Rashaun Williams: How to Invest Like a Sports Team Owner
28 Mar 2025
If you are looking for solid financial advice to bolster your bottom line or ever dreamed of investing in sports teams, than grab your phone or login onto your computer and listen to the inaugural episode of the Portfolio Players, presented by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley.
The show’s first guest was Rashaun Williams, venture capitalist, Atlanta Falcons limited partner and APB exclusive speaker. Williams sat down for an interview to discuss his multi-layered career and his unique perspective on sports ownership.
Williams, who began his career advising billionaires and institutions at Goldman Sachs, revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic spurred a major shift in his career path. "The biggest thing I learned was I wanted to be an investor myself," he said. This led him to launch Queensborough Venture Partners, a venture capital fund that made early, lucrative investments in companies like Coinbase, Robinhood, Dropbox and Lyft. He stressed the importance of identifying high-growth potential early on, even with smaller initial investments.
Williams did so well as an investor that he was able to buy a small piece of the Atlanta Falcons. He said owning part of the Falcons is like reaching the top of the mountain for someone in finance. He believes the NFL is the most special and hard-to-get thing to own in America. He also has stakes in the NBA, including the Hornets, the Hawks, the Suns and the Kings.
Although many of his investments are towards the top of that mountain, his portfolio includes small businesses, like plumbing, HVAC companies and consumer products. He says this diversification strategy gives him a well-rounded approach to investment, balancing high-profile opportunities with more stable, essential sectors.
“As a professional investor, I'm mostly concerned about making my money grow for my kids,” he said. “And if I have fun along the way, great. But I don't have to. It's not a requirement on my investment strategy.”