seed Extension led by ARK Venture Fund. - learn more
- Restaurant365, a company that provides a software platform for restaurants to manage accounting, inventory, payroll, and employee scheduling, raised a $175M Funding Round at a $1+ billion up valuation led by ICONIQ Growth, with KKR and L Catterton also contributing. - learn more
LA Venture Funds
- Ankona Capital co-led a $35M Funding Round for Canopy, provider of accounting software. - learn more
- Type One Ventures participated in a $5.6M Pre-Seed Round for Active Surfaces, a developer of flexible solar panels. - learn more
- Starshot Capital, a climate-focused VC firm based, raised $35m for Starshot Fund I for companies working toward ambitious decarbonization goals. - learn more
Christian Hetrick is dot.LA's Entertainment Tech Reporter. He was formerly a business reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and reported on New Jersey politics for the Observer and the Press of Atlantic City.